It’s entirely possible that you will receive a phone call one day offering a job you can’t turn down. Luckily, I can help you make a smooth transition. Let’s get down to it!
- Make a moving list
Get out your sticky notes and color coded planner, it’s time to organize. Moving across the country seems like a huge task, but when you break it down, it can be much simpler. Some tasks you don’t want to forget on your list are packing, finding housing in your new location, budgeting your move and transportation for the relocation.
- Find a good coffee shop and pizza place
Nothing makes home feel more home-y than warm coffee in the morning and pizza for dinner (probably on the floor, because you haven’t put together your tables yet). Yelp and friends that are in the area can guide you, but I will tell you one thing: if you are moving to the West Coast, make sure you find a Philz near you. It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had.
- Be aware of your new time zone
Watching your favorite shows on television, scheduling phone dates with friends and setting up business meetings can all be ruined by one thing. Time zones are tricky, especially if you live in a state like Arizona, Indiana or Tennessee, which all have funky time zones. Be sure to be respectful of your new time zone and others’ sleep patterns when scheduling things!
- Don’t lose contact with your network
This is vital. Make sure that your network in your old location stays strong. Social media makes this easy, but going even further than that ensures that you will stay close in a special way. Ensuring that you have phone and Skype dates, send each other funny photos you find online and in general staying up to date is key. Your old network and friends won’t disappear if you don’t let them.
- Build a new network
While your old network is important, building a new one will enhance your experience in your new location. Try to find alumni events hosted by your university for an instant conversation starter. There also might be location specific events, such as Internapalooza. Internapalooza was an event held for Bay Area interns with many companies recruiting like Google, eBay, Dropbox and more. You should also begin to network within your own company. No matter how tired or busy you are, taking an hour to attend the after work event can seriously help. Even better, taking 15 minutes to get coffee with a colleague builds a relationship that you can rely on, on a daily basis.
- Have a “local moment”
At some point in your new home, you’ll have a “local moment.” Mine happened when I was at a popular tourist attraction in San Francisco. A family of tourists asked me if I knew anything about the area we were in, and since I had been there three times I was able to tell them about the area and some fun facts they might not necessarily have picked up on their own. Once you have a “local moment,” you’ll carry yourself down new streets with much more confidence.
Overall, it’s important to make the most of every life change. Moving can be difficult, especially moving cross country. If you follow these tips you’ll be on the right track to a successful transition!
Gentry Bennett is a senior Strategic Communication major with a Social Media certificate and Outdoor Recreation specialization. She is also the President of Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @Gen__andTonic.