When searching for the perfect job, it’s important not to forget one key component: geography.  Where you are and where you’re looking can have a huge impact on the work you eventually find.  It’s important to consider the upsides to where you’re currently located, as well as the upside to packing your bags and relocating!

Look Elsewhere

If you find that you’re just not landing the position you want, figure out if you’re searching in the right place.  Perhaps you’re having a difficult time finding a job in academia – consider moving your search into a college town or a suburban area with lots of public schools.  If you want to go into entertainment, perhaps you should be scouring opportunities in Southern California instead of Southern Iowa.  When looking for jobs, it’s easy to forget to look outside the boundaries of our own neighborhood.  Contemplating relocation might be difficult, but it might just be the solution.

It’s Not Forever

It’s important, too, to realize that relocating is not something that’s “forever” if you don’t want it to be.  For example, if you want to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, it’s often the case that you have to relocate to a smaller market, which may require moving to the middle of nowhere.  But as you gain experience and recognition, you can transition to a bigger market in a bigger city.  Sometimes you need to get your start in a place where you don’t see yourself staying long term – remember that it’s just the first step.

Quality of Life

One thing to consider when you are looking at relocating is the quality of life that you’ll find when you do.  Is having a family important to you, and will a certain city lend itself well to raising one?  Can you see yourself living in a big city or a rural countryside?  Your job is important, but so is your quality of life.  Don’t forget to factor that in when searching for the perfect position.

Available Networks

A factor that may affect your decision to move to another city is the networks that will be available to you when you get there.  Perhaps it’s wise to stick around the area where you went to college, as you’ll have an extensive alumni network there.  It might also be helpful to move back to the town you grew up in.  There are many different networks that you can use to your advantage, and it’s up to you to figure out where you can take advantage of them.

When looking for a job, the sole focus for many people is often the job itself.  But don’t forget that location is just as important, and could be the key to why you’re not currently finding the job that you want!

Until next time,

The Doostang Team