(Relocation Blog Series: Part 1 of 3)
Deciding whether or not to relocate for your first NNP job after graduation is a tough decision, so at ENSEARCH, we are dedicating three articles surrounding the pros and cons of this decision. It is our goal to help you be informed and knowledgeable on how to make this crucial next step.
Once you get your long-awaited NNP degree, the next step is to find the job of your dreams. This can present some difficulties depending on where you live. Should you wait it out until a position opens? Should you take on a longer-than-preferred commute? Should you relocate? Making a decision like this has many implications; it should not be taken lightly. And it’s not just about the money, but how will these changes affect you and your family, as The Muse points out?
The Difficulty for Relocation
When a new graduate candidate comes to ENSEARCH to talk about placement for a position, one of the key questions we ask is about their geographical preferences. Where do they want to live — and are you ok with relocation? The candidates sometimes struggle with this and reply back with one of two responses. They either tell us:
- I can’t relocate:
- They have child commitments, divorce decree, just put money down on a new home purchase, spouse’s employment makes up a significant amount of family income.
- I don’t want to relocate:
- They have family in the area, this is where you have always lived, the kids like the area, and church and social obligations.
Two Reasons You Should Consider Relocation:
1) Waiting too Long has Negative Professional Implications
Your education and procedural skills they learned in school can get stale. Think about it, if you wait a year and then a position finally opens up, a candidate from the next class (who just graduated) applies for the job as well. Assuming that your education and experience are the same, the fresh graduate has a leg up on you to receive the job because their skills are more recent.
Another concern for waiting too long is explaining the long gap to a potential employer. When you finally bite the bullet and realize that you “can” relocate and decide it’s time to explore that option, your potential new employer will want to know why you have not yet started working as an NNP. Yes, your reason is very true and valid (“I waited for 8 months to see if a local position opened up, but realized I needed to explore other options”) but somewhere in the back of their mind, there is a nagging question. They may wonder if that is the full story or is there something amiss about this candidate that others found out (and so did not hire them)?
Here at ENSEARCH, we suggest that if you do want to wait, do so for no more than ideally six months; 12 months is at the absolute max. And remember that when you are looking for work, only post your resume online cautiously.
2) Understanding that “Don’t Want To” is Not The Same as “Can’t”
Has there ever been times in your life where you struggled with making a difficult decision? One choice was easier and the other presented more challenges, but you knew in your gut it was better for you?
Relocation to a new area is not a life sentence, and for the good of your professional abilities, sometimes a temporary relocation for a few years can be very beneficial to you. If all of your family is in the area, you were born and raised here, or your kids are well established — yes, these are emotionally difficult reasons but they are not reasons you can’t relocate. The fear of not wanting to move is not the same as needing to stay in the area due to specific factors.
It is helpful to remember those times when you ended up going with the more difficult choice when in similar circumstances. Hard decisions and defining moments can make you a better person — and most often, make you glad you made that decision.
While this is a difficult topic, it is important to reflect honestly about these questions and learn the reasons why you are resisting change.
What about you? Did you make the relocation leap into the unknown for the job of your dreams? What were the factors that helped you make this decision? Share in the comments below!
In the next article, we will be addressing the many specifics that you need to know before you relocate. Weather, childcare, schools, the distance away, and cost of living are just some of the topics we’ll be addressing. Stay Tuned!
