How to Smoothly Relocate for Your Job

If you're relocating for your job, it can feel like one of the most stressful events for your life. Uprooting yourself is hectic and confusing, even though it's also an exciting and enriching opportunity. Here are a few tips for making your physical transition to a new city a little smoother.

Negotiate a relocation stipend.

Many employers will offer you compensation for moving expenses upon hiring you if they know you're not local to the new job. Sometimes they won't take the initiative to offer or don't typically offer a relocation stipend to their employees. Even if they haven't mentioned it, you can contact your employer and negotiate a bonus to help cover relocation costs. After all, if they are confident enough in your work abilities to hire you, they should be willing to invest a bit in getting you to your new position.

Use corporate apartments and housing.

Especially in big cities, corporate apartments can be a godsend for relocating employees. In fact, about 40% of people living in corporate housing are doing so because of relocation.


Take New York City, for example. Real estate is expensive and hard to come by. It can take months to find the right apartment. What are you going to do in the meantime? Stay in an expensive hotel? Settle for an apartment you're not happy with? Short term furnished apartments through corporate housing let you slow down, get started on your job, and settle into the city without the added stress of finding a long-term living solution immediately. Opting for a simple furnished one bedroom means there is no need to bring a bunch of furniture with you right away, especially helpful if you're a new graduate with little furniture to speak of.

See if any of your moving expenses can be tax deductible.

Full-time workers and U.S. taxpayers who moved at least 50 miles to start a new job can often deduct some moving expenses while filing their taxes.


Lastly, start to consider yourself part of your new community. Even before you move in, you can look up local news and blogs, and ask locals questions and advice on social media. You might find that a support network forms pretty quickly. Become familiar with your new habitat and you'll feel at home in no time.