Moving Your Career "For the Family"
Should you move? Here are some questions to help gain insight as you wrestle with a tough decision.
(1) Are you moving from a sense of excitement and hope - or from a nagging feeling of obligation?
Every so often, I get calls from clients who begin, "I moved to be near my beloved friends and family. And once I arrived, I realized they didn't need me. In fact, they liked me better when we lived farther apart! How can I get my old career and my old life back?"
(2) How will family dynamics change once you're fifteen minutes away instead of 500 miles?
Often you'll grow closer together and find new sources of strength and inspiration. But sometimes a retiree becomes a taken-for-granted, round-the-clock baby-sitter. A busy self-employed professional is expected to participate in time-consuming family rituals. And more.
(3) What's your family like today - not one, five or ten years ago?
You move to spend time together. But do you know each other? Do you still have a lot in common?
If you haven't been in the same city for awhile, expect surprises. Couch potatoes become fitness fanatics. Television addicts discover the public library and the bookstore. Even a change in movie preferences can affect the quality of a relationship.
Eight years ago, I wasn't interested in basketball or dogs. Needless to say, I get into some very interesting conversations with anyone I haven't seen since 1998.
(4) Will you enjoy your new city on your own?
Even with a close family, you'll need your own life. Will your new community support opportunities to grow and change? The best resource (in my biased view): http://www.cathygoodwin.com/bigmove.html
(5) Can you find career satisfaction?
About a third of my Power Hour calls focus on long-distance job search, with good reason. You have to walk a fine line between showing potential employers you're motivated to move - and sounding so eager you'll take whatever you can get.
Typically I refer clients with complex family questions to a specialized professional. I urge everyone to understand the impact of career on family. No one wants to spend five years living with resentment because "I gave up a wonderful career for you." A family counselor will help you sort through these issues.
There's reason for optimism. With careful planning, my clients usually find creative ways to enjoy the family and also maintain a satisfying career.
Related Tags: stress, careers, job search, family, career change, relocation, midlife, transition
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., coaches and creates copy for service professionals who want to promote themselves without sounding sales-y. Get your free download of the 7 Best-Kept Secrets of Client-Attracting Copy. Visit http://www.makewritingpay.com/subscribe.html
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