Movin’ On Up?

             As a job seeker, once you and your family have made the decision to relocate, there is a lot to consider. The key is that you can’t begin to start preparing too soon. If you are a veteran of relocating, you likely already know about the items below and can probably add a few more.

             First of all, be sure your family is totally on board and that all family considerations have been thought out such as ageing parents, paying for out of state tuition for your kids if they are staying behind and waiting for the school year to end. Another thing to consider before relocating is if you will be forfeiting a significant performance bonus if you leave before a certain date. These are a few items that seem to come up often.

             Determine where you wish to relocate–the more specific the better. Try to rank the locations by preference and make sure you know as much as possible about their employment climate and possible needs for your skill set. Be sure you have considered the opportunities for your significant other and if they are planning to start a new position as well. If you are working with a recruiter, all of these details need to be shared on the front end so there will not be too many surprises on the back end.

              If you have a home to sell, begin all repairs and upgrades as soon as possible. Involve a realtor for suggestions on pricing, likely time frame to sell the home and important improvements, upgrades and staging of your home to help bring top dollar.

              If you have selected a specific location, begin doing your due diligence in researching the housing, neighborhoods, the school systems, cost of living, salary comparisons and the commuting distance to your new job location.

              Finally, many companies are now providing a lump sum relocation package vs. traditional relocation packages such as getting involved in providing the mover, buying homes and paying realtor fees/commissions. If you are downsizing or planning to live in an apartment initially, consider the cost of temporary storage of your other belongings.

              Moves rarely are fun, but you can eliminate many of the headaches and make it a smoother and less painful transition. Good luck with your new home and employer!

Written by: Richard Heard

Richard Heard has been a technical recruiter with Godshall since 1991.  He specializes in manufacturing management, engineering and technical placements.  Richard is ASA certified as a Technical Services Professional and a Certified Staffing Professional. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from the University of South Carolina. In his free time, Richard loves spending his time with his wonderful children, new granddaughter and family. He is an avid fisherman with an emphasis on freshwater trout and redfish.

Does your communication style affect your career?

Well, you know, it’s like this, dude–I mean, hang on, no worries, its sweet, right? Many articles have been written about dressing for success, ie, dress for the position you aspire to, not the one you’re currently in. Makes sense! Now for the stuffy sounding advice: if you want to be considered as a future executive, speak like a CEO and write like a CEO.

TONE

When you ask a question, use a positive and even tone. For example, “Why are we doing it this way?” That sounds like a complaint, right? Replace with, “I’d like to talk with you about an idea I have to improve the process.” Big difference!

FORMALITY

Your boss asks you how the client meeting turned out. You answer, “Oh man, it was brutal. We told him the price and it was wicked what he did next!” Do you give your leadership faith that you handled the situation well and that you are competent in your job? Replace with, “We explained our pricing structure, and our client still has questions. Would you be willing to work with me to close the sale?” Use language appropriate for work when at work. Clients and coworkers aren’t “sweetie” and bosses aren’t “dudes” except to their personal friends on the weekend (maybe not even then).

CURSING

It’s worth mentioning that many studies have demonstrated that cursing is offensive in the workplace—even to those who might curse outside of the office. It is perceived by others as a weakness, an inability to control emotions. It can be a kiss of death for your career.

GRAMMAR

R U Serious?? Very uncool! Don’t know nothing about that–IDC! Even 10 years from now, when today’s teenagers become leaders, I don’t believe that the executive team will send memos to the shareholders in tech talk. Do u?

Written by: Julie Godshall Brown

Julie is the President and Owner of Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing. She has been with her family business full-time since 1995 and remained as President and Owner when her parents retired in 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Clemson University and a Master of Personnel and Employee Relations from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining her family’s business in 1995, she was a Technical Recruiter and HR Generalist with NCR (AT&T)  in Columbia and Liberty, SC. In addition to leading her firm and several industry related organizations, she is a very active community volunteer who has made an impact on the future of the Upstate.