How to start a job–and stay happy–in a new place you’ve just moved to
Let’s say you’ve just graduated college. (Congratulations!) And now let’s say you live in the middle of nowhere—or at least close to it—and so, out of necessity, you’ve applied to jobs in other places. And now let’s say you’ve managed to land a job in that faraway place. (Congratulations again!) Now, while there’s a lot to celebrate—you’re employed, after all—you need to plan ahead and eventually adjust to moving away and starting to work. Here’re some tips to help smooth the potentially rocky transition:
- Learn the lay of the land. Don’t just plop yourself down in a new location if you can help it. In other words: don’t show up sights-unseen. Instead, get a cheap bus or train ticket and go visit, walk around, and get a feel for the area. That way, it won’t be as big and scary when you’re there for real. At the very least, you’ll be able to have a few landmarks in mind so you don’t keep getting lost.
- Call around. It’s a little intimidating moving to a new place, right? So don’t be too bashful to look to others for help. For instance, if you’re moving to a big metropolitan city, then chances are you have friends in that city, or at least know of a familiar person or two. With that in mind, reach out and connect, and plan to meet up once you’re there. That way, you won’t be a stranger in a strange land. Plus it’ll be easier to get your bearings.
- Keep in touch. It’s easy to get a little flustered when you’re in a new place, or even a little homesick, so to stave off those kinds of feelings, keep in touch with your friends and family back home. If you take advantage of online tools like Skype and Facetime, and as long as you put the effort in, it’ll seem like you never even left.
- Look ahead. You have a new life ahead of you. How can that not be at least a little exciting? It’s okay to be nervous, maybe even a little scared, but hey, you’ll survive, and you’ll make the best of whatever comes your way. In other words: half the battle is simply thinking positive thoughts.
- If all else fails, view work as a social opportunity. Chances are you’re working with at least some people who are your age and have your interests. Just because they’re co-workers doesn’t mean they can’t also be friends. So if you’ve moved across the country for a job and don’t know anyone, reach out to people at the office. They, too, probably know what’s it’s like to be new.