Location, location, location
Deciding where to live is a key factor in your employment search
Are you prepared to move anywhere for a job? Flexibility and the ability to move geographically (as well as professionally) to take up a position are important. But that doesn’t mean you should move somewhere you hate. If you’re drawn to the bustle of the city or the beauty of the countryside, follow your heart. And remember: always investigate a job's location before accepting an offer.
Size matters
Ultimately, and this will come as no surprise, only you know what sort of place you’d like to live in. Be it a small town, big city, rural community or coastal resort, you’ll need to assess the facilities, prices and opportunities to see whether they measure up. You might also need to consider the crime rate (especially for your car insurance), shopping facilities and the state of local transport. If you’re prepared to take the big plunge and move to London, you’ll still need to choose which area, and this will largely be decided by the proximity to your job and the cost of living.
Social opportunities
You need to pick a town or city that’s right for you. Can you really work in that barn miles from the nearest shop? Maybe London, with its bars, clubs and exotic restaurants, is more your scene. If a decent social life is a priority for you, make sure the place you’re moving to has enough possibilities to keep you satisfied, otherwise you could get bored pretty quickly. The majority of your friends from university may gravitate to the same city. Is that important to you? Do you need to be able to see your old mates as often as you used to, or do you quite fancy the challenge of making new friends somewhere else?
Distance from work
Once you’ve decided the type of place you want to live, you need to make sure you’ll be able to get to your chosen job. Would you be happy to extend your day by an hour’s commute every morning and evening – or would you prefer to live a little closer to work? A willingness to commute may make it easier to find a job, as you will have a larger search area. Commuting may be the perfect solution if you’re desperate to live in the country but all the opportunities are based in cities, or if you need an active social life but have been offered your dream job in the back of beyond. Make sure your chosen method of transport is easily accessible, whether it’s a train station, a bus stop or a motorway junction.
Cost of living
The cost of living will be a big factor in your choice of location, but salaries do reflect local prices. It’s usually quite expensive to live in the heart of a city, but it may be cheaper if you’re willing to live in a slightly dodgy area. Housing prices generally decrease as you move farther from the centre, until you get out into the affluent suburbs where they shoot up again. If you want to live in beautiful countryside you may find yourself shelling out for rent. Everyday items will be more expensive in wealthier areas. There’s no longer a sharp north/south divide in terms of living expense, but it tends to be more expensive in London and the South East. Your salary will go further and housing will be cheaper in Middlesbrough than in Middlesex. If you’re considering a move to the capital, don’t let the high cost of living put you off, as higher salaries and extra entertainment opportunities make up for it. Wherever you choose to live, make sure your salary can keep you living in the style to which you are (or would like to be) accustomed!
Type of accommodation
Most new graduates share rented accommodation – you’re probably used to this from your student days. This brings costs down and can be great fun, but as your earnings increase you may want to find a place of your own. You’re probably not thinking about buying a house just yet, but it might be on the agenda when you’ve been working for a year or two and have paid off a few student debts. It kind of goes without saying that exorbitant prices in certain areas prohibit buying a half-decent house, whereas it’s often the sensible option if you live in a cheaper area. If you know you’ll be staying put for a while, you might want to stop giving your landlord rent each month and start making mortgage payments instead.
This article has been viewed 1120 times.
Rating: 2 / 5 (2 votes cast for this article)
Rate this article:
Related articles