Moving Across The Country With No Job Lined Up: Four Tips To Ease Your Stress And Expenses

Most people find a new job across the country and then relocate. However, if you desperately need a change in your life and have not yet landed that perfect across-country job, then you may elect to move before you have employment lined up. This approach does often make it easier to find a new job in your new location since employers are often more likely to contact applicants who live locally. However, moving across the country without a specific job lined up is also pretty stressful, and it can present many challenges. Here are four tips to help you navigate this trying, but often-worthwhile experience.

Take advantage of mid-week moving deals.

Since you're moving across the country without a job, you're probably on a pretty tight budget. Thankfully, you can take advantage of a saving strategy that employed people often can't. Schedule your move for the middle of the week, as most long distance moving companies offer reduced fees on weekdays since there is less demand than on the weekends. You'll also save money on hotel stays when moving mid-week as most hotel rooms are cheaper on weekdays than on weekends. And $10 or $20 per night savings can go a long way when you're driving across the country and may need to spend three or four nights in hotels.

Do more of the moving yourself.

Moving everything you own across the country is a huge feat and not one you should really attempt tackling yourself. Hiring a moving company will save you hundreds of hours and a lot of stress. However, just because you're hiring movers does not mean you need to pay for their full services. If you pack the boxes yourself, help load and unload them, and later unpack yourself, you can save a bundle. When you contact moving companies, be clear that all you want them to do is drive a filled truck from your old home to your new home -- and possibly supply a few helpers to help you load the truck faster.

Quit your current job (if you have not already) a week before your planned moving day, and you'll have plenty of time to focus on packing. Of course, you can also ask some friends to help. They'll appreciate having this time to say goodbye before you move far away.

Leave unsuitable clothing and home goods behind.

There's a good chance that the climate in your new city is quite different from that in your current city. Research the average temperatures in you new location to get a good idea of what you can expect. Then, sort through your clothing and get rid of items that won't be suitable in your new climate. For instance, if you're moving from Boston to San Antonio, you can probably get rid of most of your parkas and ski jackets! You can probably leave the snow shovels and ice scrapers behind, too. Getting rid of unnecessary items lightens your load and may lower the fees that your moving company charges, which really helps when you don't have a new source of income lined up.

Apply for jobs before you actually move.

As soon as you have a new address -- even if you do not live there yet -- start applying for jobs. You can put this new address on your resume as long as you have signed a lease. Chances are, employers will be contacting your cell phone and email anyways, and these don't change when you move. If someone calls for an interview, you can explain that you're not in town yet, but that you will be on a certain date. Hopefully, by the time you arrive, you'll have some interviews scheduled and be well on your way to a new job.

For more information, contact a business such as Midwest Moving & Storage, Inc.