Ask colleagues for advice on local establishments and fun things to do
An increasing number of employers are realizing that a settled employee is a happy employee, and the HR departments across these companies are doing their best to help a new employee settle into the area. Right from providing standard relocation assistance in the form of pre-negotiated relocation contracts with packers and movers to taking around the employee's family to local shops, schools, and fun places, they are doing it all.
For instance, many of these companies have employee relation managers who schedule appointments to introduce the employee's spouse to key business owners and look for possible jobs, introduce the spouse to the principal and staff of the local school, arrange tickets for the family to a local sporting event or music festival in order to facilitate interaction with other families in the area, set up tours with the local real estate agents, and fix lunch appointments with the families of the other workers for the new employee's spouse and kids. They believe that all this goes a long way in helping the new employee settle into the job and start contributing to the success of the company at the earliest.
Moreover, water cooler conversations on the best places around town can also help you find the best childcare center for your child or a really nice restaurant for the date night with your spouse as well as help you break the ice with your new colleagues.
Pack only what you must
One of the biggest hassles of relocation is packing and unpacking all your stuff. Going through rooms filled with boxes can be quite overwhelming when you are already dealing with adjusting to a new environment. One good idea to make life simpler is to mark the boxes that you would need to open first. This way you will be able to unpack all your necessary stuff on the first day and leave the rest to a later date. Having familiar household items will also help make the new house feel more homely to your kids and help them adjust better.
A housewife who needs to move cities often because of her husband's frequent transfers and who has now become an expert on packing and moving homes believes that moving houses gives you the perfect opportunity to sort out the clutter in your house and dispose the junk. She also states that videotaping all of your electronic items with your kid reading out the model and serial numbers will help you keep a record of your expensive items just in case they are damaged or stolen during the move and you need to claim the damages.
Start a job search for your spouse as early as possible
If you have a two-income family and are planning to move, ask your spouse to start his/her job search as soon as you decide on accepting the relocation offer. Finding a job can be quite a task, and the loss of income during the transition period may place unnecessary stress on your finances. Not just that, you don't want your spouse to be frustrated at not finding the right job and having to settle for the first job that comes his/her way. Thankfully, in today's age of social networking, looking for job opportunities in another city is not that great a challenge.
Spend quality time with your family
Relocation to a new city leads to quite an upheaval in your family's social life. After all, they may be leaving behind their friends and family in order to help you move ahead in your career. Hence, it becomes your responsibility to ensure that they don't feel left out in the new city. Take out time to take the family out for a concert or to the movies. If there is a theme park nearby, drive down with your kids. Keep them entertained while they make new friends in the area.
