Relocating is a major life-changing event that will not only affect you and your family, but your employer as well. It's customary for you to notify your employer as soon as possible that you are moving or are planning to move in the near future. There are certain ways in which you can go about doing this that will minimize the inconvenience caused by your relocation.
It's never easy to leave a job -- especially one that you've held for a good deal of time -- but there are right ways and wrong ways to notify your employer of your move.
When you should break the news that you're moving
The ultimate goal is to handle the entire situation in the most professional way possible, showing respect for your employer and for the company. But when is the best time to break the news to your boss? Here are some tips to help you know when it's the best time to inform your boss of your plans:
- Make sure to give your employer at least two weeks advance notice, if possible. While there is an acceptable time frame that is commonly referred to in these kinds of situations, it's hard to know exactly what time is the right time. As with any situation where you'll be leaving your current place of employment, it's usually best to give your employer at least two weeks of advance notice, so that they can begin preparing for the transition between you and your replacement.
- How soon is too soon to tell your employer that you're moving? Most people agree that anything more than six weeks of advance notice is too much, meaning that the time in between six weeks and two weeks prior to your move is the ideal time frame in which you want to sit down with your boss.
- Make a plan for notifying your boss of the move and prepare yourself. In the weeks leading up to your move, you'll have to determine when the best time is to break the news to your employer, based on your schedule. In this time, you should also prepare what you plan to say and how you want to say it.
Most effective way to notify your boss that you're moving
When it comes time to notify your employer of your impending move, you're faced with the question of how to best do it. This situation largely depends on the kind of relationship you have with your boss and how your communication is primarily handled. Here are some of the most common ways of notifying your boss of your impending move:
- Make sure you tell your boss in-person. Most of the time your best bet is to address your boss personally, in a face-to-face conversation, so you can clearly and concisely explain your reasons for leaving. Unless the situation deems it necessary, or extenuating circumstances interfere with having a face-to-face conversation, you shouldn't notify your employer that you're leaving in an email or over the phone. These forms of communication tend to be more impersonal and can send the wrong message about your reasons for leaving.
- Explain your reason for relocating and leaving your position. When explaining your reasons for leaving, you should always emphasize the fact that your relocation is motivated by outside circumstances and that you are not leaving the company because you are unhappy. Your employer will be much more understanding of the whole situation if you explain that your reasons for leaving do not stem from dissatisfaction with your current position.
- Always be honest. As long as you're upfront and honest with your employer about your relocation and your reason for leaving, then you shouldn't encounter any problems.
Looking for jobs in your new town
When you make the decision to move and leave your current job, you're going to have to prepare for finding a new job wherever you move to. Here are some tips on how to search for a new position in your new town or city:
- Start your job search as soon as you know when you'll be moving. With the way today's job market is, it will probably take you some time to post your resume and find a job, and you'll need to start the process well in advance, before you leave your current position.
- Never conduct your job search during work hours. One thing to remember is that you should never look for new jobs during work hours while you're at your current place of employment, and if you are granted any interviews, try to schedule them during non-work hours. While you may be leaving your job in a matter of weeks, you want to leave on the best terms possible and avoid doing anything that will sour your working relationship with your boss and your fellow employees.
- Remember to include information about your impending move in your cover letter. When you begin applying for new jobs, make sure to mention your relocation in your cover letter and be clear about the fact that you left your last position because you moved. It's also necessary to specifically mention your relocation, or impending relocation, if you're moving somewhere far away from your current town and applying for jobs there, as many employers will not consider the applications of candidates who live outside of the state or region.