Putting down shallow roots at first is a good idea. The second time I had to relocate, I had only been there six months when we were shut down. It was easier to cancel a lease on the apartment that to try to sell a houes.

And you should not assume that everyone who responded is currently employed,cause some of us are not.

It is absolutely tough to get work today, no matter who you are. Anyone who says differently does not know.

Given the way things are, some people are at a clear disadvantage (age, location, industry, etc.) than others and have to work harder to find opportunities, as limited as they are. It’s a selling game and some folks are great at their work, but not so good in selling themselves to some of the totally unqualified people who are doing the hiring.

You can do research online but it always comes down to people…who can open doors, let you know about openings, pass along a resume, make a recommendation, etc. You have to do the work to present yourself in the best possible light and to showcase what you’ve got (work unto itself!).

Even then, there are no guarantees.

The country is filled with talented, unemployed people. That’s the reality. Point number one makes sense, IF you had a large enough salary to save in the first place.

But plenty of people had more than a year’s worth of a backup and still ended up on the financial edge because they could not find work.

Nobody is saying it’s simple.

When I was employed, I oversimplified everyone else’s unemployment too. I never though that that a talented couple of highly educated folks would be unemployed for quite so long as me and my husband have been(hubby still is). It is not as simple as doing some work online or networking.

I like the “go anywhere young man” quote!

It was an expensive investment on my part with hope for the best…but still considering the Plan B of needing to be back in my primary residence.

Four months into the job it became clear that it wasn’t working. They said I could then work from my primary residence. What they didn’t say was that they would cut my workload by 50% and also my income.

It cost me a huge amount of money upfront to get a second apartment and set it up (even though it was somewhat furnished).

It cost me money to move up my stuff and to go back and forth and also the complete costs of keeping my primary residence (in a major NYC where it would have been impossible to find another apartment I could afford if I were to give it up). I spent more than I earned when you consider taxes, but I was committed (unlike the company) to the job.

For anyone who even considers taking a job in another area that requires moving, I say, get some upfront guarantees (an employment contract, an arrangement for them to pay for some costs/fees involved, etc.). If they won’t, be prepared to lose not only a job, but money you invest in moving. And consider that you may then be stuck in a place you never wanted to be in.

If you are willing to risk all that for a new job, as I did, definitely do not sign any long-term leases and definitely rent. Keep your main place and rent it out if you have to, but don’t give it up if the only reason you are moving is because of a job.

It’s one thing to move somewhere else because you want to live there. BUt moving in the hopes of getting a job? That’s even more foolish than moving for a job where nobody pays for your move and nobody will commit to YOU, while asking YOU to commit to them.

Yea, I get that companies are fearful of losing money on people who don’t work out, but if a company can’t show any form of investment in a new employee, how much do they really give a hoot about you? Pay close attention to how people negotiate a job offer if you have to move. It will tell you plenty about the company and its real interest in its employees–if they even have any.

Given that no job is safe today, let alone a company or industry (rare exceptions), moving with the hope of a job is very risky.

And seriously, if you already can’t get a job where you are (depending on what you do and the local economy), you need to be very sure there are even prospects where you want to move–and then hope you can outsell yourself against the competition. Moving, job hunting. A lot of work with no guarantees. Understand what you’re doing and ideally, have a job before you go. Unless you’re young enough to be able to pick up and move again.

Brilliant insight. The fact that I didn’t naturally think of that makes me feel old.