Dear Lifehacker,I’m looking for a new job.
Should I “follow the money?”
You have a lot to consider.
Let’s take a look.
That’s not the case.
Look at companies headquartered where you live, or large companies with branches in your area.
You may find options in your field that you would never have considered.
Want to work in tech?
Consider working for local or state governments, or schools and universities.
Every city is different, but a job that’s perfect for you may be hiding under your nose.
Find out for sure.
Pretend like you live there and you’re looking for work.
Fire upyour favorite job boardsand visit the web sites of the companies you’re interested in.
See what’s available, and what you’re qualified for.
Then, head over toGlassdoor,Salary.com, orPayScaleto see how much those jobs would actually pay.
Thispreviously mentionedMIT calculatorcan help too, as canthis interactive guide.
Compare the salaries you found to the actual cost of living.
That big salary won’t feel like one when you’re spending twice as much on rent and groceries.
Those calculators are useful, but they give you a high-level, averaged view.
You’ll need todo your homework and look into the detailsto learn more.
Study the neighborhoods in the city, and where you’d likely want to live.
Check housing prices, and use Google Street View to drive around those areas.
Check the potential commute to where you want to work.
You’ve already done a mock job searchconsider doing the real thing from home.
Looking for a job in a city you don’t live in can be difficult.
You’ll have to travel for interviewssometimes long distancesand do a lot of things sight-unseen.
If they’re not, they may insist you move before they extend a job offer.
web connection with people in those companies and state your interest.
Some people have skills or jobs that are so portable they can go anywhere.
People who work on the internet, for example, or highly trained, highly educated professionals.
Most people, however, can’t just move to a new city andthenstart their job search.
Good luck,Lifehacker
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Title photo byyskii(Shutterstock) andyskii(Shutterstock).
Other photos byBrenda Gottsabend,Robert S Donovan,Jackie, andEgan Snow.
