3 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a new job

3 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a new job3 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a new jobMoving to a new city is never as easy of the advice of just move to where jobs are makes it seem. Moving for a job is a big career decision where you must carefully weigh unknowns that all boil down to answering the question of, is it worth it? More of us are answering, no.The Pew Research Center reported that Americans are moving at historically low rates, largely due to millennials staying put. Although millennials are less likely than the millennials of decades pastto have a partner, house, or a child,current millennials are a groupthat are dealing with fewer labor market opportunitiesin the wake of a recession andhigh student debt- factors that make the risk of moving particularly unappetizing.But you also dont want to look back with regret of an opportunity that you let pass. Movingfor a new job can be the jumpstart your career needs. None of these decisions comes without risk, however. Heres a list of considerations to weigh risks with rewards so you can make the most informed decision.Will this job make me happy?A good new job should be an opportunity for growth that will outweigh all the pangs of relocation. If youre leaving friends and family behind to live in a place where youll have to start over, that could be a major deterrent.Even then, starting over may be worth it in the long run.More millennials are willing to uproot their lives to find that elusive work-life balance they desire. 38% of millennials inAmerica saidthey would move to another country forbetter parental leave benefits. In those cases, finding a job that offers better work flexibility, even if its on the other side of the globe, can be worth it.Its also important to recognizethat no job is perfect. But a new job should fill you with more excitement than dread. If you know you would be secretly relieved if the offer fell through, its time to reconsider.Having secon d thoughts are normal, but third and fourth thoughts require deeper introspection. Wheres the source of this uncertainty? Are you unhappy with your current job or your career? We already know that work shouldnt define your identity. If youre unhappy with your career, recognize that a new job is not a cure-all solution and this unease with yourself will follow you job to job.Whats the financial cost of moving?Before you accept a job offer to move, you should always ask to see if your company will titelseite your relocation expenses and you should aggressively negotiatefor your salary to be abovethe median salary in that city for your job. A general rule of thumb is that you should earn 10% to 20% more than your current salary when changing jobs in the same city, workplace expert Lynn Taylor advised. But when youre relocating, you can generally be a little more aggressive. After that, youll need to calculate what youll need to comfortablylive in a new city.Will you be able to afford a car? Can you afford to live in a neighborhood thats close to work? Knowing the full cost of living in a new city means calculating the affordability of everything from neighborhoods and schools to publictransportation. Beyond the salary, assess a comparison of the local costs such as education costs, fuel and utilities and income taxes, Jill Knittel, chief operating officer at Employee Relations Associates, told CBS News.Whats the future of this company?The job landscape is littered with horror stories of employeeswho were laid off shortly after relocating to a new city for ajob. Although no job is certain, the best way to mitigate that risk is research.Luckily, theres more information than ever about companies thats publicly available. Making an informed decision to movemeans reading trade journals, Glassdoor reviews, LinkedIn bios of employees, chat boards and Twitter threads of ex-employees. Researchingmeans reading up onwho is funding the company and ultimately, who are the sta keholders who will make sure you get paid. It means talking withemployeeswho have the jobs youd want to have and it means digging into why people have left the company.Once youve done all this, you will have a clearer sense of the companys future and whether you will fit in its vision one year to five years down the line.