Our digital landscape is still developing. One result of this is a rich variety of career opportunities. The sector is not expected to diminish any time soon. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted jobs in computer and information technology will grow at a faster-than-average rate during this decade. Needless to say, it’s a great time to be a tech professional.
This doesn’t mean your dream tech job is just going to fall into your lap. You may even need to relocate to a new city to engage with the businesses or projects you want to contribute to.
We’re going to review a few of the aspects you should bear in mind when relocating to pursue a tech job.
Match the role and location
Your first step is to gain a better understanding of how your target job might be linked to a new location. This allows you to better assess the compatibility with your intended lifestyle and career goals. You can make more informed decisions and even plan accordingly.
You’ll find some tech jobs are centralized in one location. Seattle has been the area with the highest tech job growth for the past five years. But you should also consider the demand for specific job titles. You could work everywhere from hospitals to e-commerce companies in the current data science job market. However, New York and San Francisco have the highest demand for data scientists at the moment.
This isn’t going to be everyone’s preferred approach. These large centralized hubs are also ultra-competitive. You may want to target roles that give you more freedom to find a city you like. Most large businesses today need chief technology officers to act as experts in implementing tech tools and protocols into operations. You can pull in a high salary in these executive positions. The role also offers a wide variety of industries to contribute to. This usually means that you have a lot of target businesses and locations to choose from. But you should bear in mind that corporations are usually drawn to cities. Part of your job search should include doing some further research on the cities these businesses are headquartered in. Consider whether they are suitable for the long term.
Hone your environment
Identifying the right city to match your job and personal needs is just the first step. You also need to create the right environment to thrive in your new position. After all, you shouldn’t ignore the fact that both the tech industry and city living can be quite stressful elements in your life. It’s worth establishing a home where you can make these things a little easier.
This starts with finding the right property. It may be the case that you were able to afford a house in your home town. This may not be practical or affordable if you’re relocating to a major city. This means you need to do a little research on the key considerations for renting or buying small spaces like a condo. These properties can come in various styles from lofts to high-rises. But there can often be monthly fees for building maintenance. You should also bear in mind whether your new property is within reasonable commuting distance to your employer. It’s rarely pleasant to deal with coding challenges and cybersecurity after a long and stressful drive.
The property you choose is important. But you should dedicate some of your time and resources to creating a functional tech space within your new home. A lot of tech jobs today offer more flexible attendance options and you may choose to spend some time outside of the office. Creating a professional space is vital for your productivity. You’ll also find this makes it easier to keep work separate from your home life.
You will occasionally need to take refresher certification courses if you’re working in cybersecurity or programming. Make sure your space is suitable for study. It can also be important to arrange your space so you can engage in your personal tech projects beyond your work duties. You need to make your space suitable for your needs. This applies whether you’re designing artificial intelligence (AI) using open source programming or 3D printing. You’re moving to a new city and your comfort relies on making your space your own.
Get meaningfully involved
Relocating for a tech job can be quite isolating. You likely won’t know anybody at the company you’re working for to begin with. You may even have no friends or family in the city you’re moving to. Making efforts to forge meaningful connections early on can be valuable for your mental wellbeing. It can also influence your career trajectory.
You should prioritize a solid and supportive culture when identifying a good software company to work for. Seek out opportunities to engage with your colleagues on a more personal and collaborative level. Get involved with company hackathons or casual gaming sessions. Join internal project groups so you can contribute to the success of the business. These are also vital chances to get to know colleagues from different departments. Apart from anything else, you need to be seen as a valuable professional in your role. Make it clear your colleagues should seek you out for your expertise.
It’s worth getting involved in community tech events outside of your official role. The organizers of industry conventions and hacking conferences tend to target cities that are home to a lot of tech companies. Make efforts to attend or get involved with the running of these events. You’ll gain some exposure to the wider tech community in the local area. It also gives you opportunities to do some advanced networking for when you’re ready to move on to the next stage of your career in the city.
Conclusion
There are tech jobs available all over the world. Some of these employers will need you to relocate. Do some research into what locations are hubs for your area of expertise. Consider whether these cities are suited to your lifestyle. Make sure you put some effort into creating an environment that supports your professional and personal needs. Importantly, find ways to engage with your company and community that help you build valuable connections with your new location.