How to Thrive in a New Location
As you progress through college, you may encounter various opportunities that arise unexpectedly, such as internships or full-time job offers in unfamiliar locations. These experiences can lead to significant life changes, including relocating to a new city and integrating into a different community. If you are open to moving to new places or are planning on making a big move, here are some strategies that can be useful to make a well-informed move and become immersed in a new community:
1. Research the area both practically and casually. Understanding what to expect upon your arrival is immensely beneficial, both in terms of activities around the community and budgeting. For practical insights, use resources like Glassdoor and PayScale to gauge wages and the cost of living in the area. When searching for a place to live, tools such as NeighborhoodScout and Nextdoor can help assess the safety and quality of neighborhoods. For leisure activities, a simple Google search for "things to do in [location]" can reveal fun activities and unique features of the area.
2. Talk to your new coworkers! After going through the interview process and receiving an offer, do not hesitate to reach out to any of your new teammates about things to do in the area – they already live there, so they will likely have many suggestions of things to do or will share what they like to do. Not only will this supplement your online research, but you will be getting to know them a little bit already by learning about their interests. On the practical side, they may also have better ideas of the best neighborhoods or areas to live in when apartment/house hunting.
3. Find young professional groups, clubs, and organizations in the area. One of the best ways to meet new people that share your interests is to join communities outside of work. If you like sports, research any recreational leagues that may be around and go to a game. If volunteering is your thing, look up non-profits or general volunteer organizations in the area to find some opportunities. Many areas also have young professional groups that organize social gatherings and professional development events intentionally to connect you with other folks around your age and stage in your career.
4. Be proactive and don’t be afraid to reach out to others early on. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, after moving to a new city it is often necessary to take the lead on talking to someone new, setting up a lunch or coffee hang out, and checking in on old friends back home. Taking this initiative in any capacity after moving can lay a great foundation for you to build new relationships and maintain old ones to keep a support system going for yourself.
More details at: https://business.unl.edu/current-students/business-career-center