READ THIS BEFORE YOU RELOCATE

***FOUR THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU RELOCATE FOR WORK***

If you're having trouble finding a job, you might be thinking of relocating for work. But don't just pack up a duffel bag and set off into the great unknown. If you do, you'll fall flat on your face. Here are four things you should do before you relocate for work . . .
#1.) DON'T MOVE UNTIL YOU'VE FOUND A JOB. Jobs are scarce EVERYWHERE right now. If you relocate BEFORE you have a steady paycheck coming in, you'll probably end up moving back home with your tail between your legs.

#2.) RESEARCH TARGET LOCATIONS. Obviously, a small farming town isn't a good choice if you're a software engineer who's allergic to hay. And moving across the country is a bad idea if you know you'll be unhappy that far from the people you care about.

--So make sure you research climate, culture, and cost-of-living before you relocate. Because if you move to a place you HATE, you won't be happy.

#3.) LOOK FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES. Once you've found some cities or towns you're interested in, find out if there's a job market that fits your skills. Look on job-search websites or call the city's chamber of commerce.

--Then be prepared to cross some cities off your list if there aren't any jobs that fit your criteria.

#4.) TAKE CARE OF THE DETAILS. If you take a job hundreds of miles away, make sure you have the have enough money to get there. A U-Haul from one coast to the other will cost a few thousand dollars, and employers WON'T necessarily pay for it.

--If you're looking for work overseas, you'll need to obtain work permits and visas before you start your new job. So take care of those details as soon as possible.
(AskMen.com)