Calculated Career Moves

Before you decide to relocate for a job opportunity, analyze the job market, the prospective employer’s corporate culture, your earning potential, and cost of living differential. Use data gathered by top researchers to find the best places to live and work in the USA.


STUDY THE JOB MARKET
Each month, LinkedIn shares valuable insights about the job market in its LinkedIn Workforce Report that’s divided into two sections–a national section and a city section. The national report offers insights into hiring, skills gaps, and migration trends across the USA. The city report shares insights into local employment trends for the top 20 largest metropolitan areas in the USA.

​The November 2019 LinkedIn Workforce Report can be viewed at this link:
https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/resources/linkedin-workforce-report-november-2019
To find the reports for future months, simply change the name of the month-year on the hyperlink above.
 
RESEARCH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER’S CORPORATE CULTURE AND HIRING PRACTICES
Three reliable lists of top employers are listed below.

1. The 2019 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For can be found here: ​https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/100-best/2019
2. Glassdoor’s 2019 Best Places to Work can be accessed here:​https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm
3. Talent Board’s 2018 Cande Awards is a list of 65 North American companies ranked highest for a quality candidate experience. It can be downloaded here:
    ​https://www.thetalentboard.org/cande-awards/cande-winners/#2018ranking

Also, consider factors such as the prospective employer’s employee satisfaction and retention, work-life balance, opportunities for collaboration and career advancement, effective leadership, and core values.
 
KNOW YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL
Four websites for comparing total compensation (salaries, bonuses, benefits, and perks) based on your job title, level of experience, and company location include:
https://www.linkedin.com/salary/
https://www.payscale.com/my/survey/choose
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/know-your-worth.htm
https://www.salary.com/
 
CALCULATE THE COST OF LIVING IN A DIFFERENT CITY
Determine how much you will need to earn to maintain your current standard of living in a different city. Here are a few websites with cost-of-living calculators:
https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/
https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator
https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator

Look before you leap. Analyze industry growth and available jobs. Understand a prospective employer’s corporate culture and hiring practices. Research total compensation by industry, experience in your professional role, and geographic location. Calculate the cost of living in a different city. Armed with these facts, you can make an informed decision about your next career move.

At Written by a Pro, we offer one-on-one career coaching to help you plan an effective job search campaign and guide you through every step of the way. Our mission is to help you land your dream job fast! Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation today at www.calendly.com/writtenbyapro. We look forward to speaking with you!

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