Changing jobs while maintaining your home life is difficult. Your old routines are gone. You have to learn new products, services, software and possibly technologies. Add in new responsibilities, new coworkers, schedule and a different commute. The way to get things done and who does them is different.
You can see why onboarding new employees is important for success. Companies with poor onboarding lose good people to other opportunities.
Fortunately with just changing jobs, your social life, friends and family remain. Your family does not need new housing, schools, and jobs. Relocating across states is much more difficult with added disruptions. You may be the only one affected if you are lucky.
Relocating nationally or internationally raises the levels of disruptions. Family, friends, neighbors, associates, small businesses you patronize, your kid’s schools, your church, places you volunteer or donate blood are a little affected. You now need new place to live, registration, insurance, doctor, dentist, hair cutter, mechanic, gym, food stores, and places to go on weekends. Language and pronunciation are different. Moving to SoCal exposed my lack of Spanish, and NOLA my lack of French. Food is different. Cafe de Lait and Community Coffee in NOLA replaces Starbucks. Few chain grocery stores, and cannot find coffee ice cream. Who knew? Is it any wonder people return home if not taken care of? Welcoming and onboarding people is important for team building.
Arrived in New Orleans same way arrived in Everett. Long multiple day drive with packed trunk and back seat. Mostly clothes, towels, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, small appliances, small toolbox, table with legs unscrewed, and couple folding chairs. Buy a bed, mattress, office chair, monitor, food and minimum items necessary to get through for months until household can be moved. You don’t realize how much you enjoy home.
Been here ~2.5 months, been to the office handful of times (Covid), and beginning to find places without phone map. Streets are beginning to make sense although there have been wrong turns and U-turns. Not sure can find landmarks at night yet. Been to French Quarter twice, and found safe places to run. Eventually have to find restaurants and new volleyball teams. Buying a house will follow.
My blessings have been my coworkers and boss who have been wonderfully helpful. One offered to pick up anything I need during a sick day, even though lives 25 miles out of way. Prior boss recommended his doctor and dentist. Other coworkers share work processes, software, restaurants, shopping and took me to lunch to get settled. Helps other new hires here sharing knowledge.
Have done this several times. Around one and half years the new place will feel like home. You have friends, a social life developing, and a routine to develop. Am looking forward to the day.
