If you’ve gotten a new job across the nation—or any large distance from your current location—congratulations!  You have a chance to further your career and to begin a new chapter in your life.  But it’s important to realize that the relocation can sometimes throw people off their game just a little, making the transition into the new job less smooth than you might like.  Plan for a major transition and it’ll be a lot less traumatic.

Find Out What you Qualify For

A lot of great employers offer some sort of assistance in moving, usually in the form of defraying your costs.  Sometimes you can negotiate your salary along these lines.  To come at the issue from a different angle, you can visit the IRS website to see what sort of tax deductions your moving expenses will qualify for.

Figure Out The New Habitat

When relocating for a new job, you’re really relocating your life.  As you know, it’s now only too easy to use Google Earth and similar tools to scope out the new area.  Therefore, don’t wait until you’ve unloaded the moving van to get a sense of what’s around you in your new home.  In addition to finding out about important things as nearby restaurants and stores, you can use the Internet to learn about groups, clubs, and various support and networking opportunities.  People often say that their first few months in a new place was difficult and that turning the corner meant finding the right group, set of friends, something to which they could belong and find some enjoyment outside of work.  Speed up that process with some quick and easy research.

Meet the Needs of Those Around You

Unless you’re single and unattached and just blasting off to a new place all alone, relocating for a new job is something that involves more than just your needs.  One thing that can make the move a bit stressful is your causing inconvenience and strain on a significant other, spouse, children, etc.  With everything you’re going through it’s hard to have time and energy for others, but try to go out of your way to find, just as you have for yourself, opportunities and conveniences for any loved ones who are moving with you.

Don’t Take on Too Much Too Fast

Sometimes movers find themselves filled with ambition.  It’s easy to look around and find a need for new area rugs, a little corral for your recycling bins, refrigerator décor, and, in really dire cases, actual home improvement projects.  These are great to do, and may help with your overall success. But remember that they’re not quite as urgent as you might think, not in the first two or three weeks.  Make lists and evaluate which projects you indeed need to undertake right now and which will only stress you out.

Comparison Shop

One of the things that can trip people up in a new move is the expense, particularly since your initial paychecks will be on a bit of a delay.  When you’re getting the new area rug and new kitchen supplies, avoid the temptation to go to the nearest stores and to buy as many things at one place as possible.  Again, this falls under taking things slowly.  You want to get all your new supplies right away, but take some time to figure out which things you really need right away.  Comparison shop for the rest as a way of lessening the financial blow of a move.