How do you plan an effective move?

Hi John!

Wow, what a question!
So, ideally, you'd save up a bunch of money (six months worth of expenses), have a job lined up before you move, and have friends or family in Seattle who could help you get on your feet.

But, assuming you are starting from scratch. . . . Jobsearch, on Indeed.com, write good cover letters to explain your situation.
Save up as much money as you can.
I have a friend who takes virtual vacations/ or virtually moves to other cities all the time. Scout it out on the internet, figure out which part of town would feel right for you, etc.
Also, possibly get a job with a nat'l company, so that when you move your job can go with you (Target, Starbucks, etc). That job would be okay until you get settled in, then you start looking for your career job.

I admire your courageous sense of adventure!
Good luck!
Kim

Utilize Craigslist! There are plenty of options for room and apartment sharing. I also recommend working part-time (doing something you enjoy) while also looking for something more permanent. Seattle is a great place to live and work. Amazon.com is headquartered in Seattle and commonly brings on new hires in September. Good luck.

John,

Tamara raised a good point, which, I will follow-up on. Are you sure about this move? If it means leaving family behind (assuming they don't live in Seattle), that is a HUGE move. When you are going through problem times in your life, it is nice to have them a little closer. a FB hug is not the same as a real one! What does Seattle have to offer that you cannot find in Austin? I know this was not the question that you asked, but it is something that is pretty serious that you need to make sure you have thought through.

Best of luck!
Kim

Hi John,

First, is your move to Washington State, and Seattle is a city you are considering? Or have you completely decided on moving to Seattle, WA?

Either way, I would HIGHLY suggest you secure a job before heading out there. If you do not have a very hefty savings that you can live off for at least 6-8 months, I would not advise a risky move like that. Thoroughly research the cities (If you are simply considering Washington State) you are interested in and see what their demand is job wise. Your educational background and experience will be pertinent to what city is best suited for you in many regards. Be clear on why you are moving, and expect the unexpected. I am that risk taker, and recently went through this very situation, so my advice is certainly from experience! Here's a few links with some helpful info, but you can also just google "what to know before moving to Seattle", or "what to know before moving to Washington State". I hope this was helpful!! Be super smart, organized, and knowledgeable about your move, wherever that should be. Good Luck!!

https://smartasset.com/mortgage/moving-to-seattle

http://mentalfloss.com/article/67858/25-things-you-should-know-about-seattle

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/purewow/15-reasons-why-you-should_b_9290190.html

Before you make the move search local job sites and contact “head hunters”! There are organizations that can assist you with finding jobs that suit your strengths. I would also reach out to social media and assistance sites like posting your resume on LinkedIn. The first step was reaching out for help... you got this!

Save. Save. Save some more. Seriously. I made the move to Seattle around the same time this question was posted. I figured out what I thought I needed in cash reserves and then tripled it. This is an expensive place to live.

Don't move until you've hit your savings goal and be flexible in the timing, if you can be. If you have a lease renewal when you're approaching your target move date, don't renew it. Make arrangements for short term housing (living with parents, a friend, etc) for the month(s) leading up to your move. Do the same for you first couple months here in Seattle. I have a wife and kids and couldn't make short term arrangements on either end. I had a specific date that I needed to move out on and had to have permanent housing here in Seattle to move directly into. This caused a couple problems - 1. I moved before I had secured employment (see my next point below) and 2. I accepted housing arrangements here in Seattle that were less than ideal.

Research the skills/jobs that are in demand here. Do your skills align with what's in demand? If so, great. Start looking for a job well in advance of your move. The previously mentioned flexibility in move date will help. If you find a job that needs you to start on a specific date, you don't want to have to pass because you're hard locked on a specific later date. If your skills aren't in particular demand, you should deal with that before you move here. Try to find work in Dallas in an industry where you can build an in demand skill set or take a hard look at what you can realistically earn here doing whatever you currently do and what kind of life that will afford you here (the cost of living is very high) and decide if that is acceptable.

I did all of the wrong things when I moved here. I didn't have enough saved (I had a lot, but not enough), I didn't have flexible timing and because of that, I didn't have a job lined up. BUT I had employable skills and did freelance work (I drove Uber and Lyft and job hunted in the downtime between rides). I'm in information technology and my skills are in demand. Had it not been for that, I would have been in a hard place.

Have a solid plan and save a lot of money. This place is amazing but also very expensive. You don't want to move here, find out you can't afford it here, but don't have money to move home because you spent it all trying to make it before you realized that you could't.