Getting a New Job..

If you are shifting because your spouse was transferred to a new place, your job becomes a big concern.

For a smoother job shift you can ask your company if they have a branch at the place you are planning to move to.

If you can't, but you have a certain amount of experience, plan for a new job much before the actual time of shifting. Satyasai Srikant, Design Engineer did exactly the same. When he wanted to make a shift from Mumbai to Delhi, he put his resumes on the job sites two months earlier, specifically for positions in Delhi. Thanks to his early move, he got a range of options to choose from.

These sites list jobs across India as well as overseas and you can always explore your options without actually going to that city or country. You can also ask them to send you latest updates. Also, many of the head hunters have their numbers online, you can contact them.

These days many long distance interviews are done online or on phone, and you can easily shift your base once you are confirmed.

For Shanta Venugopal, a pharmacy graduate from Pune, shifting abroad with her hubby became a job challenge, since she wasn't granted a work permit. "I dealt with it cleverly - I joined a US university for a short course; once the course was over, instead of dependent visa, I got a work permit and started working," she says. Be alert about visa rules and work regulations if you are shifting abroad.

Accommodation

Finding that perfect place to live in is never an easy job, but it is especially tough if you are shifting to an unknown city.

Shweta Parande, a media professional from Mumbai says, "When I had to look out for an apartment, I tried everything, from estate agents to friends, but to no avail. Luckily, I happened to mention my requirements on a networking site. Offers came and I liked the first apartment I saw."

In case you don't find accommodation before joining work, you can always do it after joining - send a common mail to all your colleagues stating your accommodation requirements.

Getting numbers of estate brokers in the city yellow pages is always a good idea, since they usually have a huge network of people and can suggest places that will be suitable to your preference.

Vaibhav Mangalwadi, Media Professional who just recently moved from Mumbai to Delhi recommends you to carry passport size photographs and documents of your previous location such as bank accounts, phone bills etc. "These things are very useful, since you have to give proofs of address and employment to the residential societies before they let you rent a place," says Vaibhav.

Settling Down

The ideal thing to do while settling down is to take a couple of days to just figure out the place before you shift.

The hardest thing to do is getting your family to settle, so sometimes it's best to find your ropes before you get them. Natasha Nagwekar, Home maker says, "When we planned to shift to US, my husband moved there two months in advance so that he could set up the entire place and settle sources of basic needs of my daughter before we moved in. Shifting abroad is normally hassled experience, but it was easier for us"

Remember, carry all the contacts you can get from the city you are shifting to. You never know when you will need somebody's guidance.