“Are you willing to relocate?”: how to answer this possible dealbreaker question

The best way to answer the question, “Are you willing to relocate?”

If you’re in a job interview, you will often be asked if you’re willing to relocate. While this might seem like an easy question to answer, it isn’t always black or white. You may have many other factors that play into how willing you are. 

For example, do you have a partner who also works and would need to find a job in the same city? Would this mean leaving your family? Do you own a home and need to sell it before moving somewhere new? These are all things that could impact whether or not you are willing to move. 

In order to give the best answer possible during the interview process, here are 5 tips on how you should answer “Are you willing to relocate?” in your next job interview:

1. Have a list of questions for the employer about relocation.

If the employer asks if you’re willing to relocate, make sure you have answers ready. Know what you want. Are you looking for a short-term relocation or a long-term one? How far from home do you want to go? Do your research ahead of time so that you can present yourself as someone who is ready to take on the challenge of relocating.

Have a list of questions for the employer about relocation. Find out what kind of support they offer employees who move to new locations, how much notice they give and whether there are any special requirements for relocating (such as owning a car).

The most important thing is to show that you're flexible and willing to move for the right job. If your future employer knows that you're willing to relocate, it shows that you're a team player who values making sacrifices for the good of the company.

2. Consider your current location's job market

If you don't know much about the area where the company is located, take some time to research before answering this question. You don't want to make any false promises that could come back to haunt you later on.

If you're new to a particular job market and aren't sure whether it will work well for you, ask the interviewer if there's any flexibility in terms of location within the region.

Even if they can't accommodate this request now, they may be willing to do so down the road once they see how well you perform at the job and whether or not other opportunities arise for growth and advancement within their company.

3. Be honest and thoughtful

The question "Are you willing to relocate?" is a bit of a loaded one. Your answer should be honest. Don't say yes unless you really mean it! The last thing you want is to start a new job and then have to quit because you realize you can't stand where the company relocated you.

Be open about your situation. If you have children, mention this up front. If this is an issue, address it right away so that both parties know where they stand on the matter.

You want to be honest about your willingness to relocate, but you also want to make sure that you’re not going to be moving away from your family or friends for the sake of a job.

If you do not want to relocate, it’s okay to say so. Many companies will allow employees to work from home or telecommute if their position requires a lot of travel or if they live in another city.

4. Consider the cost of living

Will the company pay for the relocation, increase your salary, or provide more benefits? If they don't, you may need to think twice about accepting their offer.

If you're not sure if a job offer will cover relocation costs, ask about them early in the process. It's better to find out if they'll cover it before you accept an offer than after.

It's also important to consider how long you'd need to stay in that area before moving on again. If there's no likely prospect for advancement within a reasonable time period (say, three years or less), then it might not be worth the expense of moving away just yet.Compare the cost of living to where you currently live.

Create a table to figure out the differences. This table comparing the cost of living between Spain and Germany makes it easy to see that if you were to move and work in Spain, then you’d save more money than if you lived in Germany. These are important things to consider when thinking about relocating for a job position.

5. Think about your current lifestyle

Would relocating be the right move for you right now? Will the new city fit your lifestyle? Do you have family or friends nearby who can help out during the transition?

If you've been in one place for a while and have established relationships with people and organizations there, relocating can be difficult. However, it’s also a great opportunity. It would be a chance to step out of your comfort zone but if you won’t enjoy your new potential city, then it might not be worth it. 

Research or even visit the city, if you can, to get a feel for what it would be like to live there and find out if it’s the right fit for you or not.

Being open to relocation can help show employers your commitment and flexibility but you should think it through well. Be honest and open and don’t make any decisions just to impress recruiters.

A potential employer wants to know what you can bring to their company, so it’s important to share your achievements. So how can you do that without seeming arrogant? Read more here →