THE RELOCATION QUESTION

The interview is going great and you feel in control. You have answered all the challenging questions with ease. You start to relax a little in your confidence when the employer asks, "How do you feel about relocation?" you answer, "Yes, for the right opportunity, I would be open to consider relocation." You have has just given the wrong answer. That answer can often derail the best interviews. By using the words "right opportunity" and, "I would be open," you are using wiggle phases. To the employer it may translate as, "If you make me a great offer, I’ll think about it." It could water down your anticipated commitment to the company. It is a weak answer only implying, "I’m relocatable." The best answer is "I’m excited about the opportunity to join your company. I am focused on my career. I have location preferences like everyone else but my career path success is my number priority. Where I live is secondary to my career path."

The toughest relocation question to handle is when the interviewer has uncovered during the interview that your spouse is a professional person, such as a doctor, business owners, lawyer, CPA, elected government official or civil servant. These types of employment or self-employment are location dedicated and not easily relocated. Your spouse may have spent years building a successful business or practice and it can be difficult to duplicate in a new location. You are in an untenable position to say you are 100% relocatable. When you indicate that you are relocatable, but your spouse cannot relocate, you are in tough a predicament and there is no ease way out. The best solution and answer to this problem question is preemptive in nature. You must keep the career and profession of your spouse confidential during interviews. Employers can not legally ask your marital status. During interviews spousal information can be voluntary disclosed. Don’t answer any leading questions about your spouse. You can change the subject by indicating that your spouse is 100% supportive of your career including future relocation without divulging their background.