Are You Willing to Relocate?' Interview Answers

Your answer to an interview question about your willingness to move matters for several reasons:

• It shows your locational suitability for a job. The primary reason behind this question is to determine whether you can work somewhere other than your current location because they want a local full-time hire to begin immediately or in the future.
• It communicates your interest and passion. Relocation is a significant life change.  How you answer reflects your interest in the job and your professional passion. For example, demonstrating a willingness to move for an occupation may convince the hiring manager you’re a dedicated applicant who is suitable for a long-term position.
• It demonstrates valuable skills. Answering this question effectively, which involves giving a clear rationale for your relocation decision, indicates that you’re organized, goal-oriented, and reliable, which are valuable attributes that most employers look for.
• It reveals your company-related knowledge. Employers use this question to gauge your understanding and awareness of the company. A suitable answer says you’ve done your research. For example, if you’re applying to a multinational corporation with a policy of advancing employee careers through relocation, a willingness to relocate is necessary to share with the hiring manager. An unwillingness to consider relocation in this situation indicates a lack of knowledge about the company, which will hurt your chances of being hired.
• It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your flexibility. Adaptability is a skill that many employers value in employees because it improves their resilience and dependability. A willingness to relocate for a new job immediately or in the future shows you have this valuable ability.

Learn more: Discover real interview questions asked for thousands of job titles

Use the following steps to answer the question, “Are you willing to relocate?” in your next job interview:

1. Consider whether you actually want to relocate for the job. To answer the question at large, prepare for it before your interview first by figuring out if you’re willing to uproot for the job. Here’s a checklist you can use to help:

• Are you willing to leave your house, family, and friends to live somewhere else just for a job?
• Do the gains associated with the job in question outweigh what you’ll be giving up?
• Can your family — a partner or any children you may have — adapt easily to a new place considering their work status, education, health, or social lives?
• Can you afford to move right now?
• Could you move if your new boss helps with the moving costs?
• Are you ready to look for a new home?
• Are you willing to make friends in a new place?
• Does the idea of relocation excite you?

2. Support your answer. It’s very important to inform the hiring manager of the primary reasons for your decision, especially if you’re unwilling to relocate. Take the time to justify your decision on relocating for work. Below are good supporting factors for saying yes, no, and maybe when it comes time to give your response. Use these as a guide:

• Supporting factors for relocating: You believe that the new job is a great fit for your skills, industry experience, and long-term career goals.
• Supporting factors for not relocating: You bought/leased a new home recently or your partner cannot move away at present because of their job.
• Supporting factors for maybe relocating: You’re looking for a change of scenery or the job is a great opportunity to advance your career, but you’re unsure you can afford the moving costs in your current financial state. The latter of these could depend on your employment status while searching for the job you’re interviewing for at the time.

Learn more: Answering ‘How Do You Handle Stress?’ at an Interview

3. Write your answer and rationale. Doing so gives you a chance to evaluate your answer thoroughly. Science even shows that writing your answer down by hand allows the brain to procure and keep more details while processing the information you’ve written. Once you’ve done this, use the following advice to flesh out a professional answer:

• Improve how you phrase the question. After writing it, ask yourself if it makes sense from the perspective of an employer. At this stage, focus on developing a strategic answer that does not alienate the hiring manager and prevent your application from being moved forward. This is especially important if you’re unwilling to move for a job. For example, avoid answers that demand more money to move or contain an unequivocal refusal to leave your area without a reason.
• Be honest. Tell the truth about your willingness to relocate, and provide your reasons. An honest answer is much less difficult to express than struggling to make one up.
• Show your worth. Focus on developing an answer that makes the hiring manager see you as a good fit for the role, despite your stance on relocation.
• Get feedback from others. Ask a mentor or a trustworthy friend for their opinion on your answer and make any necessary changes.
• Polish your answer. Showcase your communication skills by correcting any grammatical mistakes, improving the syntax, and adjusting for flow.

Learn more: Answering ‘How Do You Work Under Pressure?’ in an Interview

Use the following answers as a guide to develop your own:

Example 1: Entry-level teacher

Yes! I’m very excited about this opportunity to use my skills and experience as an educator in one of your highly reputed schools, so I’m definitely open to relocating. Do you have a specific new location in mind? 

Example 2: Entry-level graphic designer

Relocation is something I’m definitely interested in because I enjoy new challenges. This job seems like a great fit for my education and design experience, and I would be happy to move if it means working as a member of your team.

Learn more: Questions to Ask an Interviewer About Their Job

Example 3: Senior accountant

This is a wonderful opportunity, and I would love to be a part of your team. However, my family commitments — my partner’s job and my kids’ school schedules —  are major obstacles for relocation. My circumstances in this area are unlikely to change for the next two years. If there is any possibility of working from your local office or working remotely, I’d be extremely interested in pursuing that. My extensive experience in delivering financial services remotely to my international clients during my two years of self-employment enables me to offer you seamless remote service.

Example 4: Mid-level administrative manager

I would love to be a part of your team. However, being the primary caregiver to my sick father at the moment, I’m unable to commit to an immediate relocation. I’d be happy to work remotely, commute to a new location, or work out of your Denver office if possible until circumstances change.

Example 5: Mid-level researcher

This is an amazing opportunity, and I believe I have the skills and experience to be an asset to your research team! However, I’m happy in my current location. I recently bought my apartment and I’m not sure if I could afford to move immediately. Would working remotely, commuting, or using the local office possible temporarily? If this is not possible, I would definitely consider relocation in the future depending on the position’s availability.

While there’s no right or wrong answer when asked if you are willing to relocate, thoughtful answers emphasize your professionalism, commitment, and ambition. Knowing how to answer questions in an interview will propel you ahead of other candidates and toward a brighter future.