The Perks of Being Geographically Flexible

Rebecca Perry is the Recruitment, Marketing and Events Assistant at FDM in Glasgow having moved from Edinburgh to take up her year-long placement. Here she writes about overcoming the challenges of moving to a new city.

Over the last five years, I have relocated from Malta to Aberdeen on to Edinburgh then Glasgow with a bit of America and Asia in between. Moving to a new town, city or country can be a daunting and scary experience, especially if you are doing it alone. Believe me, I know! You question the move several times and question your ability to settle and make a new place home. Relocating to a new city alone is a challenge, but it allows you to push yourself. I moved to Scotland when I was 17 from a small sunny island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, to attend sixth form and University. This was definitely the biggest transition I have ever had to go through.

It is normal to question your motivation and drive when you first move to a new place. I began to question if I had made the right decision when I first moved to Glasgow and began to see things in a negative light. As overwhelming as this may be, be ambitious, push yourself as far out of your comfort zone as possible and take on new activities such as joining a new sports team or club. You can set yourself new goals and challenges to focus on achieving in both professional and personal situations. In the end, remember home is not that far away and sometimes all you need is some family support to push you.

If the move is not just a new city, but a new country, this is a whole other level of excitement with so many experiences and opportunities awaiting. This move will allow you to learn first-hand the cultures and traditions practised in these places. I always believe that the quickest way to learn a new language fluently is to throw yourself in at the deep end by communicating with the locals.

The idea of breaking out of your comfort zone might be daunting but the positives outweigh the negatives. Research your new home, reach out to people on social media and throw yourself into your career. Colleagues will be happy to give you recommendations on places to visit and see. If you decide to move into a house share, it is a great opportunity to live with like-minded people you may even become great friends with in the future.

FDM has allowed me to adjust from being a student to working in a fast-paced office environment. I have had the opportunity to work and experience three different departments and improve vital skills such as communication, teamwork and time management. It has bridged the gap between university and the commercial world whilst giving me a family in Glasgow.

If you are looking for new opportunities, apply today to start your journey with FDM Group as a Business or Tech Consultant.

Featured image credit: Photo by Brett Zeck on Unsplash