How to Work to Make Your Relocation to the Countryside a Success
When you think about relocating to the countryside, the issue of "work" is something you will inevitably have to face.
Even if you change where you live, if your source of income wavers, your ideal lifestyle will not last long.
Therefore, in this article, I will share the option of "remote work" as a way of working to make your relocation a success, while also incorporating the realities from the field.
⌘1: Remote Work is an Ally for Relocation
There are advantages to job hunting after relocating. If you find employment at a local company, you will build connections with local people and increase your points of contact with the local community.
However, on the other hand, there is no guarantee that you will definitely find a workplace that meets your ideal conditions.
In rural areas, job options are often more limited than in urban areas, and the reality is that it is not always possible for everything—such as salary, job content, and flexibility in working style—to go exactly as you hope.
In such cases, income from remote work is a source of reassurance.
As long as you have an environment where you can use a computer, you can basically work anywhere. In other words, it means that your income is less likely to be interrupted even if you change where you live.
This becomes a major source of peace of mind in your relocation plan.
However, this is not to deny the value of finding employment at a local company. It is just that if you keep changing jobs every time you move, your employment history will grow.
When I handle interviews for job seeker support, there have actually been cases where having too many job changes worked to a person's disadvantage.
In that respect, with remote work, you can continue your employment even if you change your residence.
You can change only where you live while keeping the core of your career intact. For those who have the potential to relocate, remote work is a very compatible way of working.
⌘2: The Reality of Remote Workers
In recent years, while doing interview work for job seeker support, I have seen an increase in people of all ages who want to work remotely.
Telework has become particularly widespread among the younger generation, and a "work style that does not involve commuting to the office" is becoming less and less unusual.
However, the situation changes when it comes to those in their 40s, 50s, and older. The reality is that many people are still commuting to a physical workplace.
Behind this lies the harsh reality faced by companies.
In fact, there was a request from a company that stated, "Applicants over 40 are not allowed because they are slow to learn."
Information that cannot be shared with the applicant themselves.
However, when involved in the field as a nationally certified career consultant, I sometimes get a glimpse of this kind of inside information.
Even if a job posting says "Experience not required," it is by no means aimed at a wide range of age groups. The reality is that in many cases, they are assuming a younger demographic.
For those in their 40s and 50s, whether or not they can provide technical skills as an immediate asset often determines the outcome of the application.
Because of this, if you aim for remote work based only on longing, you may suffer from the gap with reality.
That is precisely why a strategy such as a thorough inventory of your work history and advice from experts is necessary.
⌘3: Skills and Elements Required for Remote Work
The main tools required for remote work are also listed in the "Remote Work Aptitude Diagnosis".
The tools listed there are the basic skills you should at least be able to use. Furthermore, if you can handle specialized tools or have industry experience, your success rate will increase significantly.
The deciding factor when I was accepted into a full-remote company was "National Certification x Industry Experience."
The combination of specialized skills and immediate readiness, this will be your strong point.
In addition, there is an essential element.
That is "self-problem-solving ability".
Unlike office-based work, there are many situations where you have to "research," "think," and "solve" daily troubles and unclear points on your own.
Even when receiving lectures, you must absorb a lot from interactions through a virtual screen.
What is necessary for that is "inquisitiveness" and "persistence." It can be said that it is a difficult world for those with a victim mentality.
Furthermore, the courage to honestly bow your head to a younger senior is also necessary. This is also common to the mindset required at your relocation destination.
People who do not get caught up in age or titles, who honestly continue to learn, who continue to have ambition, and who can strive to build good relationships with those around them.
It can be said that such individuals, regardless of their place of birth or age, are more likely to build good relationships and find a positive work environment.
This is a universal principle that applies not only to how you work, but also to relocation itself.
First, to earn a salary while working from home, ask yourself, “What can I offer?” And if you are moving to a rural area, ask, “What can I share?”.
Thinking about these questions is where the success of your career change and relocation begins.
Relocating to a rural area means changing where you live. At the same time, it is an opportunity to rethink your way of life.
It is not just about “where to live,” but also “what attitude to work with.”
By deeply reflecting on these two points, I am sure you will find the key to opening the door to a successful relocation or career change.
I hope you will take the time to inventory your life and find that beautiful key, so that you can encounter a wonderful community and work.