Q: After sending out a couple dozen applications, I got a couple of calls. One is a daily on the West Coast; the other are some weeklies on the East Coast.
When is a good time to bring up whether or not they will cover moving expenses?
Midwest Journalist
A: I would make moving costs part of the negotiations. That would come after they make you an offer and before you give them your decision.
If you start negotiating that prematurely, you could jeopardize an offer. I'd also want to get a look at the newsrooms before I would know how much I would spend to get to a job there.
There are two more things I want you to pay close attention to as you contemplate these moves:
1.: Money paid for relocation is subject to federal income tax, so take that into account and, if you're bold, ask them to pay enough to cover the costs and your tax liabilities.
2.: Do your homework on cost of living, especially apartment prices, state and local taxes and auto insurance. Both of these locations cost more than where you've been living and I don't want you to be shocked.
