Working in your hometown: what to do after moving back

Many people want to be near their parents, slow down, or are simply tired of the big city. The first question is always "what work will I do back home?" The good news is there are more options than you might think, if you plan ahead.

Option 1: keep working remotely

If your work happens on a computer, such as design, programming, online marketing, accounting or customer support, ask your current employer first whether you can work remotely, fully or on some days.

Check:

• Is the internet at home stable enough for video calls? Do you have a backup connection?
• Is there a quiet place to work, separate from family space?
• Will you need to come into the office now and then, and who pays for the trip?

Option 2: a job in the nearest main city

It doesn't have to be your home district. The provincial or regional city usually has work in hospitals, education, retail, banking, logistics and government. Commuting daily or going home every weekend still puts you much closer to family. Browse jobs by province at Jobs by province.

Option 3: work the big city has plenty of but home needs

Big-city experience is valuable in the provinces, for example:

• family businesses or local shops that want to sell online but have nobody for digital marketing;
• farms or farmer groups that want to process their produce and build a brand;
• guesthouses, restaurants and tourism businesses that need someone to organise the back office;
• elderly care, where many areas need more people.

Prepare before you move

1. Find work before you move. Don't quit first and search later; keep at least one steady income.
2. Do the real maths. Living costs are often lower, but so may be your income. Look at what's left after expenses, not just the salary.
3. Talk clearly with your family. How much will you help at home or in the family business? Agree beforehand to avoid friction later.
4. Update your résumé with the province you live in and that you're open to remote work. Build one at Online résumé.
5. Try it for a while. Ask to work from home for a week or two before making it permanent.

If you're choosing between several places

Some people have a father's hometown and a mother's, or several nearby cities to choose from. Compare them at Places that favour you, which covers all 77 provinces. Use it as one input, alongside family, costs and the jobs that actually exist.

Find the places that suit you at Places that favour you, and turn on LINE job alerts from your account page.