Anjie and Amon Emeka are excited about their upcoming move to the Capital Region. Transitioning family and everything they own across the country is not an easy thing, but it is an event the entire family is looking forward to. “We are a west coast family so this will be very new to us,” said Anjie mother of two daughters and the designated ‘trailing spouse’ in this couple. 
The family has moved many times to accommodate career advancement over the years, but this is the first time they are moving, as Anjie refers to it, ‘as a team’. The experience of getting ready to move has brought the family closer. “The moving has become a team activity and we are all excited and looking forward to what we hope may be a ‘slower’ way of life than Los Angeles. We are looking forward to four seasons and a fresh beginning.”
Amon had applied to a few jobs over the years to find a fit more in tune with him professionally and the type of institution that would be good for his career. The position as Professor of Sociology at Skidmore College is the 4th position offered to him. “The other places – we couldn’t imagine raising our family there.” When it came to time for Amon to interview for the job, Anjie decided to join him on the trip. “It was the first time we had considered me joining him for an interview trip. We were here for 2 days and we fell in love with Saratoga Springs. Just a light dusting of snow, people were out walking and seemed so friendly and happy. Everything was in good proximity to each other. It was small but not ‘small town’ – it had a very cosmopolitan feel to it.”
The Emekas, like so many relocating professionals had concerns about moving to a new community, especially one clear across the country. Their daughters, aged 6 and 13, were central to the decision. “Our girls are at the point where we can’t continue to move around as much, so this feels like a permanent move.” The Emekas don’t want to have to uproot their daughters from friends anymore. “We want them to get to know people and build ties. Elementary schools are easier for change. My older daughter is a dancer and we found a dance studio in Saratoga that was great. We wanted to meet their needs in the way L A had and also be able to have them take advantage of what Saratoga Springs has to offer. In L A they didn’t have an opportunity to play on sports teams and here they would.”
An ongoing plight for relocating professionals is what’s known commonly as the ‘trailing spouse’ syndrome; when a person follows his/her spouse to another city due to a work related relocation assignment, often putting their own career at risk to do so. Over 65% of all couples in the U.S. are dual earners and going from two incomes to one due to a job-related relocation, can have a big impact on the quality of life for a family as well as risk retention if those needs are not addressed. Anjie got lucky. “Perfect job for him but now I need a job. That aspect is definitely a stressful one. I don’t have any connections here,” said Anjie. Fortunately, Amon’s new department chair suggested using Tech Valley Connect services. “When I talked to Julie Hansen (Tech Valley Connect ‘s family coordinator) half of my anxiety vanished.” The dual career support offered by Tech Valley Connect coordinates informational interviews with decision makers in the spouse’s discipline. These meetings provide the basis for high level professional networking for newcomers who are starting their job searches without the benefit of a personal or professional network in the Capital Region.
Tech Valley Connect is made up of a consortium of employers in the region who commit to these high level informational interviews for spouses of new hires within the employer consortium. “She (Julie Hansen) knew people at the jobs I had applied to. She had suggestions and insight about the areas we were interested in living. By the next day she had sent me a map of the region. I felt like I had a partner now that could help me with the Mom struggles. I had an insider. That just helped me so much, I can’t even begin to tell you. It was a relief to me, an invaluable service.”
“I have a lot of confidence about who I am and what I do. That wasn’t the problem. My problem was getting the first interview! Before working with Tech Valley Connect, I had six applications in and hadn’t had any bites. But within 2 weeks of initially talking with Julie, I had two places asking me to interview. I ended up having a 2nd round for two positions and they are calling my references.” As of Thursday, May 23rd, Anjie was offered a job that seems to suit her perfectly. “With all our moving around, we had never experienced a service like this. I can’t believe no one has thought of this sooner. It has become a complete life saver for me.”
The Emekas are looking forward to exploring the Capital Region. Anjie said, “We are adventurous and like to travel and usually go on a vacation every year. There is so much we are looking to do in and around New York. Maybe this year, our extended family will have to come visit us for a change, instead of the other way around. We are looking forward to the exploration of a completely new region.”
The Emekas are just one of hundreds of families relocating to the Capital Region this year.
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To learn more unique ways to address employee recruitment and retention click on…Tech Valley Connect or contact the author at [email protected] Angela McNerney is President of Tech Valley Connect, an organization assisting newly relocating professionals and their families to assimilate into the Capital Region of upstate New York.
