Find your dream location

Where do you want to live? If you haven't decided, now is the time.

Your "dream location" is the perfect chiropractic office in the perfect city for you.

To find your perfect location, start with the country in which you want to practice, then zoom down to the region, then to a specific state or province, and then to the city.

Be clear about your purpose — you are searching first for a place where you will enjoy living and second for a good place to practice chiropractic.

You can practice anywhere, but if you go somewhere for a practice and you don't enjoy living there, you won't be content, and you'll soon be selling your practice and moving to the location you should have chosen in the first place.

When you have narrowed your search to a state or province, it's time to start wandering around. This sounds obvious, but some graduates have actually waited until graduation to visit where they think they want to practice!

TRIP PREPARATION

Here are some tips to make your visit more worthwhile:

1. Research the chiropractors in that area. Go to Google Local (local.google.com) and type in the city and the word "chiropractor" to identify who practices there.

2. Check out career opportunities. Check with a job-search or practice-search service to see if anyone in the area is looking for an associate or to sell a practice.

3. Request information about the city. Go to the Web site of the chamber of commerce or to the local economic development organization. Review information about the economic situation, schools, and employers.

4. Read online editions of local newspapers. Get to know the community and find out about housing costs.

5. Inquire about your favorite activities. If you are interested in a specific sport or activity, find out if you can enjoy that activity in the area you will be visiting.

When you get to the area, drive around to get the "feel" of the place. Eat at local dining establishments, not chain restaurants. Find the local parks and shop in the stores.

You will quickly begin to sense which cities or towns feel right and which don't. Don't be afraid to talk with people to hear what they say about the town — or about chiropractic.

When you find a city that looks promising according to your list of criteria, check out the local chiropractors. Talk with them about the town; you'll be able to tell whether they consider you an asset to the community or a potential threat.

Plan at least one trip to the while you are in school and then another trip close to graduation.

The focus of the second trip will be different. You will want to meet chiropractors with whom you've talked about potential employment or practice purchase; you will be looking for a place to live; or you'll be searching for an office location.

Going through this process of selecting a location may seem intimidating because you've never done it before. You are making a major life decision, so take the time to be sure. Most of all relax and enjoy the experience.