Cleveland is one of those markets people often understand differently once they spend real time here.

Before visiting, candidates may know the old headlines: cold winters, an industrial reputation, unfamiliar neighborhoods or questions about whether the region will feel like a fit for their family. What they may not yet see is how practical, connected and personal life in Northeast Ohio can feel.

That is where an Executive Arrangements Day changes the conversation.

For candidates considering a move, the decision is rarely only about the job. It is about the life around the job: where they would live, how the commute would feel, where their children might go to school, how a spouse or partner could connect, and whether Cleveland could begin to feel like home.

Before the Visit

Before a visit, candidates often arrive with practical questions. Which neighborhoods should we consider? How close can we be to work, schools, parks, grocery stores and restaurants? What is winter really like? Is there enough to do outside of work? How easy will it be to meet people?

Those are not small details. They are the questions that shape whether a move feels possible.

During the Visit

During an Executive Arrangements Day, two trained local Executive Arrangements Guides help turn those questions into real places, routines and connections. Each itinerary is built around the Candidate’s work location, family needs, lifestyle preferences and personal interests.

A day might include neighborhoods that fit housing and commute needs, a stop in University Circle, a scenic drive through the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, time near Edgewater Park, lunch at an independent restaurant in Ohio City, a walk through West Side Market, or a conversation about schools, clubs, fitness options, grocery stores or faith communities.

If outdoor access matters, Guides may also point to Cleveland Metroparks or Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which are two resources that help Candidates understand how close parks, trails, water and weekend routines can be to daily life.

The goal is not to overwhelm Candidates with attractions. It is to help them picture an average weekday morning, a school pickup, a weekend afternoon, a commute to work, a dinner with visiting family and a way to begin meeting people.

After the Visit

What changes after a Candidate visits Cleveland is not always one dramatic moment. More often, it is a gradual realization that the region offers more depth, ease, access and quality of life than expected. 

A Candidate may begin to envision where they would live, how their commute would feel, where their children might go to school, where and how they would spend weekends, or how a spouse or partner could also build a meaningful life here. 

The city becomes less abstract. The move becomes more personal. The conversation begins to shift from “Can I see myself here?” to “What could life here actually look like?” 

That is the Cleveland shift. 

After the Move

A thoughtful visit does more than introduce Cleveland. It helps candidates understand the practical and emotional pieces of relocation: neighborhood fit, community connection, family confidence and daily life.

For those who decide to move, Executive Arrangements’ support continues beyond moving day through Newcomer events, community introductions and continued local guidance.

Those connections matter. They help Newcomers ask questions, form relationships, share experiences and begin feeling less like visitors and more like part of the community.

For many candidates and families, that continued support reinforces what they began to see during their visit: Cleveland is not only a place to accept a position. It is a place where they can build a life.

At Executive Arrangements, we help new hires and their families settle into their new community by helping them cultivate relationships. Think of us as community consultants and network experts! If your organization could use a fresh take on how they welcome and onboard job candidates and employees relocating to a new work city including Cleveland, Akron, Columbus or Chicago, contact us online here or call at 216.231.9311.

Original Blog:

Perceptions of Cleveland, Before and After

by Margy Judd | Jul 8, 2024 | Cleveland/Akron, Recruitment & Relocation

For those of us who work night and day to help showcase the Cleveland/Akron region to the rest of the world, this might be a tough read.

But, wouldn’t you rather know what outsiders considering a move to our region think about our town when asked? We do! Every city has warts and rough edges and we are no different. And, based on on-going feedback from the candidates we work with who are being offered a job in NE Ohio that requires them to relocate, we see that decades of efforts, by so many organizations, to improve our national/global image has not moved the needle much at all. 

Here are recent responses to our SurveyMonkey Q3 that asks candidates:

When you heard that the job would require you to relocate to Cleveland/Akron, what were the FIRST words that popped into your head…be honest we’ve heard it all!

• My wife is going to kill me!
• We honestly thought Cleveland to be a run-down Midwestern city with bad weather.
• It’s going to be cold! 
• Who moves to Cleveland? Isn’t it a dying city?
• Weather might not be sunny, housing stock older? Is it safe?
• Cold! Also doesn’t always get the best reputation!
• Honestly does anyone move to Cleveland on purpose?

The good news is that after just a day or two with Executive Arrangements, here are those same candidates showing us that they did a 180 and are ready to pack up and head to CLE/AKN. Here are their responses to how they perceive our region AFTER their EA Day(s):

• We’ve had seven corporate relocations and this experience is one we’ve never seen before (and wished we’d had!). The customized experience that the EA team delivered was so helpful for us in preparing for our move. Highly recommend that all companies pursue this for relocating new hires and employees.The day was so much more than I expected. This was such a great way for my family to be introduced to the area. The staff was great and the went out of their way to make it a great visit.
• EA does an excellent job taking those with limited knowledge of Cleveland and really showing them not just why it is a great city but how they could establish a great life there.
• Really helped us envision how our life could transfer to Cleveland.
• EA showed us that Cleveland is the best life choice city whether we have children or not!
• Truly the best experience that I have ever had getting to know any city under any circumstance, I was blown away by the team and the resources/knowledge provided.
• For a first visit, this was much more informative than a tour with a real estate agent.