How to Get a Job Before Relocating to Another City

Schedule a trip to your new city so you can network in person.

So, you're moving and need to find another job. Relocations can be for happy or sad reasons. Maybe you're getting married and your future wife lives in another state. Perhaps you're tired of dry land and are dying to live near an ocean or you need to move to take care of an ailing relative. Sure, you'll want to think ahead and ease into the transition by doing things like renting an apartment at first if you need a place to stay, but you'll also want a game plan when seeking a job in another city.

Instructions

1. Initiate a phone call or email to any contacts you have in your new city. If you already know people in the city you're moving to, get in touch and ask them for names of referrals in your industry. They don't have to know anyone directly because you can be creative with who they do know. For example, if you're a wedding planner and your contact doesn't know anyone in that field, ask them if they know any floral designers or caterers. Those individuals can then connect you with people they know in event planning.

2. Check job banks and similar online resources for open positions where you are moving. Not only conduct regular manual searches but also set yourself up to be emailed when positions are posted that match your criteria. Also, post your resume to sites so that employers can be looking for you as well.

3. Use social networking sites to let people know where you are going and what kind of job you desire. It's a small world online nowadays, so use that to your advantage. Likely, an old high school or college classmate lives near your new location, or knows someone who does, so contact him for more leads. In addition, if you graduated from college, utilize your alumni association's resources for job searching.

4. Sharpen your image online and on paper. Depending upon your new potential employer's preference for communication, you may be connecting mostly online or by mail. Especially if you feel you make a better impression in person, make sure your resume and portfolio strongly represent the message you want to relay. Have someone review your resume and look at options for putting your portfolio online.

5. Prepare to travel to your new city for interviews. Even though a lot can be accomplished online, your new employer may still want more than an email or telephone interview before she makes a decision. Budget some extra money for a few months to take a few trips to your new location so you can sell yourself in person. To save money, schedule as many interviews as you can during one trip.

Tips & Warnings

• Tighten up your online image since it may be the first impression a distant employer receives.

References

• AOL Jobs: Tips for Relocating for a Job
• Quintessential Careers: New City, New Job-How to Conduct a Long-Distance Job Search