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Step 1
Prepare your resume. Of course, if you're planning a job search of any kind, the first thing you do is update your resume. For a multi-state job search, you want to make your resume a little more generic. Many employers don't want to pay the cost of relocation and therefore will not consider candidates from outside their area. Take your physical address off your resume and use an email for contact information. Or attach a cover letter stating that you plan to relocate to that area within a few weeks. You will, after all, if the job is right for you.
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Step 2
Start surfing. The Internet is the greatest tool for multi-state job searches. You can sit in your living room and apply for jobs thousands of miles away. Also, with Internet job boards, employers can find you more easily than through conventional methods. Be sure to post your resume on at least two Internet job boards. Many employers don't post openings on the Internet, but they use information they find to reach prospective employees.
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Step 3
Contact a recruiter. Recruiters are almost necessary when you're conducting a multi-state job search. Not only do they bring you relevant job openings, but they can provide important information about the various markets in the states where you're looking. Find a recruiter who has experience and contacts in multiple locations or who is willing to work with other recruiters in different locations.
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Step 4
Cluster your contacts. Interviews can be exciting because they represent real prospects. When you're dealing with a multi-state job search, interviews can get expensive, also. Never make a trip out of state for just one initial job interview. Always bundle a couple of interviews in one trip. If there's no other reason to travel, ask the employer to do an initial phone interview before you make the trip. This way, at least you know you're traveling for a good prospect.
