Tips on Relocating and Job-Hunting
Relocating is hard enough, but job-hunting can be daunting if you don't know where to start, which is why it is important to have a job search plan already in play before you relocate. Assess what job opportunities are available in the city you want to relocate to and make a list of employers and headhunters in the area. Gear your resume and cover letters toward these opportunities and mention your relocation so they will know you are serious about the position.
Other People Are Reading
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Pick Up The Phone
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It's no surprise that the best way to find a job is through other people. If you have family or friends living in the town you are locating to, pick up the phone and find out if they have heard of any opportunities you can take advantage of. Ninety percent of jobs are found informally through friends, according to Career Playbook. In addition, 40 percent of companies fill positions through recommendations from employees.
Social Networking
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Social networking with friends can also be an effective way to land a job. Recruiters and are using Linkedin and Facebook to attract more talent. Check to see if the company you want to work for has a site on LinkedIn or Facebook and if any of your friends know people at that company and can introduce you. Using LinkedIn, you can also see if the company has posted any job openings and look up its human resources contact so you can contact her or him directly.
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Online Job Ads
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Job announcements are also posted on many locations online, including company website and career job sites such as Monster, Indeed and CareerBuilder. These sites can notify you of job openings and provide you with information on how to apply for the job. Before you send a resume, check out the website of the business and, if possible, also look up the person who is doing the hiring to see if you can gear your cover letter toward him.
Relocating Expenses
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Have a plan in place to pay for your relocation, if you company won't. Only 35 percent of employers are paying for relocation expenses, according to an article by CNN. Consider moving to your city of choice before taking a job. More businesses like to see local addresses and are more apt to hire if they know you are in town and ready to sit down and do an in-person interview, according to QuintCareers.com.
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References
- International Business Times: 10 Job Search Tips that Take Less than One Minute; Sept. 1, 2011
- QuintCareers: New City, New Job: How to Conduct a Long-Distance Job Search; Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., and Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
- FCP National: 5 Steps to Using LinkedIn for a Successful Job Search
- CareerPlaybook: Job & Career Networking
