I don’t have that much going for me as far as specialized skills or what have you, since I graduated from college in 02. Anyway, I really want to move to a different area of the country. Unfortunately, the area I’m in has one of the best job markets (DC area). I just need a change big time.
I just don’t know how to search most effectively (those big job sites are not really working), and how to score an interview when my address is halfway across the country. How do I make them want to interview me when someone who lives there already could easily do the job? I’m not looking for relocation assistance or anything.
Sigh. I’ve been unemployed for a week and it’s getting really depressing.
What line of work are you in?
Two methods come to mind:
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MOVE! When the vikings would go to conquer a new land they would sail there, then burn their ships/boats. Why? They couldn’t go home, they HAD to conquer and be fruitful. Be a viking. Move to where you want to be. Learn the city and start living there. Go out, do new things, meet people and try and network. In the mean while, get a part-time job so you don’t starve to death. Or, go work for a temp agency (a friend did this). Or, be a substitute teacher, you only need 2 years of college to do that I think. If you really truly want to do this, you’ll find a way. Don’t use not having a full-time job as an excuse.
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Find a contact in the city/ies you are interested in. A friend from HS, a friend of your family’s, a friend from college, your colleges alumni network, a friend of a friend, etc. You have to in some ways know someone in that city who might be able to help you. My college has a great alumni network that I can go through. Any major city on the east coast has a local network of alums, I could probably get a job in 2 weeks if I made a few calls.
The above of course presumes you know where you want to go, do you? If not (and I hate to be negative) I think you are SOL right now. My best friend is in San Diego and wanted to leave for a period of time (I don’t know why you’d ever want to leave). Well I started making some calls and looking around for jobs for him, but then he realized he didn’t know where he wanted to go. So I sent him random job postings from all over the country, I got tired of it and gave up. And he never moved. You really need to know where you want to go I think.
Do you know what you want to do?? I hope so, that will also really help. If you have a specific industry you want to be in there are going to be certain cities/regions that are good or bad for that job market. Don’t move to Topeka, Kansas if you want to work for a trans-atlantic shipping company. Once you know a list of 10 possible target cities then you can decide based on which has a better job market, which is more suitable to your lifestyle, etc.
How quickly or willingly can you pull up anchor? My guess is not too many companies want to interview someone that is 1,000 miles away if they aren’t immediately prepared to move.
And if you don’t mind me asking, what don’t you like about DC? I think you need a good handle on this so you can bear it in mind for your next city, don’t repeat the same mistakes.
Good luck! You can make this as complex as you want, but if you are truly committed to moving on then you can do so fairly quickly.
PS: Slow Twitch might be a decent networking tool, if that wasn’t already one reason you have posted.
If you have an idea of where you want to live I would suggest subscribing to the sunday edition of the local newspaper. This would give you a good idea of what is available through the employment classifieds. Or you can check with your local library and see what out of area papers they carry.
I just moved from Hawaii to Seattle.
I used the internet to search local newspaper advertisments. I also used monster.com but only got a few bites from that. The other thing to do is to look up recuiters (head hunters) and let them know you are looking – get them looking for you.
Again using the internet – look up companies in the area you want to move – many have websites that have an “employment oppurtunities” section of thier website.
You can also just flat out send them a resume – volume can be a good thing – throw a lot out there and see if anything sticks.
Why man why did you do such a thing? I’m sure you have a good reason and I would really like to know what it is, if you don’t mind sharring it.
Combination of reasons – mainly – in search of new adventure!! I plan on returning to Hawaii someday – may be in a few years – may be when I retire – who knows where I will go next when I am in search of adventure again.
So far the Northwest has been great – lots of new areas to explore and things to do.
PS: I will still go home (to Hawaii) every year!!!
Most big cities have One-stop employment centers. I used to work in the one in Riverside, CA. Each one can work differently to meet the needs of the local economy. Mine had local job listings, hosted job fairs, and had a resume database where staff match you up with local jobs for which you are qualified. Start here:
http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/onestop/onestopmap.cfm
Best of luck!
Headhunters are great for the situation you are in.
The company I work for re-located from the east coast two years ago - and most of the senior management were appointed after the company moved - i.e. new team - from outside of the company.
Several of those team members utilized the services of a headhunter - while still in their former position - to find for them a job in a new marketplace
VERY EFFECTIVE - good luck!