How to Get a Job in Another State
Nationwide, unemployment hit 9.8 percent in September. Of course, some regions have been hit harder than others but at a certain point, it may make sense for anyone who is unemployed to consider cutting their losses, packing up and leaving. The forecast still looks relatively sunny throughout Texas and in coastal metropolises like New York, Seattle and Washington, DC (for a handy breakdown on the best job markets in small, medium and large cities across America, check out New Geography's tables; for the worst cities for jobs, check Forbes).
Let's say you've made the decision to seek greener pastures elsewhere but haven't actually moved yet. How can you keep your local-address-less resume from reaching the wastebasket?
Here are six tips for the long-distance job search, edited down for length and clarity, from career guru Penelope Trunk:
- Pitch yourself as specialized Most people are relocating from a city that is in low demand to a city that is high demand; if you want to get a job [in a big city like San Francisco] from Tucson, you need to have one of those skill sets that people do not think they can hire for in San Francisco
- Pitch yourself as a big-city catch Some of you are trying to move the opposite direction: New York City to Tuscaloosa; in that case, you can pitch yourself as having big-city know-how that you can bring to a smaller city
- Get a reality check If you can't pitch yourself in either of those ways, then you're going to have to relocate before you get a job
- Be amazing at building local networks If you are still determined to get a job before you move...you need to have a strong network on the ground where you want to relocate; this does not mean inviting forty people in that city to connect with you on LinkedIn
- Choose a city since you can't choose a job Since you are going to have to move before you have a job, why not make sure you are going to the right place? For figuring out where you belong, [see] Richard Florida's book, Who's Your City, which he has conveniently broken up into web-friendly widgets for your relocating pleasure
- Consider your friends and family Before you relocate for money, consider that the number-one factor for whether or not your next job will improve your happiness is whether you'll be moving closer to friends and family; [O]nce you have the basics of a good job, it's your relationships that make you happy