Moving to a new town or city can be exciting, but it’s also extremely stressful. One of the most stressful parts of the move is finding a new job. Before you relocate, you need to decide how you’re going to find work. Will you try applying now, while you’re living out of town? Or should you wait until you live locally? If you want to improve your chances of quick employment, you should start applying today. Learn more about why you shouldn’t wait to apply and how you can set yourself up for success.
When people are relocating, they sometimes are overwhelmed at the prospect of applying for a job in a city they don’t live in. They see their location as a detriment to the hiring process and choose to wait to apply. Unfortunately, this is a mistake.
It takes time to find work. Even if you dedicate hours a day to finding a job, the process is likely to take months. Although you might be in a rush to start a new job, your employer could take the process slowly. You may need to wait a week for a phone interview, another week for an in-person interview, and several weeks for a job offer.
You could have enough money in the bank to endure a few months of no work. But your resume may not survive. In today’s world, employers tend to frown upon gaps in resumes. By waiting to apply for work, you could be hurting your chances of a job offer.
Ultimately, there’s no disadvantage to applying for a job from your current location. As long as you make it clear that you are about to relocate, a hiring manager is unlikely to hold your situation against you.
There are ways around all the challenges that come from applying out of town. For instance, you might be wondering how you can afford to travel for the interview. If you explain the circumstances to the hiring manager, they might approve a video interview. And if the start date is too soon, the company could agree to let you work remotely until you relocate.
At the very least, applying soon gives you a headstart. From the time you send in your first application to the time you receive an interview request, one month might pass. When someone does ask for an interview, you might already be in town. There’s also the fact that you’ll have an understanding of the local job market. You can arm yourself with knowledge of the major companies and job availability in your new location.
As previously mentioned, some challenges come with applying from your current location. If you want to improve your chances of a job offer, you should be aware of those challenges and know how to conquer them.
You don’t need to move before you have a job offer. However, you should be ready to move quickly. If you currently own your home, you should already have it on the market. You should also have a few housing options ready for when you do relocate.
In some cases, it’s best to rent a home before you buy it. If you receive a great job offer with a start date in the near future, you can stay in a short-term rental while you house hunt. Have a plan for a speedy relocation.
One simple step you can take is to pack up most of your belongings. Go through your storage unit and pack up the items you don’t need on a day-to-day basis. If you’re trying to sell your home, having fewer items will speed up the process. Additionally, you’ll have less work to do when the time comes to move.
From the start, let the hiring manager know that you’re serious about relocating. Don’t use ambiguous verbiage when you talk about the move. Rather, be firm about your plans for moving. You can mention your move in your cover letter so there’s no confusion.
Employers do receive applications from people who have no intention of ever moving. So, you can set yourself apart by letting them know that the move isn’t dependent on a job offer - it’s something that’s going to happen no matter what.
For the first round of interviews, you can request a video interview. This shows the employer that you’re eager to get to know them and that you’re serious. Be willing to do the interview on whatever software the company prefers, even if it means downloading a new app. A video interview is much cheaper than a plane ticket.
Depending on the company, they may require you to do a face-to-face interview. Although you may not want to spend the money on a ticket, it could be worth the investment. Just be sure that you want to work for the company and that you would accept the position if they offered it to you.
Before you agree to travel for the interview, you should gauge what stage you are in the hiring process. If the company is interviewing 100 people, you might not want to take the risk of flying out. But if you’re on a short list of candidates, it’s probably worth the risk.
If you know someone in the area you’re relocating to, ask them if they have any job leads. Typically, hiring managers are more lenient about hiring someone who’s relocating when they come highly recommended.
It’s never too early to start networking. Before you move, join local Facebook groups and update your LinkedIn.
Don’t let the fear of rejection keep you from applying for jobs before you move. Put yourself out there and in a few weeks, you could have several options for employment in your new area.
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