Moving to another state without a job lined up can be terrifying, and unless you find a position quickly, it can also wreak havoc on your finances! Although many job listings today contain the keyphrase “locals only,” there are some creative ways to sneak your foot in the door. Use these tips to help you find a job in a new city before moving!
1. Start your search early.
Finding a job in your new city is almost as important as finding an apartment. After all, you need to make a living to pay for the place where you’re going to live! Accordingly, start researching companies, opportunities, and salaries, and vetting your job options with the same diligence that goes into apartment-hunting. Some useful resources to consider when doing out-of-state job research include:
- Job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed: These sites can help you zero-in on companies that are hiring people with your experience, and weed out businesses that are explicitly not considering out-of-state applicants.
- Local networking groups on Facebook: Many cities have industry-specific networking boards where members can ask questions, post jobs, and find mentors! To find a few that are relevant to you, start by searching Facebook for “(City) (Industry) Jobs” to get some direction.
- Employer review sites like Glassdoor and InHerSight: Once you’ve zeroed in on companies that are hiring pertinent positions, use employer review sites to glean insights about their culture, benefits, interview process, and salary ranges!
2. Curate your resume for each position!
Tailoring your resume for each job you plan on applying to is one of the oldest career tips in the book. However, we don’t only mean highlighting (and perhaps even puffing up) the skills and experience that make you most qualified for the job at hand. We also mean tailoring your resume to ensure that the fact that you’re applying from out-of-state isn’t immediately apparent!
Many HR management sites will automatically exclude your application if your address or phone number are not local. Accordingly, you can either remove the address field from your CV, or plug in the address for the place you plan on moving into. If and when you get the job, ensure that you update to your new address to ensure you get all your documents and pay stubs mailed to the right place!
You’ll also want to secure a local phone number for your application, which you can easily do through a free call forwarding service like Google Voice. Remember, these extra measures aren’t about “fooling” the interviewer, they’re about getting past automated systems that may otherwise prevent you from getting an interview at all!
3. Prepare to negotiate your relocation expenses.
Hopefully, after sending curated applications to a few carefully selected companies, you’ll have had some promising interviews, and made it all the way to the salary negotiation stage with a couple.
At this point, it is vital that you and your new employer agree on a plan for your relocation, including when you’ll move, whether they’ll help with relocation expenses, and how much of your moving costs they’re willing to cover. You can make this process easier for everyone involved by giving your employer an estimated budget.
This estimated budget should include moving supplies, interstate professional mover fees, airfare (or gas, if you’re driving), and storage costs for any items you can’t bring with you. Additionally, if you’re breaking your lease early to move to a new location, you may also be able to factor any early lease termination fees into your budget.
Keep in mind that there are many factors in play when moving from one state to another, especially when you’re relocating your family or your pets! Accordingly, err on the higher side when presenting a budget to an employer (or if preparing a budget for yourself)! Also, depending on the estimated cost of your move, you should also save money and be prepared to cover part or all of your expenses.
4. Rethink your relocation plan.
Job or no job — moving to a different state takes a lot of careful planning and budgeting! If your move is months away and you already feel overwhelmed — reconsider what your “move” looks like.
The best way to alleviate some of the most significant costs and inconveniences of moving out of state is by renting furniture or working with a relocation consultant. Furniture rental packages from CORT help you furnish your entire apartment or home at a fair and predictable price (one that’s easy to “pitch” to your new employer!). Plus, your rental with CORT includes furniture delivery, set-up, and pick-up, so you can move into a fully furnished space from day one, and move out without needing extra labor, trucks, or dollies!
