February 16, 2012

When not in Rome: Long-distance job search tips

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A little more than 15 years ago, I moved out of my Washington, D.C., apartment, packed most of my worldly possessions into an overloaded Nissan and drove off like Tom Joad to my new future in Seattle. Fortunately, I had a secured destination in mind -- an insurance magazine job that was waiting for me in 12 days. But at the time I began my journey, I barely knew a soul in this strange Emerald City.

In my case, I was quite lucky. I landed a job with just one in-person interview and was given several weeks to prepare for my cross-country trek. (The only explanation I can offer for this stroke of luck was that hiring standards were pretty lax in the boom-boom dot-com years.) Today, with a much tighter job market, many employers are unwilling to take chances on any candidate, especially those who don't even live here or are unfamiliar with Seattle's way of life.

Still, there are some ways you can make a long-distance job search easier with a little perseverance, networking savvy and -- above all -- flexibility. The key is to think as if you're in Seattle, even if you're still a thousand miles away.

Be up front about where you live -- I've heard some career experts suggest that you give your prospective employer an address that's in the same city, perhaps with a friend or relative. While this may ease the hiring manager's doubts about your seriousness, it's a strategy that can backfire. What if a recruiter needs to call you back for some more information and notices you can't be reached at the address you gave? Or that your current cell number has an out-of-town area code? Explaining these discrepancies can be worse than any non-resident stigma you may already have. Instead, let them know early in your cover letter that you have committed yourself to the Seattle area and are ready to move at a moment's notice.

Think and act locally -- If you're out of town and looking for a job in Seattle, then reading Seattle-centric blogs like this is a great start. As you would in your home city, try to make as many connections as you can with local associations, job-seeker sites, social media networks and relevant industry forums. If your alma mater has an alumni group in Seattle, ask them for some inroads in the region. This is one area where job-seekers have it a bit easier than I did during my 1997, when the Internet was in its infancy. Today, social media sites can put you in touch with a broad swath of like-minded workers in virtually any city, and video services like Skype can make trans-continental interviews a breeze.

Immerse yourself in the city's culture -- Read up on your new city and, if possible, try to set aside time for an extended visit. Before I was hired, I scheduled five vacation days from my D.C. job to spend a full week in Seattle, strictly for the purposes of contacting companies and arranging possible interviews. Also, if you're moving from, say, San Francisco or New York, remember that you may see smaller salaries here due to the lower cost of living (although that gap seems to be closing every year). Same goes for those in small towns: The $30,000 you used to make in Smallville, USA, may not go as far as you would expect here in Seattle.

Pay your own way -- Even in 1997, it was not easy to have a company pay your moving expenses. Unless you are seeking a high-level executive job or you have a unique, sought-after skill, most companies will not spring for the cost of relocation; you can always ask, but just don't expect it.

Make the leap -- It's always a scary proposition to move to a new city when you don't yet have a job lined up, but nothing will show your commitment to the area better than changing your residence. I was able to have the luxury of applying from the East Coast, but the interview process today has become more complex and often requires more than one in-person visit, usually on short notice.

Also, if you move now, you'll get the chance to experience the unique joys of Seattle winters, which will last until, oh, around June.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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career change, job search strategy, LinkedIn, networking, recruiting, relocation

3 Comments

Joey on February 19, 2012 9:42 AM | Reply

Great tips! Planning on moving back to Seattle but just do not know where to begin. These tips can help.

Thanks

Teresa Grabs on February 21, 2012 6:15 AM | Reply

Good tips...but I have to say it seems next to impossible to rent an apartment without a job. I've been looking for work in Seattle (can move there today if I had an offer) for over 6 months now and no luck.

Recruitment Companies on May 3, 2012 11:53 PM | Reply

Your website is too good.I like your post nice job..

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