Do you know how to get a job before you move? If you’re in the process of moving to a new location, whether it be a city, or maybe even to a new state, you should make sure you have a position waiting for you before you relocate. Without one, you will have to rely on your piggy-bank money for the first few months after the relocation, and those won’t last forever. So, if you want to live stress-free after relocating to another city, get down to work, start searching for jobs and take a look at our moving tips.
Finding a job will take time and organization.
How to Get a Job Before You Move – Update Your CV and LinkedIn
If you’ve had a stable career for the past few years, odds are your resume has probably become a little outdated. Well, now you should update it. Finding your old resume and adding all the experience you’ve had since you last refreshed it will give you an upper hand. Since the employment process is becoming more and more digitalized, you should also update your LinkedIn profile. And if you do not have it yet, creating one should be a priority on your moving-out list. It will be an invaluable tool in your job hunt and for your future career development offering a better insight.
Adapt Your Resume for Each Separate Job Ad While Your Search For Opportunities
Every time you apply for jobs, or you are in between switching careers make sure you adjust your CV or LinkedIn profile in accordance with what the employer is searching for and write your cover letter. Of course, the facts, years, names, and positions can’t really be changed. But what you can do is put extra emphasis and share the things that the ad lists as desirable and that you have done throughout your career.
One of the useful tips is to cover as many requests from the position requirements as possible while staying realistic. For example, if a posting states that the local employers are searching for someone who is a team player, make sure you include it in the list of your best skills. If you are applying for a beginner-level position, the employers probably won’t be too interested in reading about your management skills.
Take Some Time to Polish Everything – Check Articles, Spelling, and Grammar
No hiring board likes to see a sloppy resume or a cover letter full of grammar mistakes. So be sure you double-check for errors before submitting your application to the employers. You can even use free online spellcheckers such as Grammarly to help you out. And if you’re not sure about the proper way to say something, don’t hesitate to ask someone who might know how to help you with it.
Cast a wider net for your search and personalize your CV.
Looking for a New Job, Where to Find Companies That are Hiring?
Have you figured out where should you move? If so, once your resume, cover letter, and your online career profiles have been updated, you should start your search for jobs in your new city, ideally before moving. Finding a job before moving to another state can be time-consuming and stressful, so make it easier for yourself by doing all of this in advance. However, if you feel like you have all the reasons to move and you’re ready for moving alone to another state, feel free to apply for positions across the country. We want to share some tips on landing a job that might help you.
Begin Your Search for Jobs Early On
We understand that you’re in the middle of a moving process, maybe you’re learning how car shipping works because you want to transport your car across the country, or you’re checking the safety of your future neighborhood and house-hunting. Relocation is never easy but once you move to a different location and you can start working right away without having to dig into your “In case of emergency money savings”, you’ll be happy you started looking for jobs early on, so there will be no time for relocation depression.
Your career shouldn’t take a back seat just because you want to spend some time finding free packing materials for moving, or if you want to learn some tips and tricks for packing things like clothes and furniture or to cope with moving stress. Begin your local search for work as soon as you can, ideally even a couple of months before the relocation date.
It's important to know that finding work can take a lot of time.
Use All Available Resources to Get an Interview with the Local Hiring Manager
When we say that you should start your search for jobs early on and before it’s time to move, we don’t mean that you should simply check local employment ads every once in a while. Instead, utilize every resource available to you to be sure you land an interview for a work position before the relocation. Talk to people who might help share the information if anyone’s hiring in your new city and do your best to network and create connections that can lead you to prospective jobs, or some local prospective employers.
You should also search for the websites of the biggest companies and employers in your future city and check if they’re looking for employees or offer some part-time arrangements, ideally in your job scene. It’s common for some cities to organize annual job fairs to help unemployed people in finding a post. While these mostly cater to recent graduates, even experienced careerists often find valuable resources here.
Even if you don’t find the desired position right away, you could at least share and get some valuable contacts for the future. It’s not all about making money right away, good contacts mean a good future perspective.
Bear in Mind That Sometimes the Salary Isn’t the Priority
Since you’re relocating and you must have a stable income of money to live without constantly worrying, you should consider putting a salary in second place. Be sure you find a position where you’ll have enough money for a living, and that you can advance later on. Consider relocating to the suburbs, or move into a smaller home and donate unwanted items to cut the costs of moving for starters. Not everyone’s in a position to choose where to work, so accepting a chance in a state you’re relocating to would mean building a foundation for a future career.
Sometimes money is not the problem
Take Some Time to Prepare for Interviews
Once they contact you about your applications, your next step should be to prepare for a meeting. As you’re applying from a different state, most of your meetings will take place online or over the phone. However, some employers might require you to fly over to the city for an interview even before you move since they’re probably offering jobs that require relocation.
Whatever the case is, your main task is to prepare well and save money for the eventual trips to their location or meetings. Do your research beforehand, know exactly what you want to say, have prepared answers for questions that will most likely pop up such as “What is your biggest weakness” or “Tell us about a time when you performed well under pressure”. You could practice in front of a mirror or with friends and share some of your experience on the matter.
Highlight the Most Desired Traits But Stay True to Yourself
Much like you’ve highlighted your best traits in your revamped CV and cover letter, you should maintain that flow in person during the interviews. The employers already liked your resume and the cover letter – your task now is to convince them that you truly are the person you wrote about. Go over the company’s ad before every interview and try to memorize what they said they were looking for.
One of the most important tips is to clarify to the employer why you applied.
Interviews are Two-Way Streets
As much as you want to get the job, remember that an interview serves more than one purpose. That is to say, it isn’t all just about making the employer board want you on their team. You should also be prepared to ask questions and decide whether you want to be on the company’s team, too.
Is this a place you could picture yourself spending most of your time? Would you be happy here? Do the people seem like pleasant coworkers you’re going to enjoy working with? Is the money the employer is offering enough to allow you to live a comfortable lifestyle in this city? Does it provide an opportunity for a long-term career? Those are all things to consider when relocating to a new state – you shouldn’t be ready to compromise on things that are important to you just so you get a job somewhere.
If you do, the position will only be a temporary solution until you’ve had enough instead of a life-long career and that is not something that will ensure that you live a comfortable lifestyle.
Be sure that the position you get is the one you really desire.
Once You Get a Job Proposal, Be Sure You Read All the Terms
We understand that this might be a last-minute moving to a big city and that this mess possibly caught you unprepared, but be sure that once some company offers you a position – you read all the terms in the contract – including all the small letters. Don’t rush and do not make common moving mistakes in all this fuss, the best time of the year to move is whenever you’re ready to do it. Some companies may have conditions that you won’t like, so avoid getting into trouble by giving that piece of paper a thorough and detailed read. Only after you’re certain about the offer should you start with relocation day preparation.
