"Have a job lined up first." Still true in this economy?
June 3, 2010 8:49 AM Subscribe
Due to the awful state of California's economy, I'm planning to relocate. However, I'm finding that most companies are only hiring locally. Should I still look to have a job lined up before I move, given the economy?
Long story short: I'm looking to flee California for greener employment pastures. I don't have a specific city nailed down yet, but I'm targeting several locations, working my network, researching companies, doing all the things a good little job-hunter is supposed to be doing. I have a master's degree and skills, though not as much experience in my field because I was career-transitioning when the economy tanked. My skills are not tied to a particular city or market, though I would do best in a mid-sized or larger city with a thriving/diverse job base.
I know the relocation advice has always been to have a job lined up before moving. However, I'm finding that in this economy, most companies are only looking at local residents, and I know they can do so because they are flooded with applicants.
I really hesitate to move without a job, or at least a decent piece of contract work, lined up first. However, given the surplus of job appicants - have the rules changed? Should I suck it up, beg/borrow the money, pack up my belongings and cat, and move? I hate to do this given the expense and the beholden-ness to my folks if I borrow the money from them. I'd love some feedback from the Hive Mind on what they've done in a similar situation.
Long story short: I'm looking to flee California for greener employment pastures. I don't have a specific city nailed down yet, but I'm targeting several locations, working my network, researching companies, doing all the things a good little job-hunter is supposed to be doing. I have a master's degree and skills, though not as much experience in my field because I was career-transitioning when the economy tanked. My skills are not tied to a particular city or market, though I would do best in a mid-sized or larger city with a thriving/diverse job base.
I know the relocation advice has always been to have a job lined up before moving. However, I'm finding that in this economy, most companies are only looking at local residents, and I know they can do so because they are flooded with applicants.
I really hesitate to move without a job, or at least a decent piece of contract work, lined up first. However, given the surplus of job appicants - have the rules changed? Should I suck it up, beg/borrow the money, pack up my belongings and cat, and move? I hate to do this given the expense and the beholden-ness to my folks if I borrow the money from them. I'd love some feedback from the Hive Mind on what they've done in a similar situation.
Response by poster: Circular: yes, I'm doing the joining groups, networking, LinkedIn, etc. approach. I have recommendations on LinkedIn, and supervisors where I've done volunteer work in my field say "You've done a great job, we'd love to hire you...BUT we're cutting jobs, not hiring." In other words, part of the problem is the jobs truly aren't there, and someone who might have taken the chance on a less-experienced person (albeit with good references) a few years ago, can now cherry-pick the best and most experienced. This is why I'm pretty committed to relocating now - I think I'd probably have an easier time where the unemployment rates are lower. I'm not expecting a good job to fall into my lap, truly.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:22 AM on June 3, 2010
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:22 AM on June 3, 2010
One approach to consider might be contacting companies and telling them you are relocating to their city. You will be there for a week looking for places to live and making other arrangements for the move. You've heard great things about their company and would appreciate an opportunity to meet. Here's what I offer, blah, blah, blah. Is there anyway they would be available during that time.
That way they understand you're moving anyway, are available to interview in person, and don't expect relocation fees.
posted by willnot at 9:25 AM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
That way they understand you're moving anyway, are available to interview in person, and don't expect relocation fees.
posted by willnot at 9:25 AM on June 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
This is why I'm pretty committed to relocating now - I think I'd probably have an easier time where the unemployment rates are lower.I guess the first thing I'd do then is send some inquiries out through my network, asking about places you've thought of moving to, seeing what people who live there think about prospects. (Maybe you've already done that)
posted by circular at 9:38 AM on June 3, 2010
"However, I'm finding that in this economy, most companies are only looking at local residents"
this is usually shorthand for "we won't pay to relocate you", not "don't apply if you're looking to move here".
figure out where you'd like to be - schedule a week long trip - have lots of interviews set up. be prepared to start in 2 weeks (stay in motels if you have to).
posted by nadawi at 12:57 PM on June 3, 2010
this is usually shorthand for "we won't pay to relocate you", not "don't apply if you're looking to move here".
figure out where you'd like to be - schedule a week long trip - have lots of interviews set up. be prepared to start in 2 weeks (stay in motels if you have to).
posted by nadawi at 12:57 PM on June 3, 2010
Yeah, usually "hiring locally" just means they won't help you (monetarily) relocate and possibly won't re-imburse you for travelling to the interview. If you see a job you're a fit for, apply anyway and note in a cover letter or email that you're planning a move to $City regardless. Basically what I did during my last move, though luckily I found a company that still does relocation, though I interviewed with places that didn't.
posted by R343L at 2:15 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by R343L at 2:15 PM on June 3, 2010
I have heard that somehow faking a local address (PO box?), or getting someone you know in the area to let you use theirs, also helps.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:56 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:56 PM on June 3, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you all for responding. It sounds like relocating = fronting much $$, which is tough for an unemployed person! How catch-22. But it is what it is.
Jenfullmoon, Austin is one of the places on my shortlist, and I have contacts there, but no-one I feel comfortable imposing on for using their address. But a PO box might work.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:26 PM on June 4, 2010
Jenfullmoon, Austin is one of the places on my shortlist, and I have contacts there, but no-one I feel comfortable imposing on for using their address. But a PO box might work.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:26 PM on June 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
I've done the moving-without-a-job thing before. When I moved, I moved to a city that had, by all accounts, wonderful employment prospects for someone like me.
The move cost a lot of money and I ended up with less than $500 left to my name by the time I found a job...the months and months of searching for work once I arrived there almost had me hating the place. Why had it rejected me? Why did the people there all seem so smug and mean all of a sudden?
I moved without a job lined up. I expected some measurable degree of improvement. But there really wasn't any that I could tell.
I guess my point is, the economy is the economy. But I don't think it's going to reach down and punish you for living in California the way you think. You said yourself that you lack experience; this will be its own big problem in any economy, anywhere.
Have you done the traditional networking-related things? Joined groups?
posted by circular at 9:12 AM on June 3, 2010