Twin Falls or Bust!
January 4, 2012 7:43 AM
My girlfriend moved to Twin Falls. I want to get a job there. How do I go about doing this? Have you ever moved to a remote-ish city with scarce job prospects? How did you drum up a job?
My current job is in government (working for the same organization for the past four years right out of college) but I would be happy to switch to something else. I'm interested in small business, PR, agriculture- lots of stuff. I've been looking on Craigslist, USAjobs.gov, Idaho.gov's labor website, etc but it is all auto detailers and RN listings and wildland firefighting and nothing I am qualified for. Do I need to go up there and actually hit the pavement (I am located in SLC)?? What would your tips be? Please don't say whether or not I should actually move to Twin Falls or not, I need help on getting a job there. Thank you.
My current job is in government (working for the same organization for the past four years right out of college) but I would be happy to switch to something else. I'm interested in small business, PR, agriculture- lots of stuff. I've been looking on Craigslist, USAjobs.gov, Idaho.gov's labor website, etc but it is all auto detailers and RN listings and wildland firefighting and nothing I am qualified for. Do I need to go up there and actually hit the pavement (I am located in SLC)?? What would your tips be? Please don't say whether or not I should actually move to Twin Falls or not, I need help on getting a job there. Thank you.
It sounds like you are pretty open minded about job prospects. With that motivation you are bound to find something - probably not in your line of work and maybe for lower pay but those who are motivated usually find something. It is always better to beat the pavement a bit so that you have a better lay of the land and can actually meet face to face with people. Sometimes it takes being there for a little while so that people can come to trust you as well - then they will point you in the right direction.
We've moved around loads of times and have always had an easier time finding work in the smaller places rather than cities. These smaller places seem to have more of a vested interest in having you stick around and be part of the community.
I'm not sure if you are keen on joining a service club like Rotary Intl. or something but that is where many professionals hang out and as soon as you are with them there are many doors that start opening.
Good luck.
posted by YukonQuirm at 7:51 AM on January 4, 2012
We've moved around loads of times and have always had an easier time finding work in the smaller places rather than cities. These smaller places seem to have more of a vested interest in having you stick around and be part of the community.
I'm not sure if you are keen on joining a service club like Rotary Intl. or something but that is where many professionals hang out and as soon as you are with them there are many doors that start opening.
Good luck.
posted by YukonQuirm at 7:51 AM on January 4, 2012
Identify specific businesses you would be interested in working for and find their hiring sites. With the job market like it is, many companies don't even need to post a want ad outside of their own domains in order to bring in applicants. For government jobs, check if Idaho.gov has a system that will let you set up e-mail alerts for when new jobs are posted.
Also consider what kind of non-career work you would be open to as a stopgap if you arrive in Twin Falls without having anything lined up. Retailers are always hiring, and it's a step above fast food, at least.
Do you have any friends or family in the area who might have connections you can use? If not, are you what about connections who aren't physically in Idaho but work for companies with roots or branches there? Just because your connections are in New York (or wherever) doesn't mean they can't help you in Twin Falls.
I went through this same situation, albeit moving to a much bigger city, earlier this year. I went through about fifty applications and a part-time job stocking shelves at Target before finding something I actually wanted, two months after the move. It'll take time, but it can be done.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:20 AM on January 4, 2012
Also consider what kind of non-career work you would be open to as a stopgap if you arrive in Twin Falls without having anything lined up. Retailers are always hiring, and it's a step above fast food, at least.
Do you have any friends or family in the area who might have connections you can use? If not, are you what about connections who aren't physically in Idaho but work for companies with roots or branches there? Just because your connections are in New York (or wherever) doesn't mean they can't help you in Twin Falls.
I went through this same situation, albeit moving to a much bigger city, earlier this year. I went through about fifty applications and a part-time job stocking shelves at Target before finding something I actually wanted, two months after the move. It'll take time, but it can be done.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:20 AM on January 4, 2012
Have you reached out to your personal network yet? You might be surprised to find out that the your college roommate's uncle own a company in Twin Falls, ID, or knows someone that does. You will have a much easier time establishing something if you have some sort of personal connection into the opportunity, even if it is just a mutual friend, or friend of a friend situation. I wouldn't even bother with the cold applications until I exhausted my network.
2nd, I would hunt down the web site of every company in town that you might want to work for, identify the best person to contact (owner / CEO for SMBs, and department heads for large companies) and make contact however you can (email, snail mail) with a nice cover letter and a resum explaining you are relocating to Twin Falls and here is why you can be an asset to their company. Don't send a form letter. Personalize it for how your government and other experience can be a benefit to their company. Unlike a major employer in a big city, the employers in Twin Falls are probably not getting 50 resumes a day, so you should have better odds of getting a reply.
posted by COD at 8:21 AM on January 4, 2012
2nd, I would hunt down the web site of every company in town that you might want to work for, identify the best person to contact (owner / CEO for SMBs, and department heads for large companies) and make contact however you can (email, snail mail) with a nice cover letter and a resum explaining you are relocating to Twin Falls and here is why you can be an asset to their company. Don't send a form letter. Personalize it for how your government and other experience can be a benefit to their company. Unlike a major employer in a big city, the employers in Twin Falls are probably not getting 50 resumes a day, so you should have better odds of getting a reply.
posted by COD at 8:21 AM on January 4, 2012
When I moved back to the east coast from the west, I used craigslist but had more success with local job boards - whether they were connected to local newspapers or just independent and operating in that area. You might also find job boards related to your areas of interest. Perhaps call the local college and ask what some good resources are. Find companies you'd like to work for and check their websites directly.
I phrased my inquiries with "I am relocating to [your city] on X date" - try to be specific as possible. Many companies will be wary about spending time interviewing someone whose plans might change. Honestly, some companies probably won't even bother to look at your resume so you've got a bit of an challenge going in. You could start using your GF's address as yours to appear local, but that only works if you are close enough to get there if they want you to come in the next day for an interview.
I'm not sure what "hitting the pavement" consists of these days. Aside from in-person networking, you have most of the same resources available now that someone living there does.
posted by mikepop at 8:22 AM on January 4, 2012
I phrased my inquiries with "I am relocating to [your city] on X date" - try to be specific as possible. Many companies will be wary about spending time interviewing someone whose plans might change. Honestly, some companies probably won't even bother to look at your resume so you've got a bit of an challenge going in. You could start using your GF's address as yours to appear local, but that only works if you are close enough to get there if they want you to come in the next day for an interview.
I'm not sure what "hitting the pavement" consists of these days. Aside from in-person networking, you have most of the same resources available now that someone living there does.
posted by mikepop at 8:22 AM on January 4, 2012
The phone book.
No, really. If the population is only 44k, then that's about the same size as the town where I rang (a.k.a. cold called) every computer-related business, out of highschool, looking for work.
You can feasibly ring 40 or so likely-looking employers, and enquire about prospects. Expect a very, very low hit rate (ie I had 3-4 places ask for a CV, to never hear from them again, and two employers ask me to come in for an informal interview, which went really well), but if you do get a 'hit', then you're not competing with anyone else, just establishing whether you are up to the work.
Follow a vague script (I worked one out using the Knock'Em Dead book), that doesn't sound like a script.
Basically, something like:
Hi (*Name if they answered with their name*).
I'm *name*, an *experienced job-related thing* moving to Twin Falls in *Month*. I'm interested in *aspect of their business*. Is this a good time to talk?
= They answer no ->
Ok, when would be a good time to call you back?
=Arrange to call them back later. |
= They answer yes ->
*Explain you're interested in moving to their community etc*, and are looking for something in the *blah* field, and thought they might be a good person to talk to about opportunities in the Twin Falls area.
= They seem interested ->
Follow up with CV, phone call, appt, etc. Try and arrange to visit them etc.
= They say they don't have anything available ->
Ask X if they know of any other companies that might be looking for someone like you?
*Get a list of companies, people etc*
Then, proceed to ring those people, companies, starting with ->
Hi *their Name*,
I'm *Name*, *X* from *Company* suggested I talk to you.
*Continue with script*
With a population that size, you can literally make your way through the relevant sections of the business directory, whereas in large towns, I usually screwed myself over by being intimidated by the number of companies, and unable to narrow it down more, I just resorted to job boards etc.
posted by Elysum at 8:29 PM on January 4, 2012
No, really. If the population is only 44k, then that's about the same size as the town where I rang (a.k.a. cold called) every computer-related business, out of highschool, looking for work.
You can feasibly ring 40 or so likely-looking employers, and enquire about prospects. Expect a very, very low hit rate (ie I had 3-4 places ask for a CV, to never hear from them again, and two employers ask me to come in for an informal interview, which went really well), but if you do get a 'hit', then you're not competing with anyone else, just establishing whether you are up to the work.
Follow a vague script (I worked one out using the Knock'Em Dead book), that doesn't sound like a script.
Basically, something like:
Hi (*Name if they answered with their name*).
I'm *name*, an *experienced job-related thing* moving to Twin Falls in *Month*. I'm interested in *aspect of their business*. Is this a good time to talk?
= They answer no ->
Ok, when would be a good time to call you back?
=Arrange to call them back later. |
= They answer yes ->
*Explain you're interested in moving to their community etc*, and are looking for something in the *blah* field, and thought they might be a good person to talk to about opportunities in the Twin Falls area.
= They seem interested ->
Follow up with CV, phone call, appt, etc. Try and arrange to visit them etc.
= They say they don't have anything available ->
Ask X if they know of any other companies that might be looking for someone like you?
*Get a list of companies, people etc*
Then, proceed to ring those people, companies, starting with ->
Hi *their Name*,
I'm *Name*, *X* from *Company* suggested I talk to you.
*Continue with script*
With a population that size, you can literally make your way through the relevant sections of the business directory, whereas in large towns, I usually screwed myself over by being intimidated by the number of companies, and unable to narrow it down more, I just resorted to job boards etc.
posted by Elysum at 8:29 PM on January 4, 2012
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posted by timpanogos at 7:46 AM on January 4, 2012