How do I look for a job in NY without living there?
October 24, 2013 5:04 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to move to Brooklyn by December 1st. I have some money saved up, but I'll need to find a part time coffeeshop job (4 days a week) to support myself while I intern the other 2-3 days. Right now I live in Boston and I have no clue how to go about looking for a job from afar. Considering that I may have to go on several interviews before being offered a position, that I currently have a part time job here so I can't be staying in NY for long periods of time while I look, that I have no friends in the city to stay with and that my funds are limited, what should I do?
I have no friends in the city that I could stay with.
I'm also thinking it would make most sense to schedule all of my interviews into a narrow time-frame so I don't have to make several trips. But I'm not sure how to actually go about this, given that positions probably fill up quickly.
I have no friends in the city that I could stay with.
I'm also thinking it would make most sense to schedule all of my interviews into a narrow time-frame so I don't have to make several trips. But I'm not sure how to actually go about this, given that positions probably fill up quickly.
Oh, but I should add that if you currently work for a coffee shop, or have in the past, ask your former bosses and colleagues if they have any NYC coffee shop connections. Even if they just know a random barista somewhere, that personal recommendation can go a long long way.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:13 PM on October 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:13 PM on October 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
I used to work in and run storefront boutiques in Manhattan, and hiring there wasn't particularly different than the coffeeshops. If no one there has someone they recommend, either there's a pile of resumes, or someone comes in on Monday, interview on Tuesday and need to be at work on Thursday. Basically the same thing with resumes. That's how I would get hired, and that's how I would hire people.
These sort of places do hiring like a last-minute thing because someone leaving is always a last-minute thing. So you need to have to have good timing (i.e. luck) and be able to start immediately. I don't mean to discourage you, but "I need to move here from Boston to take this job" is a lot of risk for an employer to take on when they don't have to because there's local people asking for work and dropping off resumes on the regular. You probably want to put some serious thought into whether getting a job in a storefront -- of any sort, not just coffeeshops, and I do seriously recommend you apply to more places than just coffeeshops -- is a feasible way to get started here if you're starting off with limited funds.
posted by griphus at 5:36 PM on October 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
These sort of places do hiring like a last-minute thing because someone leaving is always a last-minute thing. So you need to have to have good timing (i.e. luck) and be able to start immediately. I don't mean to discourage you, but "I need to move here from Boston to take this job" is a lot of risk for an employer to take on when they don't have to because there's local people asking for work and dropping off resumes on the regular. You probably want to put some serious thought into whether getting a job in a storefront -- of any sort, not just coffeeshops, and I do seriously recommend you apply to more places than just coffeeshops -- is a feasible way to get started here if you're starting off with limited funds.
posted by griphus at 5:36 PM on October 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
« Older How to not live in the suburbs. | Coffee meeting with a potential employer... the... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:11 PM on October 24, 2013 [3 favorites]