How long to find a new job in a new city?
January 10, 2016 8:13 PM Subscribe
How long does it take to find another job in another city? On average?
I am currently living in Providence RI, but I want to move to Buffalo NY, and I want to secure a job in Buffalo first.
How long would it take to find a new job in a new city that is many miles away?
Congrats on moving to Buffalo! I hope to do the same myself soon.
The only time I've ever moved, it took me about two months after moving. I had sent some resumes out before moving but didn't get much traction. I suspect part of the reason was the out-of-state area code of my phone number. I'd suggest getting a Google Voice number in the 716 before moving.
If you'd like, I've reached out to some recruiters about looking for jobs in Buffalo. MeMail me if you'd like contact info.
My plan for if/when we move is to either convince my company to let me work remotely, or to find another job that will. Depending on your timetable and your career, that may be a good strategy for you as well.
I hope you enjoy Buffalo; it's a great city.
posted by kevinbelt at 8:48 PM on January 10, 2016
The only time I've ever moved, it took me about two months after moving. I had sent some resumes out before moving but didn't get much traction. I suspect part of the reason was the out-of-state area code of my phone number. I'd suggest getting a Google Voice number in the 716 before moving.
If you'd like, I've reached out to some recruiters about looking for jobs in Buffalo. MeMail me if you'd like contact info.
My plan for if/when we move is to either convince my company to let me work remotely, or to find another job that will. Depending on your timetable and your career, that may be a good strategy for you as well.
I hope you enjoy Buffalo; it's a great city.
posted by kevinbelt at 8:48 PM on January 10, 2016
very much depends on what kind of work you are looking for.
here's a datapoint: in 2015, i was applying for work with the US court system (law enforcement officer positions). applied via email from approximately january to may; during that time i also traveled for interviews. in mid-may i got an offer i liked. i moved in july.
prepare a concise thought or two about why that city in particular - for each place i interviewed, i pointed out specific reasons why the location appealed to me, which seemed to help.
posted by zdravo at 8:52 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
here's a datapoint: in 2015, i was applying for work with the US court system (law enforcement officer positions). applied via email from approximately january to may; during that time i also traveled for interviews. in mid-may i got an offer i liked. i moved in july.
prepare a concise thought or two about why that city in particular - for each place i interviewed, i pointed out specific reasons why the location appealed to me, which seemed to help.
posted by zdravo at 8:52 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
What you've done in Providence and elsewhere before, and what you think you're interested in and qualified to do in Buffalo, are about 95% of what you need to make crystal clear right now if you want useful answers.
Buffalo and Providence both have weird job markets. What, wrapped around your experience, are the qualifications you assert and the positions you desire?
posted by mississippi at 8:59 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Buffalo and Providence both have weird job markets. What, wrapped around your experience, are the qualifications you assert and the positions you desire?
posted by mississippi at 8:59 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you are looking for a service or retail job, you can usually find one relatively quickly (a few weeks?) but only if you are present to visit the establishments and interview. Those jobs are not hugely competitive so there is no reason for them to hire someone outside of the local pool of applicants.
If you are a professional or specialized, living outside the area will be less of an issue (but still an issue), but because there are less of those jobs and they are competitive, it could take months and you would still likely need to travel to Buffalo for interviews.
Either way, looking for a position while living in Providence puts you at a disadvantage.
posted by greta simone at 9:05 PM on January 10, 2016
If you are a professional or specialized, living outside the area will be less of an issue (but still an issue), but because there are less of those jobs and they are competitive, it could take months and you would still likely need to travel to Buffalo for interviews.
Either way, looking for a position while living in Providence puts you at a disadvantage.
posted by greta simone at 9:05 PM on January 10, 2016
It took me a week to find a job in San Francisco when I was moving from DC.
That was 15 years ago, and the job was not in my field, and I found it thanks to people I know. I found a job in my field within a few months after moving, but it was a different time and economy. And I found it (didn't *get* it, but found it) thanks to my social connections, so that can and does have a big impact.
The "average" is going to vary so hugely depending on field, area, how many people you know in the field and the area, etc., that I'm not sure you can usefully apply an average.
posted by rtha at 10:11 PM on January 10, 2016
That was 15 years ago, and the job was not in my field, and I found it thanks to people I know. I found a job in my field within a few months after moving, but it was a different time and economy. And I found it (didn't *get* it, but found it) thanks to my social connections, so that can and does have a big impact.
The "average" is going to vary so hugely depending on field, area, how many people you know in the field and the area, etc., that I'm not sure you can usefully apply an average.
posted by rtha at 10:11 PM on January 10, 2016
This is going to vary widely by industry, but for a data point - I have done this twice (gotten a job in a city before moving there). The first time, it took me about four months. The second time, it took me about a month and a half. In both cases, I had plenty of interviews during the job hunt, and was applying for entry to mid-level administrative and coordinator positions in the arts & cultural sector.
The difference between my two experiences was chiefly that the first time, I was applying for jobs in many different cities with the goal of "anywhere-but-here" - employers are already reluctant to hire from afar if they have plenty of local candidates, but especially so if the applicant doesn't have a concrete reason for relocating to that particular city (and in my case, I hadn't even been to many of the places I was applying to jobs in). Obviously, it's not impossible, but it's hard.
The second time, I was applying to jobs in a particular city and had a very concrete reason for moving (my boyfriend, now husband, was already living there). I put both my boyfriend's address and my then-address on my resume and was very upfront in cover letters and interviews about why I was moving, and that I was planning to move to that city regardless, but was trying to line up a job before I got there. In both cases I also put aside money to travel for interviews.
So it's going to be easier if you have a concrete and easily understandable reason for moving, but again, this varies a lot so if the job market for your industry is tough in Buffalo - all of the above might be completely off.
posted by cpatterson at 4:49 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
The difference between my two experiences was chiefly that the first time, I was applying for jobs in many different cities with the goal of "anywhere-but-here" - employers are already reluctant to hire from afar if they have plenty of local candidates, but especially so if the applicant doesn't have a concrete reason for relocating to that particular city (and in my case, I hadn't even been to many of the places I was applying to jobs in). Obviously, it's not impossible, but it's hard.
The second time, I was applying to jobs in a particular city and had a very concrete reason for moving (my boyfriend, now husband, was already living there). I put both my boyfriend's address and my then-address on my resume and was very upfront in cover letters and interviews about why I was moving, and that I was planning to move to that city regardless, but was trying to line up a job before I got there. In both cases I also put aside money to travel for interviews.
So it's going to be easier if you have a concrete and easily understandable reason for moving, but again, this varies a lot so if the job market for your industry is tough in Buffalo - all of the above might be completely off.
posted by cpatterson at 4:49 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I live and work in Buffalo. Buffalo is growing quickly, and I believe that overall, you are making a wise long-term choice in moving to Western New York.
It does matter a great deal in what profession or line of work you wish to find employment. Construction and Medicine are doing very well in Buffalo at this time. Conversely, my friends who are attorneys complain constantly on the competition for jobs locally.
You are welcome to message me privately and I will do my best to fill you in on what I know of the local job market.
Using my friends as a data point, two are chemists with a masters degrees. One came looking for work from outside the State and another entered the job market after a 15 year break. Both found jobs within two months. One in health care, another with a local government.
Two other friends, one with a masters in Political Science and another with a bachelors in Business also found jobs recently.
It does depend on your age, experience and education, of course. Fair warning - my friends who moved here from outside the area had Masters degrees or better when they moved here.
posted by Colonel Sun at 7:52 AM on January 11, 2016
It does matter a great deal in what profession or line of work you wish to find employment. Construction and Medicine are doing very well in Buffalo at this time. Conversely, my friends who are attorneys complain constantly on the competition for jobs locally.
You are welcome to message me privately and I will do my best to fill you in on what I know of the local job market.
Using my friends as a data point, two are chemists with a masters degrees. One came looking for work from outside the State and another entered the job market after a 15 year break. Both found jobs within two months. One in health care, another with a local government.
Two other friends, one with a masters in Political Science and another with a bachelors in Business also found jobs recently.
It does depend on your age, experience and education, of course. Fair warning - my friends who moved here from outside the area had Masters degrees or better when they moved here.
posted by Colonel Sun at 7:52 AM on January 11, 2016
I also live in Buffalo, and agree the job market is good in some areas (health care) and poor to non-existent in others (library science). Unfortunately, I would caution that Buffalo is still small enough that many opportunities are passed word of mouth, and who you know can matter a great deal. Some who come here find that no amount of networking overcomes the "we were in 4th grade together" connection.
posted by Riverine at 12:52 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by Riverine at 12:52 PM on January 11, 2016
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