Tips for applying for a job when relocating to a new state?

[wildrice]

I need to start applying for jobs soon, since we're moving in July. What things should I be including in my cover letter about my relocation? It will be pretty obvious I'm not local when I apply and show my current job on my resume. 

I won't be expecting relocation, but I'm a little concerned about logistics for interviewing since it's a flight away and I can't really afford to fly out there a bunch of times (maybe once or twice would be fine). I will be applying mostly at universities and non-profits so... I don't expect they will have a lot of opportunity to pay to fly me out there.

If you've done this before, what was your experience and how did you communicate it with potential employers?

[mnp555]

If you can swing it financially, I would wait to start applying until you get out there (unless you have an “in” or there’s a specific season in your industry for job hunting). I think you’ll have more luck getting interviews and won’t be burnt out by the time you need to move.

[bex1973]

It is not unusual to see out of state addresses when reviewing resumes for university positions so I wouldn't worry too much about it. But you could mention in your cover letter that you will be moving to the area this summer. I wouldn't wait because you know how SLOW hiring happens in higher ed. I'm hiring for a position in my office, the posting closed Jan 16, we did 2 rounds of interviews in Feb and the person will start near the end of March.

[So_Fetch]

I wouldn't wait. I work for the government and we will often do Skype or go to meeting for at least the initial first interview. I suspect that would be an option. I would also mention in the cover letter that you are already planning to move to the area. Good luck!

[kath16]

If you become a job-seeker on LinkedIn, you can add a private blurb. For example, I recently was able to clarify that my position was affected by layoffs at my previous company and that I was seeking X, Y and Z as of a certain date.

Update your resume to reflect your future location and in your cover letter, explain that you are relocating. Sometimes cover letters get tossed, but this puts the onus on them and not you since you were clear about your situation.

It's really not unusual to have applicants from wherever. Use your network!

[thebreakfastclub]

I did the same thing 2 years ago. On my resume, I had my name and current address, and then I wrote "Relocating to XYZ City in Summer 2016" immediately after.

I can't speak to flying to an interview, since we were moving just a 3 hour drive away - but all prospective employers did pay for the night before in a hotel.

In my world, the interviews are 1-2 phone sessions and then if they invite you in, it's one long day with everyone, so there would not be a need to go back an additional time.

Good luck!!

[wildrice]

Feb 27, 2018 10:30:25 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

It is not unusual to see out of state addresses when reviewing resumes for university positions so I wouldn't worry too much about it. But you could mention in your cover letter that you will be moving to the area this summer. I wouldn't wait because you know how SLOW hiring happens in higher ed. I'm hiring for a position in my office, the posting closed Jan 16, we did 2 rounds of interviews in Feb and the person will start near the end of March.

This definitely concerns me too! I think I applied for my current position in December and didn't start until March 29th. So that would actually be kind of an ideal timeline for me right now with a new job!

Of course the opposite could happen and a place could reject me because they want someone to start much earlier, but I guess I can't worry about that too much.

Thanks everyone! This is all helpful.

[firelight1210]

My mom got a phone number with the local area code, didn't put address on the resume and that helped with getting interviews. Granted, this was years ago and was just moving from northern CA to southern CA, so take that as you will.

[bronxgirl]

Feb 27, 2018 11:12:08 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Feb 27, 2018 10:30:25 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

It is not unusual to see out of state addresses when reviewing resumes for university positions so I wouldn't worry too much about it. But you could mention in your cover letter that you will be moving to the area this summer. I wouldn't wait because you know how SLOW hiring happens in higher ed. I'm hiring for a position in my office, the posting closed Jan 16, we did 2 rounds of interviews in Feb and the person will start near the end of March.

Of course the opposite could happen and a place could reject me because they want someone to start much earlier, but I guess I can't worry about that too much.

Would you be able to move earlier by yourself if you found a job that needed you before July?

[lilypad1126]

I work for a university and for the most part, when I review resumes, I don't look at/care what your address is. So many people move around for jobs in my world that your current address is a non-issue. You can mention in your cover letter that you are moving there this summer. Depending on what type of position you are looking for will depend on whether they offer to fly you in for an interview. Every position I've interviewed for, they've paid for flights and hotels to fly me in for a day long interview.

I agree with PP who mentioned the long hiring process at universities. I think you'd be safe to start applying now. The job I'm in now, I applied for in August, interviewed in October, and started in mid-January. It included an out-of-state move, but they were willing to wait a few extra weeks for me to start when I asked.

Good luck!

[wildrice]

Feb 27, 2018 11:53:47 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Feb 27, 2018 11:12:08 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Of course the opposite could happen and a place could reject me because they want someone to start much earlier, but I guess I can't worry about that too much.

Would you be able to move earlier by yourself if you found a job that needed you before July?

Possibly, though I'd really prefer not to. My current job is pretty busy in June (and the person who I split work with the most is getting married June 23rd) so I'd feel really awful leaving them before then. Plus we have a lease here until August so we'd have to pay double rent.

But, I could throw that all out the window if I found a dream job or something  

[just]

Feb 27, 2018 12:28:15 GMT -5 lilypad1126 said:

I work for a university and for the most part, when I review resumes, I don't look at/care what your address is. So many people move around for jobs in my world that your current address is a non-issue. You can mention in your cover letter that you are moving there this summer. Depending on what type of position you are looking for will depend on whether they offer to fly you in for an interview. Every position I've interviewed for, they've paid for flights and hotels to fly me in for a day long interview.

I agree with PP who mentioned the long hiring process at universities. I think you'd be safe to start applying now. The job I'm in now, I applied for in August, interviewed in October, and started in mid-January. It included an out-of-state move, but they were willing to wait a few extra weeks for me to start when I asked.

Good luck!

This is exactly what I was going to write - every part. 

I looked back  on the letter I sent for my current job. I kept my WI address and didn’t even mention the move In the cover letter. And I had been a finalist for 3 other positions at universities with the same technique. I didn’t pay for any of my interview travel. 

[Gato]

My husband has found a job twice at colleges and universities nowhere near where we lived. The first time he was hired it was at an Ivy League, and they paid for him to fly out for interviews and relocation costs. They even paid for me to fly out separately once he was hired to find a place to live and daycare. But he second time, he got a job at a public university; they did pay for his flight to interview, although not his expenses, and they did pay some of the relocation costs. My H is not anything special or even director-level, so it *is* possible you might cover some or all of your expenses.

He found getting on message boards and mailing lists for his field to be very helpful. Also doing as many informational interviews as he could. So his "name" was out there even while he still lived far away.

[wildrice]

Feb 27, 2018 12:43:08 GMT -5 Gato said:

My husband has found a job twice at colleges and universities nowhere near where we lived. The first time he was hired it was at an Ivy League, and they paid for him to fly out for interviews and relocation costs. They even paid for me to fly out separately once he was hired to find a place to live and daycare. But he second time, he got a job at a public university; they did pay for his flight to interview, although not his expenses, and they did pay some of the relocation costs. My H is not anything special or even director-level, so it *is* possible you might cover some or all of your expenses.

He found getting on message boards and mailing lists for his field to be very helpful. Also doing as many informational interviews as he could. So his "name" was out there even while he still lived far away.

Haha - this is me too. I mean I have a MS (in an unrelated area) and some experience, but I'm not highly sought after in my field or whatever. Unless they needed someone doing exactly what I do now, my skills and experiences are relatively common. So this is promising. 

I guess I'd just worry that the added expense of flying me out there would put me at a disadvantage against local candidates. 

But - hopefully that's not the  case, or maybe I can pay for my own flights if we're at the point where I'm a serious finalist.