Applying for jobs in a new city
 

There's a chance I may be relocating and I am curious to know how one would go about applying for jobs in another city,

I've been poking around to see what's out there in this new city, but haven't found anything that's OMG MUST APPLY. But I just had a few concerns about what to do when I do find something I like.

When should I seriously start looking/applying to jobs? If I see a really awesome job but I'm still not sure if I'm moving, do I bother applying? Do you address that you will be moving in your cover letter? I figured you could since they will see that you are not from the area on your resume...but maybe I'm wrong.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

I'm somewhat in the same situation as you and I'd say start looking now because of how our economy is. It could take months to find something and just because you apply for a job doesnt mean you have to take it. I don't know what field of work you are wanting to go into but I'd focus your search there. When a job opens up in that field located in that new city apply! I wouldn't mention relocating in your cover letter either, common sense should tell HR that you are able/willing to relocate.

Told you this in chat, but for others' sakes, I highly recommend seeing if a Google Voice number with a local or near-local area code is available in the area you're looking at.

There is really no reason, in this day and age, that you need to put an address on a resume. Therefore, you can put "Relocating to New York, NY on 9/1/2011" near the top with your e-mail address and phone number. You should also mention it in your cover letter. The key is to make it clear that you have definite relocation plans, not that you are doing a nationwide job search.

You say that, and yet I got my most important piece of information for the new job via mail - my offer letter. If you're going to be applying long distance, you're probably going to want to have an address they can send correspondence to.

I also have gotten mail from a few different places I applied. Granted they were all rejection letters...but I'd rather be safe than sorry!

I would include in the cover letter (which you're ALWAYS SENDING) that you intend to relocate as of X date.

I don't think this is a very good suggestion unless your main reason for doing this is to save the prospective employer long distance fees. She should put down the number that is most accessible to her. Being from Detroit I know so many people who ended up having to relocated all over the country for work and none of them have ever complained about being cut because they lived in a different city at the time of the application.

You can forward Google Voice numbers to whatever phone you use most, and therefore is most accessible :)

Negative. If she puts down that she's relocating on 9/1/11 but the business was looking to have the position filled by 8/1/11 it could knock her out of consideration for the job.

I'll admit I'm not familiar with google voice, I assumed it was similar to VOIP where you'd have to be at your computer to receive calls. I do think it's unnecessary though in this case, unless you just want to get a P.O. Box as well and just trick employers into thinking you reside there already :D

As said, you can forward them along to any other number.

She would have been knocked out anyway, unfortunately, when they found out that she's not going to be there when they need her.

Having a firm date means it's not a wishy-washy thing and that they can count on it. Otherwise you're just applying from across the country and they don't know why.

I disagree. Everyone I know (including me) didn't move until after receiving a firm offer or contract. But then again we were all professionals seeking professional employment and relocating and bouncing from one city to another isn't uncommon.

I would somewhat agree with you though if you are talking about entry level work but I'm assuming the OP is looking for something more than that.

Rereading her post, I know more about her situation than posted and she likely would be moving by a certain date to a specific location based on the way I understood things. If that's wrong then disregard.

Not just entry level.

By the time you have an offer, you should have met them in person, and filled out additional paperwork that would include your address. If you haven't, and they need it, they will ask.

Not necessarily, I know several people who've been hired after multiple interviews via Skype. My sister among them. Yes, your paperwork will have your address on it, but not putting it on the resume ignores that companies do send paperwork all the time. And what are you going to do, avoid a return address and hide the postmark?


ETA: had another example - I'd gotten background check paperwork in the mail as well, and they did have my address, because it was on the resume.

Every position I applied for in the past year only accepted online applications/resumes and you were required to put that information in. I would include the information in a cover letter or, if you have an objective, in the objective. (I know a lot of people are eliminating objectives these days).

I had my best responses when I selected specific companies that I wanted to work for and watched their individual web sites for postings that suited me. There were 4 or 5 companies that I really wanted to get into so I focused on those and checked them weekly, applying for anything that I thought I was qualified for which also sounded interesting. That's what worked for me.

Considering I originally interviewed in March and didn't start until June, I wouldn't worry about when you're available. Human Resources departments are notoriously slow. NOW would be the time to be looking for something to start in September.

All of the jobs I've applied for recently have all been online as well. You have to create a profile, log in, and "create" a resume. I was able to import my resume on one or two of the sites but I had to do a lot of cut and pasting on the others. I wasn't able to upload or create any cover letters either.

And I also haven't used an objective in my resume in quite some time.

The point is not to hide your current address, it's to give the relevant information on the resume. The relevant information, at the time you are trying to secure an interview, is that you will be living in X city as of Y date.

Sorry, I fall squarely on 'provide all relevant contact information' even if it's 'just in case their HR dept head can't figure out his ass from an email and refuses to send out info packets that way.' I would far rather a potential employer have all my contact info, because I never know for sure how they'll respond. Rent a PO Box in the expected city and forward mail on or something if it's that concerning - and you're that certain of a destination - but don't hide it - both the intention (so one doesn't get discounted) and the result (so you're harder to contact.)

I mean sure if you're really really wanted they'll put the extra effort in, but if you're borderline... well that sounds familiar, right?

I'm really really wanted.

You are correct, it would be a specific city by hopefully a certain date.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I apply for jobs out of town. The applications are all on line. I use my current address on all my stuff. My belief is that I can go where ever I want, I have no family or any thing to keep me where I am. Good luck!

Considering many people move BECAUSE they get a great new job somewhere else, why not start looking now?

Unfortunately, that is not my situation. I am currently living in one of the top 3 cities for my industry. The specific city I would be moving to isn't very active in my industry...I mean, I know there's a few things here and there, but not to the magnitude of what it's like here.

The reason there is a specific city is because my fiance found a few prospects for his job there (he's been looking nationwide for over a year with no luck). And things just got interesting because he just got an offer. :eek:

I put my current address down and was applying out of state. In interviews I typically got asked about relocating and answered honestly that I was interested in the area. No one ever held it against me. Of course, this is education so start dates aren't until August.