Moving when you don’t have a job might not be the best idea, so it makes sense to want to find a job first. With a few tips and tricks, you can find work or, at the very least, have your resume tailored and optimized for the jobs you want in your new location as you go through the moving process.
Before getting a job, you must prepare yourself for the hunt. How long has it been since you updated your resume? Do you have a cover letter ready or a template you can use to make a unique cover letter for each prospective employer?
Since you’re not in the same city as the prospective employer, it’s important for you to include a resume and cover letter that indicate not only that you are willing to move but also that you are moving. Committing to the move by a certain date may help win over some recruiters or hiring managers who would otherwise question if you understood the job’s location.
After you put together your resume and cover letter, gather a series of job opportunities and apply. If you do this, you may get multiple interviews, which will help as you look for a new job.
The next thing you should do is compare the cost of living where you are now to where you’d like to go. Will you need to ask for a higher wage? What is the standard wage in the area you’re looking to work for your particular industry?
For example, if you’re making $65,000 in Ohio, the chances are that you’re living pretty well. $65,000 in California won’t be nearly enough in most cities, so that’s something to remember as you look for work.
If you do have an interview with a company before you move, ask about relocation assistance. Some companies are happy to help you relocate because you have skills that they want. Others may offer relocation assistance to sweeten the deal if they cannot meet your exact salary expectations.
It’s possible that relocating could costs thousands of dollars (especially if you move far away), so it’s definitely worth asking about reimbursement or assistance.
It may be the case that you apply for many jobs but just don’t hear anything back right away. Sometimes, it helps to be in the area where you’re looking for work, so you can network with locals and start making in-person visits to companies you’d like to apply to.
Move anyway! Even if you can’t find work right away, just prepare for the downtime. Set aside savings and move to the area with the jobs you’re interested in. As soon as you have a new address, add it to your resume and update your cover letter to reflect that you’re a local.
Looking for a job from afar is more difficult than getting one when you’re in the local area, so moving may help you find a job sooner. If that won’t work for you, consider looking for remote work or side gigs to help you until you can afford to move and apply to new positions locally.
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