Preparing for Out-Of-State Job Hunting

Dec. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- If you’ve been out of work for awhile and feel as though you’ve exhausted your options locally, you may be thinking about seeking opportunities in other cities.  It’s a big step, particularly if you have a family that you may have to uproot, or if you own a home.  

Before you begin sending resumes off to faraway places, plan accordingly and consider the following:

Can you afford the travel expense of getting to and from interviews in other cities?  You will likely not get a job offer from just phone interviews, so at some point during the process, you will need to be face-to-face with the hiring manager.  Even if you are a strong candidate, they will likely not pay for the expense of getting you to their city.

Can you target cities where you have friends or relatives that you could stay with for a short time?  Cut down on costs and avoid the risk of moving without a job by sharing a spare bedroom of an old friend.  

Read the daily paper of the city or cities you are considering for several weeks, or longer, each day.  This will give you a clearer picture of their local economy, job market, cost of living, etc.  

Networking is a great tool whether you are in-state or out-of-state.  Social media networking sites such as LinkedIn allows you to make many professional acquaintances without having to be in the same city.

Job hunting expenses are deductible, so keep receipts and log all that you spend.  You will appreciate the deduction at tax time.  

Finally, use references whenever possible.  Call contacts in your industry that will put in a good word for you and ask them if they have friends or business acquaintances in the cities you are targeting.  You never know what you may uncover with a little digging.

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