Finding a New Job When Relocating

Historically about 13 % of the US population relocates each year. According to Statista, the percent of the population relocating by year has slowed down over the past five years. Some relocation is local and regional, although a good portion (at least a third) is relocation outside the region. Unless you are relocating outside the area at the request of your employer or retirement, chances are high that you’ll need to find employment in your new city. 

So, how do you go about conducting a remote job search? Here are six considerations to consider when you are thinking about relocation out of your current area. Each of these require just a bit of planning to do them effectively:

You Can Work from Anywhere

As we’ve learned from the most recent pandemic, most jobs that are not location-centric can be performed from anywhere the worker has robust internet bandwidth. So it may not be necessary to change employers at all if you want to physically reside somewhere else.

 

Remote work is more and more likely employers take advantage of the 3.5 billion person global workforce and intentionally hire people to work virtually. This trend can empower people to move to communities where the cost of living is substantially less, has a preferable climate, and provides local infrastructure that meets the wants and needs of the local population.

If you are planning on relocation out of the area AND want to change employment, then here are some additional considerations:

Leverage Your Existing Employment

Let’s assume you’ve established a positive work history with your current employer and that they are aware of your plans to relocate. As early as you can, approach your manager and/or HR and ask if your company has affiliates, business partners, key customers, or other contacts in the area into which you plan to move. It may be possible to get a transfer, which could enable you to continue your tenure and benefits. Additionally, make sure to get recommendations from people at your current employer, which might include supervisors, peers and subordinates.  Ask people in your current organization who they can introduce you to who works in your new city. Then ask those contacts for their advice for someone with your background and qualifications who will be relocating to their city. Bottom line, ASK for assistance!

Research Your Future Region

You can begin researching employers in the area where you are relocating by Googling employers in {city}. You can narrow your search to specific industries; for example, Google hospitals and healthcare practices in {region}. Once you’ve identified prospective employers in whom you are interested, visit each employer’s website to learn more about them and to identify suitable openings they have posted. If applying online or sending a resume, remember to tailor your application or resume for each position using the right keywords, and mention the timing of your relocation to the new region.

Pre-Network

This strategy requires you to have already built a strong network long before you have the need to relocate. It is NEVER too early to build your network in earnest, making it a goal to add at least one new person every day. LinkedIn makes it easy to identify people in your first and second level networks who live and work in your new area. 

Filter the list by the people who work in:

1. Industries in which you are interested in working,
2. Companies in which you are interested, and
3. Positions which are a fit for you.

Inform your network that you will be relocating to {city} during {month} and that you are now conducting a job search for appropriate opportunities in the new area. Provide a brief, bullet-point paragraph of the types of positions in which you’d be interested, as well as any specific companies for whom you’d like to work. Ask your network contacts for help by making you aware of suitable opportunities.

LinkedIn and LinkedIn Groups

Use LinkedIn’s groups and search engines to network for a job in your new area. There are about 3 million LinkedIn groups, most likely ones associated with your professional interests as well as alumni groups affiliated with your college or university. Use the Advanced Search feature of LinkedIn to identify people who work in target industries, companies, and roles of interest in your new region.

A few ideas:

1. Invite fellow group members and alumni to become first level connections. Personalize your connection invitation by citing your shared group or school, and your plans to relocate to their city.
2. Once they become first level connections, you’ll have access to their direct contact information (email, phone, InMail) to communicate with them directly.
3. Perform further research on each person accepting your invitation and identify the ones you want to contact directly to learn more about what the person does, his or her employer, and its culture. 
4. Develop the questions you want to ask ahead of time and provide him or her with your LinkedIn address and a pdf of your resume. During the information interview learn if your connection’s brief telephone or Zoom conversation.

Informational Interviews

Use an informational review to learn about a particular employer, their culture, and what it is like to work there. Try to determine how well you’d fit the culture. If you believe there could be a fit, ask their advice on how you should go about bringing your candidacy to the attention of HR and the appropriate hiring managers. Make sure to thank them during the call and with a follow-up note afterwards.

There are certainly additional things you could do to conduct a remote job search, including visiting the area and meeting face-to-face with employers and folks with whom you’ve networked.

Bottom Line

There are many things that you can do to proactively prepare for finding employment when relocating. The best guidance is to act as early as possible, well before you begin packing the van to move.