Looking for work long distance can be challenging! These
seven tips for effective long-distance job searching will
help.
Tip #1: Looking for work can be difficult. Looking for work
long-distance is even tougher! Fortunately, the Internet
makes long-distance job searching easier than it has ever
been before. Using a job search engine is a great way to
find and apply for job openings in the geographic area of
interest. Job search engines like Monster can usually be
searched by state or zip code.
There are also many websites dedicated to job openings in a
particular locale. A well-constructed Google search should
find many of these sites for you. You can also find leads
for good sites to use in your search through various
directory sites. For example, here is a directory listing
of job search sites categorized by state:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/statejobslist/Jobs_by_State_Li
st.htm
Tip #2: Modify your resume to avoid looking like an
outsider or to give the impression that it would be costly
or time-consuming for a company to move you. If you have
not yet moved, and your resume still includes a phone
number and address from your current home, your resume will
almost always be overlooked for an equally qualified local
candidate. When you are targeting a particular geographic
area, it is often in your best interest to list a local
telephone number on your resume. A very affordable way to
do this is to sign up for one of the many VoIP telephone
services and request a number that will be local in the
area you are moving.
There are also various mailbox and mail forwarding services
that will allow you to use an address in the local area to
which you are moving, before you actually move there. With
a quick Google search, I even found services that will scan
and email your postal mail to you, no matter where you are
in the world. You may also want to remove the locations of
the companies you have worked for from the resume. Just
list the company name, your job title, and the dates of
your employment to further reduce any red flags that may be
raised due to your current location.
Tip #3: Be proactive. Locate and proactively target the
companies in the area that interest you. You should
certainly post your resume on sites like Monster.com, but
don't rely on this technique. It is far too passive.
Proactively go after the companies that interest you rather
than waiting for them to find you. Try contacting the
Chamber of Commerce in the area where you will be moving.
They are often an invaluable source of information about
companies in the area. Here is a directory of Chambers
through the U.S.
http://www.uschamber.com/chambers/directory/default.htm The
Verizon Yellow Pages is another great source for finding
local businesses that you may want to target:
http://yellowpages.superpages.com/ Once you have a list of
companies that interest you, research each thoroughly and
begin networking to get a referral to each.
Tip #4: Subscribe to and read local newspapers. You can
also read many newspapers online:
http://www.newspaperlinks.com/home.cfm. Besides giving you
an insider's view on the local area and the business
climate, and giving you a great source of information on
local job openings (the classifieds) reading the local
newspapers can give you leads on companies you may want to
contact or individuals you should be networking with.
Tip #5: Connections will make all the difference! It can be
a daunting prospect to network long distance, particularly
in an area where you know few people. But, don't let that
stop you! Ask everyone you know for names and introductions
to people in the area where you are moving. Networking
sites like http://www.linkedin.com are another great way to
solicit introductions and make connections. Shift from a
strategy of sending out resumes to an all-out effort to
network and conduct information interviews with people at
target companies. Plan a trip to the area and line up a
series of informational interviews while you are there. Ask
for information, not jobs. Your goal with networking is to
gather information, get introductions, and make
connections. Networking is the single most effective job
search technique and this definitely holds true in a
long-distance job search as well.
Tip #6: If you have already moved or are especially anxious
to move and need some income immediately, working
temporarily as a consultant at a company while you job hunt
is a good way to make money, make connections in the local
area, and prove your worth. If you have the luxury of
taking your time in your job search, you may want to
consider doing some volunteer work in the community you
have moved to. This is another excellent way to establish
the connections you will need to network your way to your
next job.
Tip #7: Use a salary calculator to understand the
cost-of-living differences. You should be familiar with
salaries in the area in which you are looking for work and
be aware of how cost-of-living differences might impact
your salary negotiations.
----------------------------------------------------
Nationally certified resume writer and career marketing
expert, Michelle Dumas is the director of Distinctive
Career Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents
http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP
Services http://www.100kcareermarketing.com
Michelle has
empowered thousands of professionals all across the U.S.
and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of 101
Before-and-After Resume Examples
http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com
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