New city? New job search?
How to land your new dream job in your new city
Are you moving to a new city? Looking for a new job? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live (and work) in a specific city? Or have you ever just felt like leaving the one you are currently in? Everyone at some point in their lives has that “grass is always greener” moment, but few actually act on it due to the hassle of having to find a new job, along with other concerns that come up when having to uproot your entire life. In order to help facilitate and satisfy your need to move elsewhere, here are a few tips for hunting for jobs in a city different than your current one.
- Change your LinkedIn location to your desired one: If your move to another city is pending, it would probably be best to just act as if you are already in that city. By switching your location on LinkedIn, you will receive updates and notifications on available jobs in that geography. At the same time, if a recruiter or hiring manager is looking for someone of your qualifications, and runs a zip code-based search for available candidates, your name would pop up.
- Join LinkedIn groups pertaining to your desired geography: Go on LinkedIn, or other social media sites, and start joining groups whose members work in the same industry as you and the city you wish to move to. Pay attention to the group’s discussions and look up people who work at companies that interest you. By following and connecting with these people, you are joining an online community of professionals who can help you get the job you are looking for. Networking is key.
- Seek out a recruiter in this city who specializes in your field: Recruiters are always searching for new blood, and it never hurts to seek them out on your own. Through networking and online searching, try to find a recruiter in your industry and in your city of interest. At best, you could be the person they’ve been looking for to fill up a job opening. At worst, this person can give you an overview of what the job market is like in that location. In either case, they can help give you a sense of what it takes to land a job in that area.
- Make a list of all the companies in the area you’d like to work for: Do not sit back and wait for the opportunities to come to you. Being in a new city, it is unlikely any job will just pop out of the blue and present itself. Like any job search, you have to be proactive. List every company in the city that you would like to work for. Research each and every one of them. Connect with a couple people on the inside (LinkedIn is always perfect for this). Let them know you are looking to move to the area, and show them what you can bring to the table. This strategy goes for any job you apply for, but is especially helpful if you are on the outside looking in.
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