When you find yourself living in a new city without a job, you are likely to encounter an added level of complexity in a job search. Perhaps you’ve moved to be with a spouse or partner whose company relocated him or her. Maybe you exhausted all your opportunities in your previous location, or you were intrigued with the lifestyle a new community offers. Whatever the reason for your move, this can be both an exciting and fearful time in your life.
Here are eight things to consider as you get your bearings and begin the search for your next job:
1. Get the lay of the land. While you aren’t yet working, relish the time to get to know your new surroundings. Figure out first things first, like where to buy your basic groceries. But don’t neglect to learn about your new city or community within it.
What cultural, historical and other spots of interest are nearby? What colleges and universities offer programs to the public, like lectures or concerts that would be of interest? Where are great places nearby to just take a walk or hike, ride your bike or get some exercise?
Take some time to figure out where to find day care or education for your kids, doctors and dentists, gyms and all the service providers necessary to your lifestyle.
2. Get salary surveys. As you begin to focus your job search, it is important to figure out what your skills and experience can command in compensation. You can easily get graphs that compare what a job title pays (range and median) in your new location and nationally at Careeronestop.org, sponsored by the US Department of Labor. And you can hone that data more specifically at sites like Salary.com, PayScale, Glassdoor and elsewhere.
3. Scour the job boards to see what’s out there. Before you rework your resume, check the major job boards (Monster, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn’s main Jobs menu) and job aggregating sites Indeed and SimplyHired. Conduct multiple searches and save results of full text job descriptions. Examine them carefully to identify the sought-after skills and achievements that you can legitimately claim when you are putting your new resume together.
4. Create a list of hidden potential employers. While it might be that you’ll find plenty of opportunities listed on job boards, a solid job hunt will also include a site like Hoovers (an expensive subscription that is often accessible in public and university libraries without cost). Each type of business or industry has its own SIC code, which you can find at siccode.com. Then, plug relevant SIC codes into Hoovers with a search by ZIP code proximity, and you’ll likely be surprised by the results.
5. Optimize your resume. Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to incorporate it into your resume. Make sure to sprinkle the keywords and concepts employers seek into your new resume to appropriately describe your education, skills or accomplishments.
6. Find recruiters who fit your industry and skill set. Often people want to outsource their job search to a recruiter, yet for most people, this isn’t a realistic expectation. Bear in mind that recruiters account for only a small percentage of all jobs that are filled in the U.S.
If you can find a recruiter who specializes in your skill set and/or industry, you will have the most luck. Build a relationship with that individual by understanding the “rules of the road” when working with a recruiter and following them. You might try finding recruiters at Recruiting.com.
7. Find job fairs. There are many types and venues for job fairs. Do a Google search for job fairs in your area, and you’ll see everything from career forums to events specialized for veterans, health care, general labor and so on. In particular, it is worth checking with your professional organization to see if it sponsors such events, or provides links to the events on its site.
8. Network your way into your new community. Essential to any job search campaign, especially in a new community, is getting to know “who’s who,” and getting to be known by them. Use LinkedIn to build connections, and then actually follow up to speak with them.
Attend Meetup groups for your industry, talents and anything that you can relate to, such as moms, wine tasting or hiking. Connect with other parents if you have kids, singles groups if you are single and anything that will get you out of your home and into the community.
Remember: You are not just looking for a new job — you’re building a new life for yourself in your new community. The sooner you find and connect with people who have common interests and begin to build personal friendships, the sooner you will feel at home and settled.
Happy hunting!
Arnie Fertig, MPA, is passionate about helping his Jobhuntercoach clients advance their careers by transforming frantic “I’ll apply to anything” searches into focused hunts for “great fit” opportunities. He brings to each client the extensive knowledge he gained when working in HR staffing and managing his boutique recruiting firm.
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