Job hunting in 2015

[maize]

We are considering relocating to be closer to family, but would need to find employment in the area first. Dh has been with the same organization for over a decade, I think we need to brush up on our job hunting skills (I say we because, well, I have a significant stake in this even if I'm not the one looking for a job).

 

Does anyone have any tips on finding and getting hired for jobs, especially half way across the country? Are networking sites like linked in really useful? Is there something better than just searching for listings and sending a resume?

 

(Oh, and if anyone has any leads that might apply to someone with finance/supply chain /logistics experience within about a day's drive of Tallahassee Florida, send me a PM :) )

[imagine.more]

My DH has been looking for employment for 8 months now and since Christmas out of state as well and no luck. Honestly job hunting is rough nowadays, especially when you're not local. Non-local jobs won't even consider some people solely because of location. We're in a harder situation though because DH is switching careers. 

 

A few tips we have heard from people who successfully found a job out of state:

 

1. use a local address (of a family member or close friend...if the hiring person asks explain that you're relocating as of ____ date and this is where you'll be staying once you get in the state. They're usually just fine with that.)

2. include an expected relocation date on the resume if applicable

3. network network network. Our best leads and 3/4 of the interviews DH has gotten have been from networking. Talk to acquaintances in the area, not just direct family or close friends. A friend of a friend was who got Dh his last lead and we'd never even met the guy but he was totally helpful and actually is still keeping an eye out on DH's behalf.

[Kimberly in IN]

My dh has job hopped quite a bit (last job change was 3 weeks ago) and almost all jobs have been in a different state, and often a new part of the country. He is in supply chain (until last move, all companies have been distressed & he was brought in by the investors.) Anyway, his experience has been different than imagine.more. His address has not been on his resume for quite a while, just his cell. He has not found companies reluctant to hire a non-local BUT he has never looked for a position in a particular location; we have always been open to where the job is, so ... much different scenario. Imagine.more's tip # 3 is so true!!! My dh has used LinkedIn quite a bit. I am fond of searching Indeed and Ladders, but his last job was a networking thing.

 

Just as a side note, if you haven't already, look at some resumes in his field ... resume formats have changed a bit.

Good luck!

[Annie G]

No helpful hints since dh has had the same job for 21 years...but I did want to send you encouragement!  Hope the job search is successful and relocation is in your future! 

[5of5]

I assume he has a LinkedIn account?

 

As a PP said, I believe networking is still very big despite the rise of the Internet.  Of course, I would exploit the Internet as much as possible, but he should be contacting everyone he is comfortable with about getting a job even if they don't work in Florida because they may know someone who does.

[Laura Corin]

Make sure that he is customising his resume for each job: the days of the standard resume are over.  He needs to be picking up the requirements in any advertisement or for any job he hears about, and specifically mentioning how he satisfies them.

 

Husband was job searching for several years.  Personal contacts and networking were key.

 

How old is he?

[Amy in NH]

We did this 12 years ago, so things may have changed, but here's what we did:

 

1.  I did his resume and a cover letter explaining that he was interested in relocating to the state.

2.  I used the internet to search out every company involved in his line of work in the state (75ish).

3.  I created an excel spreadsheet with names, addresses, contact info, etc.

4.  I mailmerged the contact info to personalize the cover letters and envelopes.

5.  He got callbacks on 15ish, scheduled interviews with 7 of them for a one-week period, was offered jobs by 3 of them.

 

It does help that he is a skilled crafts-person in a field which is short of good help.

 

We moved.  He didn't like the first job he took, so after 2 months he contacted one of the others who had made him an offer and went to work there.  He's been there 12 years now, and he's worked his way into a supervisory role.  They regularly "try out" people relocating from other parts of the country.

[maize]

Make sure that he is customising his resume for each job: the days of the standard resume are over. He needs to be picking up the requirements in any advertisement or for any job he hears about, and specifically mentioning how he satisfies them.

 

Husband was job searching for several years. Personal contacts and networking were key.

 

How old is he?

He is 38.

 

Thanks for the tip about customizing the resume.

[Laura Corin]

He is 38.

 

Thanks for the tip about customizing the resume.

 

38 sounds good.  Husband was in his mid-fifties when he lost his job.  Not good.  And you will be searching from a position of strength: already being in employment.

 

I had a resume class when I was looking for work last time.  The way it was described to me: the job advert or equivalent should be seen as a problem, and the applicant is the solution.  So you want to show how perfectly he would solve their problem.  And then add in other stuff too, but make sure that the solution-to-problem aspect is easy to see, even if the resume is being read by a non-specialist in HR.  Picking up exact words from the job description is often recommended, but you have to be careful not to sound stilted.

[maize]

We did this 12 years ago, so things may have changed, but here's what we did:

 

1.  I did his resume and a cover letter explaining that he was interested in relocating to the state.

2.  I used the internet to search out every company involved in his line of work in the state (75ish).

3.  I created an excel spreadsheet with names, addresses, contact info, etc.

4.  I mailmerged the contact info to personalize the cover letters and envelopes.

5.  He got callbacks on 15ish, scheduled interviews with 7 of them for a one-week period, was offered jobs by 3 of them.

 

It does help that he is a skilled crafts-person in a field which is short of good help.

 

We moved.  He didn't like the first job he took, so after 2 months he contacted one of the others who had made him an offer and went to work there.  He's been there 12 years now, and he's worked his way into a supervisory role.  They regularly "try out" people relocating from other parts of the country.

 

I need to do something like this. Glad to know I am not the only wife helping manage the job search process; the whole things seems a bit overwhelming.

[Word Nerd]

I would definitely have a current LinkedIn profile and make use of the site. Even aside from having a profile himself, it's a great resource for networking, getting tips, and finding out about job openings.