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October 26, 2007
Long-Distance Job Hunting
Are you looking for a job somewhere other than Cleveland or your own hometown? If you are, then you probably already know that these job searches require a slightly different approach than a local job search.
The first thing you need to determine in your long-distance job hunt is your “why”. Why do you want to work in that city or in that state? Knowing the answer to this question will help you focus your job search and, eventually, will allow you to give a clear and honest answer to the question during your interviews in that city or state. Also, if the city or state is unfamiliar to you, do your research to determine whether you really do want to relocate and establish a career there. A potential employer in that city won’t want to read in a cover letter or hear in an interview, “I’m considering the possibility of moving to San Francisco.” Before you contact an employer regarding a job opportunity, you need to have decided that you want to live in that city. To help you decide, research the city, state, and region online; contact the state tourism department to be sent a tourism guide; and check out apartment and real estate websites to learn more about the housing market.
Once you’ve settled on a location, the next thing you’ll need to do is find resources. The CSO should be your first stop. As mentioned in this blog, the CSO is continually conducting employer outreach to develop relationships and, in many instances, job opportunities with employers in cities all over the country. (Stop by the CSO bulletin board to see a map of every city we’ve visited in the past three years.) We also have city guides and firm listings for many of the most popular destinations for students and recent grads. Set up an appointment with a counselor to help you get started in finding potential employers and in contacting alumni in your target city for informational interviews.
Outside the CSO, look into resources in your target city. Join the local bar association, start reading the local paper online, and network with local attorneys. Plan a trip to your destination city. And, perhaps most importantly, let networking contacts and potential employers know that you will be in town and would appreciate the opportunity of meeting with them face-to-face. Plan ahead and set up as many networking appointments and interviews as you can.
These are just a few suggestions to help you get started; be sure to set up an appointment with a counselor to discuss other options.
Posted by kcc17 at October 26, 2007 05:40 PM