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Relocate, then Find a Job, or is it the Other Way Around?

I have a good background in sales, some time in management, and several years in marketing, interactive marketing in particular. After some visits with friends, I want to relocate to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The culture of the job market there is very appealling. I have applied to several great positions that seemed a perfect fit to my experience. I am using a local address when applying from friends that can assist me in the move and, other than 2 weeks notice, I am in a position to pick up and go if I get an offer. I can manage a Friday face-to-face interview easily enough.

I have been told by two staffing agencies that I should relocate first and then go after a job. This seems a little backwards. The economy makes looking at outside candidates even more remote, but it seems like there must be something more I can do to make a better case for myself.

Does anyone have any advice for landing a job before you actually make a move? Perhaps it is a longshot in the current market, or even in a good market, but any tips would be appreciated. How can you sale yourself before you are already dismissed for not being a loca?

Tags: advice, dallas, fort, relocate, texas, tips, worth

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Permalink Reply by Tanya Willette on March 13, 2009 at 9:04am: Hi Christopher,

I think that is entirely up to you. We have a feature on our job board (InovaHire) that allows you to enter in the states you are willing to locate to. This way, when an employer does a search in a particular area, your resume comes up (if of course you listed that as a state you are willing to relocate too)! We also have another feature that allows an employer to interview you live online via a webcam so if you are willing to relocate you can get a feel for the employer (and they can get a feel for you) at no cost!

Afterall, with the economy the way it is, why would you move before finding out if you were able to get a job in that area? It seems too risky.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by N Robin Gillman, MBA, SPHR on March 25, 2009 at 7:18pm: I know someone who was recently in your predicament. He arranged his interviews from his home location, spent about a week with a friend, rented a car, and spent each day interviewing. After he secured a position, he rented an apartment, flew back up to his home location and drove his car back down. He was also in Sales. What he had was a good solid plan that he stuck to--I think that is why it worked for him; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wesley Gross on March 25, 2009 at 8:06pm: In my opinion, there is no right way or wrong way... I'll use my own situation as an example.... I'm originally from D/FW and understand what the culture is like there, however I was looking for a change and moved to the Pacific NW looking for a change and without a job... but I did wait...

I looked at the job boards and once it seemed there were a number of positions in my field - Human Resources - I moved with the understanding that I would give myself 6 months to find a position and if it didn't work out, then I would return to DFW... well, it worked out... in month 6 of course, where I was getting to the end of my rope...

So, if you are in a position to do so and feel you have a prosepect of a job, move! Go for it! If not, then continue to look at the area from afar or put in place a plan that in 1 year, you will move to the area...

There really is no right or wrong way and be prepared for some adversity... every city or region of the country has their own way of doing things - not right or wrong, just different!

Best of luck,

Wesley; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by James R. Neaves on April 10, 2009 at 6:22am: Years ago, in 1978, I was thinking or relocating from Illinois to Texas. I had stacks of reject letters from Texas companies. I was in the JCs at that time and spoke with a national Chamber of Commerce individual. He told me you have to go there and get amongst them. He was right. It is tough to just pick up and move but I did and found a job with Texas Instruments within a few months. I had 5 or so reject letters from TI previously. Your location may be a filter companies look at when sifting your information.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bridget Young on April 12, 2009 at 11:21am: Hello Christopher
I am also relocating to the Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area in July due to marrage. I am very interested in the reply you get since I have never moved from my home town and been employed for the last ten years and have not looked for a job in a long time.

Good luck to you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christopher Roth on April 14, 2009 at 1:49pm: Thank you for all of the replies. It does seem that there is some variance as to what works for one person and another. I am currently using a mix of tactics. I am going through a staffing agency that has helped me with my resume and assisted in networking through LinkedIn. Bridget, I would definitely sign up with LinkedIn, if you haven't already, and join some of the professional groups in your area of expertise or the general business groups. It may put you in contact with other professionals who can recommend you or pass along information about openings.

I am also planning to spend 2 days in the area at the end of the month, April 24th and May 1st to see if I can make a more direct impression.

Picking up and moving first is not an option at this time, though I have no ties to keep me here once I get the word of a hire other than giving my employer notification.

I have been at it for about a week and have one possible lead with a few contacts confirming receipt of my information.

And Tanya, I did sign up with InovaHire, so we'll see what comes of that. As I work through this I will certainly post anything I learn along the way.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tiffany Henson on May 1, 2009 at 4:58pm: Kudos to you Christopher for mentioning Linked In. I second your opinion and value Linked In as a viable tool for sourcing professional contacts and getting involved in local groups. Feel free to add me if you'd like. Who knows, maybe myself or one of my contacts can help you navigate your way to a great career in D/FW.

Tanya - Thanks for the InovaHire suggestion.... I too will sign up and see what should come of it.

Best of luck to everyone; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark M. McDonough on May 2, 2009 at 7:22pm: Chris,

This is actually a very easy scenario to comment on.

My advise assumes that you're able to accomodate interviews per a prospective employers schedule and that you're also able to relocate and start a new job within an acceptable period of time.

Since you already have a good friend who currently reside in the area with which you are interested in obtaing new employment and since that friend is offering you a place to live if and when you obtain a new job then I believe the logical thing to do is; simply change the address on your resume to that of the person whose offerd you a place to stay.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Faith on May 6, 2009 at 4:07pm: I also was looking for a job long distance. I was advised by several recruiters that companies won't really take you serious until you are in the area. Mind you I rented my home in GA and came to Dallas renting an apt. What I'm being told now is Dallas is 6 mo's behind the economic turn , so they are just starting to feel the pinch other cities have already experienced. I think Dallas is a great place, the people are remarkable. Its a gamble , but from 3 moves I've done you make the move, then the job search. I also networked with lots of recruiters prior to my arrival in my last coast to coast move (b4 Dallas). If you can handle the rent/stay with friends, you need to be in the are, is my experience.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenn Mandelkern on May 25, 2009 at 6:17pm: Let's consider this. How will you be better off emotionally by relocating there? (I've done it both ways, relocating with and without job offers.)

If you've stated the culture is more to your liking, that too will give you the energy and time management ingredients to effectively conduct your campaign. If you are in marketing, then you know the product you'll be marketing and promoting is you. Sure, you're buying into my suggestions here across the Internet as I write to you (and other readers) from California. Reality is as physical beings, we still have tremendous impact face-to-face. (And in budget crunched times, managers can say, "At least I don't have to pay for this guy's relocating costs.")

Additionally, there's something to be said about the external environment. As a manager, I once heard that motivation doesn't always lie inside of us. It can very well be an "external dynamo" that radiates energy, and it's management's role to supply it. I've noticed if I can create that for my employees, they generate a lot. Of course, since it's been said that the best managers have to know themselves first, perhaps something is telling you that you need to change your surroundings now.

You will receive all kinds of reactions. Some hiring managers will say you were too desperate, and that's why you moved. Others will say you believed in yourself as well as their place. If someone doesn't hire you after you're determined to make something of yourself in DFW, consider it their loss. Approach employers who are over their fear of making hiring mistakes, the ones who actually hire the self-starter motivated types they claim they want.

Good luck.; ▶ Reply to This