relocating for an entry-level job - why you probably have to and how to do it (preview)
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
Copyright © 2010 by Heather R. Huhman Published by Come Recommended 7707 White Cliff Terrace Derwood, MD 20855 E‐mail: [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the author or publisher. Special thanks to the entire Come Recommended team, especially Beth Farrar for the design work and Lindsay Elias and Kristina Allen for the time they spent helping me research and edit this e‐book.
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 58 To r EntryLevel Jobs p Areas in the U.S. fo 931
#1 New York City, NY 9#2 Houston, TX 10#3 Los Angeles, CA 12#4 Boston, MA 13#5 Philadelphia, PA 15#6 Dallas, TX 16#7 Chicago, IL 18#8 San Antonio, TX 19#9 Denver, CO 21#10 Salt Lake City, UT 22#11 Atlanta, GA 24#12 San Francisco, CA 25#13 San Diego, CA 27#14 St. Louis, MO 28#15 Washington, D.C.‐Arlington, VA 30
Fin EntryLevel Job Opportunities ding NonLocal 3241 Move without a Job 33Utilize Social Networks to Connect Online 33Plan Short Trips Full of Informational Interviews 37
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
Apply for Internships 40Tap Your Campus Career Center & Alumni Network 41Don’t Forget About Local Recruiters 41
Up Career Tools” to Convey Willingness to Relocate dating Your “ 4243 Create a Plan 43
De ocation termining the Cost of Rel 4447 Cost of Living Comparison 44A Tax Break for Job Relocation? 45How Am I Going to Move All My Stuff & How Much Will It Cost Me? 46
Making a Move…Without a Job 4851 Negotiating a Relocation Package—In This Market 5253 Other Resources 5455
Local Resources 54Moving & Relocation 54Roommates 55Cost of Living 55
About the Author 56 Discount on the Next EBook 57
Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
INTRODUCTION Six months prior to graduation, my then‐fiancé had been offered a job with a large corporation in Kansas City—two hours away from where we attended school at the University of Missouri‐Columbia. Of course, he accepted, and we concentrated our efforts on finding me a job and a place to live in the area. Fast forward to four weeks prior to graduation. We found an apartment—several, in fact—we really liked in Kansas City, but no job for me. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Brett was invited to interview with a government contractor in Washington, D.C. They flew him in for a whirlwind interview process, which included a presentation for anyone who wanted to attend from the organization and the government department they serve. He returned to Columbia and accepted an offer from the government contractor a week later. Graduation was now three weeks away, and our plans had changed dramatically. (He, of course, gave the Kansas City company proper notice. His sister has been working there for a while now and loves it.) Luckily, we had visited D.C. over Spring Break because another large corporation had been begging him to come interview—and was willing to pay for our trip. Unlike Kansas City, I had been easily able to secure nine interviews over the three days we
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
were there. Talk about a whirlwind! However, those resulted in only one offer, which I declined. What we didn’t do while we were in D.C. together was look for places to live. Brett did this a bit on his own when he was invited by the government contractor, and found a place in Maryland he assured me was suitable. After showing me pictures of the apartment community online, we signed and faxed the two‐year lease agreement from Columbia. Luckily, back then, many large companies paid for moving expenses, including Brett’s new employer. So, when we graduated Saturday morning, held our wedding reception Saturday evening (we were getting married in Jamaica four weeks later) and started our two‐day drive to Washington on Sunday morning, I wasn’t too worried. We showed up Monday afternoon to check in with the leasing office and sign more paperwork. We didn’t have our dog yet—just the two cats. They were already pretty angry with us for keeping them in their carriers for two days and had nearly trashed the hotel the evening before. (Nothing was permanently damaged, but they knocked over every lamp, chair and ice bin they could find.) I remember how hot it was on that May afternoon and feeling bad we couldn’t let them out yet. The leasing office wouldn’t even let us bring them into the air conditioning. Where was the moving van?
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
We frantically called both drivers’ cell phones until one of them picked up. They actually were only about an hour behind us—just the amount of time it took to get through that lease paperwork. We pulled up to our unit at almost exactly the same time they did, and my phone rang. It was an association in Maryland looking to interview me—immediately. Despite how tired I was and the fact that I certainly didn’t have my résumé in front of me, let alone a computer so I could Google the organization to refresh my memory, I went ahead with the interview and let the guys handle the moving. It went extremely well, and I was invited for an in‐person interview later that week and had an offer before I even arrived home. I really liked my would‐be boss and the organization itself, so I accepted. After everything, Brett and I started work only a few days apart—and neither of our employers minded we were about to leave for a week for our wedding and honeymoon. I should note how atypical this situation would be today. Relocation benefits are pretty much off the table. (And the move ended up costing Brett’s employer more than $10,000.) And the fact that our trip together and Brett’s trip by himself to interview in D.C. were both paid for by someone other than us…again, very inconceivable now.
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
So, graduating students often stick to their hometowns and college towns when it comes to looking for a place to live and work—never mind that it might take months longer or never work out. Sure, they aren’t going to fly you out to interview, but what is the cost of a flight and hotel stay compared to the salary you’ll receive? One or two days of work? And I mentioned the move cost more than $10,000. What I didn’t say was the door‐to‐door service we received. They packed and unpacked nearly everything—plus brought Brett’s truck across the country. Could the move have cost less? Absolutely! But with everything we had going on that weekend and the extremely short notice, we gladly took them up on their generous offer. What’s a grad to do? The very first column I wrote for Examiner.com was about this very subject—go where the money is. You’re not doing yourself any favors by staying in the Columbia’s of the world. “But how?” you ask. Throughout the pages of this e‐book, you’ll learn all the tips and techniques you’ll need to pull off a relocation for an entry‐level job, from how to deduct the expenses on your taxes to what cities offer the most entry‐level jobs to how to convince an employer you’re better than a local candidate. It’s all here.
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather R. Huhman, founder & president of Come Recommended, is passionate about helping students and recent college graduates pursue their dream careers. As the oldest child in her family – even among her extended family – she did not have anyone to guide her through the trials and tribulations of developing her career. Now, as an experienced hiring manager and someone who has been in nearly every employment‐related situation imaginable, she is serving as that much‐needed guide for others. Heather knows and understands the needs of today’s employerand internship and entry‐level job seekers. Her expertise in thisarea led to her selection as Examiner.com’s
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entry‐level careers columnist in mid‐2008. The daily, national column educates high school students through recent college graduates about how to find, land and succeed at internships and entry‐level jobs.
Additionally, Heather is a career expert for the CAREEREALISM Twitter Advice Project, the job search expert for Campus Calm, a contributor to One Day, One Job, One Day, One Internship, and Personal Branding Blog and author of the e‐book Gen Y Meets the Workforce: Launching Your Career During Economic Uncertainty. Heather resides in the Washington, DC area with her husband, dog and two cats. She is available to answer your questions or speak at your next event.
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Relocating for an Entry-Level Job> Why You Probably Have to & How to Do It