How difficult is it to secure a job in a different state?

Question

I live in CA but want to move to the Seattle area for a change of scenery. How should I go about securing a job first? Do most companies discourage hiring out of state candidates? Maybe I should move there first. Has anyone been through this before?

Answer 1

I dealt with this before. A handful of companies flew me in for an interview, but unless your skills are stunning they would rather get someone local so the person can begin right away without having to pay moving expenses.

Here's what I did. Might not be the most honest thing, but I did get a job out of state within a couple weeks. On your resume or cover letter, put a local address -- maybe one of your relatives or friends. Often, an employer will look at the address and immediately dismiss it. Or you can say at the end of your cover letter, "I will be relocating to the Seattle area soon." When you're called for interviews, try and set up phone interviews first and then try and schedule interviews with multiple companies on the same day or within the same couple of days, then travel up there to meet with them in person. If its getting to be too expensive to travel back and forth, say, "I'm out of town on vacation now, but I'd be more than willing to have a phone interview."

Good luck!

Answer 2

I dont know what the employment situation and cost of living is in Seattle but in the midwest its fairly easy to find a few good paying jobs within 72 hours of moving. The main key is to have a place to buy or rent before job starts and be moved in, or motel/hotel setup until you can afford a place. I just moved out here again to start a new trucking job and could not find a acceptable place for almost 2 weeks and it cost me that job. I found new employment quickly but this is what can happen when your not settled in before commiting to job. And most companies do not discourage out of state applicants as long as you have a legit address and a good cell or local phone # to give them right away. I lived in Minneapolis the last 15 years and know if you want to live in the "big city" setting you will pay for it in gas and high rent/mortgage, among other cons. Instead of paying over $1000 rent for townhome or having to payoff a $150,000+ loan for a townhome or home in crap area, I now have a $140,000 loan for a newer large home with over 16 acres of land miles from anybody in very beautiful western WI. Ive been a cityboy a longtime and have found out life is better, as a countryboy, not the music, METAL RULES!!!
PS-Lived in Salem and Portland almost 4 years and all I can say is its a beautiful area but the weather sucks, I'd rather have snow than rain so I dont mind 5-6 months of winter instead of rain most of the year.

Answer 3

It's not hard at all if you can go up there for an interview within a week or two of notice. If you can't, then move first.

Answer 4

check the web sites or papers you can get a job first maybe they will pay for the move they do that

Answer 5

The hardest part is just doing it.

Darryl S.