Moving to NYC without a job

[sizzlinkola]

I have 6-12 months of living expenses (depends on my spending) and will be living with my SO in NYC. I've been looking for 7 months and applying online hasn't worked despite all the resume critiques I've gotten from hiring managers.

I have a non-tech background trying to break into a health tech startup in product management (PM). I feel that my resume isn't competitive enough against tech and formal PM candidates. On top of that, I feel there is more supply than demand for PMs. I have 5 years of experience in engineering/PM in the life sciences industry which I believe is relevant for a health tech role and makes me qualified.

To overcome these gaps, moving to NYC will allow me to build my network and find a job through connections. I've only gotten one job applying online, the rest came from my network. I'm building my NYC network remotely through e-mails and phone calls. The next step is to relocate, meet these people in-person and attend tech events to meet more people.

I'd love to hear that this is a dumb idea. Yet, I don't foresee anything else I could do to get a job at this point other than waiting for more job postings. I'm open to suggestions. My job isn't aligned with my values and would rather spend the 40 hr/wk dedicating to finding a job I love as well as being with my SO.

[MrThatsDifferent]

Something like 70% of jobs happen through connections, not job postings. Don’t rely on that. Here’s what you can do:

1. Research the top 15 companies that you want to work for, learn as much as you can and know exactly why you want to work for them. Don’t make the why solely about what they’ll do for you, think what you can do for them

2. Get a LinkedIn profile, get a good picture, get your profile right and make sure you have an easy link that you can post to people.

3. Add all of those companies to your LinkedIn in profile and see if you have any friends in your network that has any connection to those top 15. Your mission is to develop at least one contact in each company

4. Update your resume, get it to one page, clean and simple.

5. Find those connections at your top 15 and invite them out for a 15 min coffee near their work, you pay. At coffee ask them about their job, the company and the culture. Be curious and polite. Do not ask for a job or if they know about any jobs. Don’t dress like a bum either, dress smart casual. When you talk to them, let them know that your passion at work is X and if they know anyone that you could talk to at the company that does similar work that could share their experiences at the company? Then ask if it’s ok to mention that your connection suggested talking to the new possible connection?

6. Rinse and repeat. Keep meeting people, keep developing more connections. The more people you meet, the closer you get to where you want to be and the more you learn about the company the more strategic you can be and better place.

Yes, this takes time and effort, but ultimately it will get you further than anything else.

Remember manners: thank everyone, be polite, don’t ever be negative or complain about anyone or anything, keep your energy in check, don’t be arrogant. Be helpful, thoughtful, cooperative and focused.  Be the person others want to work with and look out for.

And when you get there, if any of this worked, pay it forward.

[sizzlinkola]

Something like 70% of jobs happen through connections, not job postings. Don’t rely on that. Here’s what you can do:

1. Research the top 15 companies that you want to work for, learn as much as you can and know exactly why you want to work for them. Don’t make the why solely about what they’ll do for you, think what you can do for them

2. Get a LinkedIn profile, get a good picture, get your profile right and make sure you have an easy link that you can post to people.

3. Add all of those companies to your LinkedIn in profile and see if you have any friends in your network that has any connection to those top 15. Your mission is to develop at least one contact in each company

4. Update your resume, get it to one page, clean and simple.

5. Find those connections at your top 15 and invite them out for a 15 min coffee near their work, you pay. At coffee ask them about their job, the company and the culture. Be curious and polite. Do not ask for a job or if they know about any jobs. Don’t dress like a bum either, dress smart casual. When you talk to them, let them know that your passion at work is X and if they know anyone that you could talk to at the company that does similar work that could share their experiences at the company? Then ask if it’s ok to mention that your connection suggested talking to the new possible connection?

6. Rinse and repeat. Keep meeting people, keep developing more connections. The more people you meet, the closer you get to where you want to be and the more you learn about the company the more strategic you can be and better place.

Yes, this takes time and effort, but ultimately it will get you further than anything else.

Remember manners: thank everyone, be polite, don’t ever be negative or complain about anyone or anything, keep your energy in check, don’t be arrogant. Be helpful, thoughtful, cooperative and focused.  Be the person others want to work with and look out for.

And when you get there, if any of this worked, pay it forward.

Glad you detailed this out. This is exactly my plan and what I’m doing remotely right now through phone calls. Gotten only positive response and have an in-person interview coming up this Friday. The only thing different I do is I tell them upfront that I’m looking to “get involved” and inform them I’m planning to move to NYC. So far, people have been receptive of it, leading to my interview this Friday.

[Josiecat]

Try contracting/consultant companies.