Author Topic: Wanting to relocate, but...  (Read 5367 times)

iminycricket

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Wanting to relocate, but...
« on: March 21, 2016, 06:29:25 PM »
I want to relocate to the Boulder area, but I'm having trouble finding work. I'm worried that businesses don't consider out-of-area applicants as seriously as local candidates. I'm wondering if it would be worth moving to Boulder and continuing my job search there while making local connections with people in the data analyst/data scientist field.

Other relevant information:
-I'm currently unemployed.
-I'm a data analyst with about 4 years of experience.
-I have about $2,300 left in my budgeted savings. (I have more saved, but I'd prefer not to touch it.)
-My current expenses are about $350 per month. (I'm renting from my parents.)
-My moving expenses would be low.

I would love any advice people could give about:
-whether moving now makes sense
-how to survive in Boulder on a tight budget
-tips for finding a job in my field
« Last Edit: March 21, 2016, 08:56:19 PM by iminycricket »

yoonz

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2016, 09:01:42 PM »
What has been your job search strategy so far?

expatartist

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2016, 09:12:35 PM »
I take it you're single with no dependents?

Not sure where you're locating from, some of this may or may not be useful to your situation: http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/25/6-tips-for-conducting-a-long-distance-job-hunt/

iminycricket

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2016, 09:59:02 PM »
What has been your job search strategy so far?
I've been applying to places I find on Indeed and attempting to talk to them over the phone whenever possible. I've been searching for about a month and a half now and have had one phone interview so far.

I take it you're single with no dependents?

Not sure where you're locating from, some of this may or may not be useful to your situation: http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/25/6-tips-for-conducting-a-long-distance-job-hunt/

Yes, single with no dependents.

Thanks for that link. Based on that, finding a way to relocate first is looking like the way to go. It's just scary to think about without a large amount of savings.

norabird

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2016, 10:21:18 PM »
It's a very HCOL area to move to without a job secured.

JustTrying

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2016, 10:34:18 PM »
Hmm. This is interesting to me, because in my field, I know for sure that businesses seriously consider out-of-state applicants and nation-wide recruiting is the norm. Now, it is important once an applicant gets to an interview that they make their interest in re-locating to the area known, but certainly location is NOT a barrier to getting an interview. That being said, I work in a very specialized field where there are not all that many of us that do our jobs well. I'd be interested in knowing what other people in your field think, as I think it's hard for the rest of us to give advice when we don't know the norms for your line of work. (If you were in my line of work, I'd advise you to stay put because businesses will recruit nationwide, but again, I don't know much about your line of work!)

iminycricket

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2016, 10:49:31 PM »
I'm not so sure what the norm is for my field is either. Most of my experience was in Wellington, New Zealand and I relocated there before looking for work. Data analysts are supposedly in demand, but based on the few businesses I've made contact with, they're getting a lot of applicants.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2016, 05:06:36 AM »
You're applying for jobs in Colorado from New Zealand? I could see why they don't take that seriously. That's different from listing an address in Maine or something like that.

Are you legally able to work in the USA? Do you make that clear on your application?

frugaliknowit

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2016, 09:10:11 AM »
If you have any friends or family in Boulder, present yourself as already relocated there using your friend/family address.  If not, why don't you get a P.O. Box (thus an address) in Boulder?   It probably wouldn't hurt to get a cell phone number with the same area code...?

Of course, you need quite a lag time for any in-person interviewing (having to get a flight at a reasonable cost...).

If you find this unethical, consider what employers do.

iminycricket

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2016, 10:10:46 AM »
You're applying for jobs in Colorado from New Zealand? I could see why they don't take that seriously. That's different from listing an address in Maine or something like that.

No, I'm applying from California. I should have clarified.

ooeei

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2016, 10:23:11 AM »
What has been your job search strategy so far?
I've been applying to places I find on Indeed and attempting to talk to them over the phone whenever possible. I've been searching for about a month and a half now and have had one phone interview so far.

I take it you're single with no dependents?

Not sure where you're locating from, some of this may or may not be useful to your situation: http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/25/6-tips-for-conducting-a-long-distance-job-hunt/

Yes, single with no dependents.

Thanks for that link. Based on that, finding a way to relocate first is looking like the way to go. It's just scary to think about without a large amount of savings.

It took me over 3 months to get a single interview when I was applying to entry level jobs in Houston two years ago.  I lived in Austin at the time, and applied to probably 150 jobs.  If you're someone with 10 years of experience they're more likely to call you quickly than if you have 1-2 years.  You're somewhere in the middle, so it depends how badly they need data analysts.  I got rejection letters from some companies 6-8 months after I applied.

Keep applying everywhere you can find.  10 applications a day is a good number.  Use your alumni network, linkedin, contact people in the industry asking for advice or to talk about how their career path has happened.  Set up a 20 minute phone call through an email, and just listen to their advice/story.  You'll probably get 5-10% of the people you email who agree to chat.  Don't ask them for a job, but make sure they know you're looking, maybe one of them knows somebody who needs someone with your skill set.

Josiecat

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2016, 05:13:21 PM »
OK, take your address off your resume.  Submit it with only your cellphone number and email address.  Then start sending out resumes to Colorado.

Post your resume on www.indeed.com, dice.com, monster.com, etc.  Select your desired location as Colorado. 

You may have better luck going thru a contracting company just to get to the desired area.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2016, 05:15:08 PM by Josiecat »

Inaya

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2016, 05:23:18 PM »
OK, take your address off your resume.  Submit it with only your cellphone number and email address.  Then start sending out resumes to Colorado.


You could also get a Google Voice number with a Colorado area code.

eliza

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Re: Wanting to relocate, but...
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2016, 06:01:08 PM »
If you have contacts in the industry (not at your current employer), I would reach out and see if they have any advice on a long-distance job search specific to your industry.

In my own (similar, but less technical) career, I didn't get much interest in long-distance applications when I was 2-5 years into my career.  Now, at 9 years in, I'm reasonably certain that I could get an interview at most companies in my industry regardless of location.   

I'm actually wondering if the international experience + CA + wanting to move again is scaring HR/hiring managers away from your resume - moving often can make you look flighty.  This can be combated easily in an interview, but you have to get the interview first.  Do you list the location of each employer?  You might want to consider just listing the employer (not location) and covering the international experience in your interviews, unless the company/role you are applying for is likely to significantly value international experience.