One question has been buzzing around inside my head like a fly that has is stuck in between the blinds and the window...How the heck do you find a job in a city that you don't yet live in? My original plan was to move up to Boston (which I have unhealthily began to fantasize as a land of wine, honey, and Gerard Butler look alikes) and find one as soon as I could. But the closer I have gotten to the moving date, the more paranoid I have become that I am going to get up there and be the next victim of unemployment. Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone made a big move like this and waitied until they got there to find a job?
PLUS, please excuse the sloppiness of the blog. I am currently trying to tidy it up and give it that, "New age flapper/sophisticated scholar look." I am also taking suggestions on that. :)
Boston is a terrific city...but it is definitely expensive; I lived there for six years as a teacher. I think it's great you're embarking on such an adventure--it's a "dare to be great" situation! A few years ago, my husband got a postdoc in England, and so we shipped our things and got on a plane without having a place to live on the other side. That was scary. I eventually found work (the visa was the obstacle), so I'd encourage you to embrace the thrill of the unknown for now. It's a tough market, but there are temp agencies at the very least as you look. Good luck to you!!!
ReplyDelete(As a practical suggestion, you could join & start networking on LinkedIn, make a resume on Monster.com, and start looking at the job ads in the Boston Globe online.)
Thanks Michelle! I will definitely be looking into all three of those suggestions. You moved to a different country; that's huge! I commend the adventurer's spirit in you!
ReplyDeleteHere are two links that you may find helpful:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job-in-Another-State
http://askamanager.blogspot.com/2009/01/applying-for-job-in-another-state.html
I did the job search from across the country when I graduated from undergrad, so things might be a lot more difficult now, but I actually didn't find it to be that difficult. Most places list jobs online now, so you can apply from anywhere. I don't know when you're planning to move, but if it's several months away, you might plan a 1 week trip to Boston in the meantime. Then you can say something in your cover letter like, "I'm available to interview over the phone at any time or in person between X and X." I had a lot of luck with this-- I ended up being able to schedule 7 or 8 interviews for the week I was going to be in town.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you are looking for part time work once you get up there, you might also consider substitute teaching once the school year starts up. Most districts actually pay quite well for the 6 or 7 hours of work you have to put in, and then your afternoon is still free to continue your job search.
And I haven't read enough of your blog to know why you've chosen Boston vs. any other place, but if you're attending graduate school there, you should definitely look into the GAships your school offers. I couldn't have done my MA without one!
Best of luck!!
-Liz
That's good advice, Liz, including the suggestion about subbing. It's not a glamorous gig, but it's money, and substitutes are always needed. The short day so that you can job search is definitely something to keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just ran across this agency through my alumni group on LinkedIn:
http://www.beaconhillstaffing.com/matriarch/default.asp
Good luck!
Thank you, ladies! This is so helpful! Subbing never crossed my mind; I'm so glad you mentioned it, Liz.
ReplyDeleteAnd Michelle, I'm looking at that site asap. Thanks a bunch!
Anita, it's great to get some tips! I'm checking them out tonight too, so thoughtful of you to post them!
-R