Actively seeking to relocate to another city

[GalileoG]

I am currently employed and have been actively seeking to relocate to another city on the other side of the country. It has been 6 months and I have been terribly unsuccessful (with just one phone interview.) I can understand the hesitation to hire out-of-towners, especially in this tough economy. I have almost reached the point where I would like to pack my bags and make the move without having a job lined up for me - but I've decided to give my job search one last push before doing so, given that I only have funds for about 3 months of living expenses before I would be tapped out. Any hints, tips, and advice on what to say on my cover-letter/resume/phone about relocation? Thank you.

 

[JedClampett]

You don't say what city it is, but there are a lot of markets that are really saturated. So why would they fly you out when there's a hundred guys down the street?
Rather than move out there without a job with the smell of desperation all over you, why not get some leads and take a week to visit? Stop at some of the places that you've sent resumes to and see if you can get an interview. Or stop at some places that just have a lot of engineers. You never know when a circumstance might strike. Maybe write some letters and tell them you'll be in town the week of blank. Get a feel for the place and make a vacation of it.

 

[berkshire]

See if you can find a job fair in the city you would like to move to.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[GregLocock]

Yup. Or get on a headhunter's books. I'm assuming your skills are transferable but not remarkable?



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[weab]

I have said this recently in another thread. Try Houston and New Orleans. Not sure about mentioning relocation except that you should talk about it in the interview.

Get in with a shop if necessary. You may have to work contract for a year and hope to get on direct after that. Good luck.

 

[GregLocock]

<Country&Western>I'd take a stab from the plaintive tone that there's this gurl and she done moved across country, and she took the dog and the truck, and the original poster is wanting to see her or it or them again.</Country&Western>

So random destination not so good.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[Rich2001]

So as not to flag that you are not local and to show you are serious to the hiring managers. Get a local phone number. either cell or VOIP.

You can also get a local mailbox with a forwarding service.

Richard

http://www.6sproductivitycom.com

 

[Forensic74]

Do not move without a job lined up, not in this economy. OP, what is your current search method? If you're using monster.com you should think again. You should be sending resume/cover directly to HR and be concise about why you want to move to the area.

 

[GalileoG]

GregLocock,

That statement is actually not far from the truth.

My 'significant other' moved to Toronto, Ontario about 6 months ago, closer to family, with a promise from me that I will relocate as well (from Alberta.) I still have not made the move and it has taken an emotional toll on the both of us.

Well, today I've decided to make the move regardless, and whatever happens, happens. I'm planning to make the move in 6 weeks, I'm hoping I can find something before then but I'm not holding my breath.

I am the only structural engineer in the office where I am currently employed. I'm afraid that I'm going to leave the company in a difficult situation. I am considering giving them a 6 week notice (from the traditional 2 week notice) so that they have ample time to look for a structural engineer to replace me. There's no way this earlier than usual notice will backfire is there?

Thanks to everyone for the kind suggestions.

 

[ctopher]

North Dakota has had a hiring trend lately, but I think mostly in oil/gas?

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[lisa247]

Have you ever worked in the Aerospace industry? There is lots of work for Aerospace Engineers currently in Toronto and Montreal, I can give you more info if necessary.

 

[KENAT]

Yes it can obviously backfire. Unless you have some protection in your contract or local law then they can decide you walk you out the minute you give notice.

It happens, though usually when they suspect you're leaving for a competitor or a security risk (not necessarily 'postal' even just deleting or stealing files etc.) or just that you'd be troublesome in some other way during your notice. In fact, some places this is supposedly SOP - if you give notice you can expect to be escorted out.

That said, I moved across the Atlantic for my loved one and kid, without guaranteed job up front - in part due to immigration issues. Plus she wasn't completely broke or anything so could help support me for a while. Fortunately I was able to do some remote work for my former employer for a while but after that ran out there were some lean times for a year or so.

Women'll draw you further than Gunpowder will blow you - as my dad used to say.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[berkshire]

There is no doubt that your significant other can complicate your life. Some years ago my wife decided to move to california.
Luckily for me it was a time when the aircraft industry was booming on the west coast. I was able to attend a job fair in Atlanta Ga., and secure a job with Douglas in long beach, problem solved right?
Wrong here comes the woman again. She wants to live in San Diego. I had moved by then to the Dan Diego area waiting for the new job to start in about a week. My wife says " why dont you see if you can find something local", so the plan concocted was to plaster the HR departments of selected companies with resumes. Just walk in, hand the documents over, and walk out.
I did that at General dynamics and as I had my hand on the doorknob a gal said, " wait a minute I have somebody that wants to talk to you" and as they say the rest is history.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[GalileoG]

Well, against all odds, I actually had a phone interview this morning. I wasn't too happy with how it went, not entirely because of anything I did:

-He asked..."Interesting last name...where's that from?" ie. sleazy way of asking about my ethnic background. I was asked the EXACT SAME question on my last phone interview. He even asked for a picture of me - told him to refer to my LinkedIn profile. Very unbecoming of registered professionals.
-He asked for my bachelors and graduate degree transcripts, I mean, who asks for these when said person has 5+ years of experience? More time was spent talking about my grades than my work experience.
-Offered well below industry standards.

Right now even if I get an offer from this fella, I'm tempted to refuse it and make the move jobless.

 

[DHambley]

GalileoG, Maybe try a trade conference? (I'm not sure which are the big structural events) In my consulting line of work I always meet new contacts and get calls over the next year.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

"Interesting last name...where's that from?"

My father...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[EQguys]

GalileoG: What kind of Structural work do you do. Depending on that I might be able to help. Let me know.

 

[GalileoG]

MacGyverS2000: Sometimes I wish I can be witty like that on the spot!

EQguys: My experience (about 5 years) is primarily in commercial structures, although I have worked on a few industrial buildings as well. I design with concrete, steel, masonry, and wood, the whole deal. I am a registered professional engineer. Have any leads? Thanks for trying to help.

 

[EQguys]

GalileoG: Well I work in New Orleans and as somebody pointed out, Oil and Gas sector is booming in this area right now. I am getting calls from headhunters on a regular basis. May be you could give this city a shot.

The reason I was asking you about your work was because our firm is looking for a Bridge Engineer since last couple of months with no results. Good luck with your search.

 

[GalileoG]

Thanks EQguys. There's also an oil and gas boom here in Alberta. I did a bit of o&g design when I was fresh off school, but I didn't like it at all - switched to commercial design the following year, even with salaries being significantly lower in the commercial industry. I'm glad I made that move, otherwise finding a job in the east (Toronto, which is where I would like to move) would be next to impossible.