The Princeton Review
Welcome to The Princeton Review | Sign In | Register | Student Tools | Saved Courses
Colleges & Careers
Schools
Majors & Careers
Advice
SAT/ACT/Others
Scholarships & Aid
Discussion
Mailbox
Calendar
  Find a Course/Tutor
Advanced Search
or call 800-2REVIEW
Long-Distance Job Hunting

Whether you're looking for a job in Missoula, Montana or Timbuktu, Mali, the way you'll find it is basically the same. If you're looking for a job long distance, it's extra important that you know what you want. You're not likely to get away with the unfocused, passive approach. Your college career center in Boston isn't going to have a lot of job listings for positions in Timbuktu (though you never know!). You might not even find any for L.A. Since you can't just use the "cafeteria method" of browsing through job listings or signing up for on-campus recruiting, you have to uncover the opportunities more actively and aggressively.

  Take The Princeton Review Career Quiz
  Subscribe to Our Newsletters: Advice to Your Inbox
  Search for Career Information and Internship
      Opportunities
  Find Schools That Will Help You Meet Your Career Goals
  Learn About Distance Learning Opportunities

What's Your Deal?
First, decide why you want to go where you're going. Are you moving to Seattle just to get away from your parents and "find yourself" over endless cups of latte or because the environmental science opportunities are better there than in Brooklyn? Having a mission will determine which resources make sense for your search.

  Resumes That Work For You
  Resume Advice
  Professional Presence: All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
  Company Research on the Web
  BUY THE BOOK: Careers in Advertising

Next, you'll need to find resources. You'll have to make use of a broader range of electronic and print resources to target people and organizations at your destination. If your search is overseas, be aware that there are many excellent guidebooks for finding a job in other countries.

The final point to note is geography, which poses obvious logistical difficulties and not-so-obvious image problems. By image problems, we mean how seriously will an employer in another state or country take you? You must do everything you can to convey a commitment to relocating, so that the employers you contact will take you seriously. Avoid this phrase: "I'm looking into the possibility of moving to Chicago." If you're contacting companies in Chicago, then you'd better have already "looked into it" and decided you do want to live there. Instead, say, "I plan to relocate to Chicago ..." and, if possible, give a date you plan to be there.

Plan a trip to your desired location to interview before moving there. If finances and distance allow, schedule a week or two in the new location and try to arrange as many appointments as possible -- both real job interviews and exploratory or informational ones -- before going. For those people you can't get an answer from before departing, allow some open time in your itinerary to have an impromptu meeting once you're there. Unless they're extremely busy, few people in Atlanta will turn you down when you call and say, "I'm in town all the way from Portland, Oregon and would appreciate the chance to meet with you at your convenience during my ten-day stay." Even if there aren't any openings, you're likely to get a courtesy interview, which could lead to a job in the future, or at least a referral to another person to meet with.

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Site Map | Employment | Company Information | Contact Us
Copyright Notice SAT  |  PSAT  |  ACT  |  GMAT  |  GRE  |  LSAT  |  MCAT  |  USMLE