8 tips to apply for an out-of-state job

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/l3/ar5f41v68ht3lmcxtql3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/l3/ar5f41v68ht3lmcxtql3.gif" /></a></div>You've been looking for a job for months, to no avail, so you've decided to start fresh -- in a new city, in a different state, hundreds of miles away. Some people might think you're crazy, but expanding your job search might actually be the best thing you could do.<br /><br />"People should not limit themselves to one area. There are many jobs in specific fields that are hot in certain geographic locations [and not so hot in] others," says Gina Kleinworth, social media coordinator for HireBetter in Austin, Texas. "In these times when jobs can be scarce, you must be open to going where the jobs are. They are not going to come to you."<br /><br />While submitting your résumé to an out-of-state employer is a good way to ramp up your job search, it's not without challenges. Job seekers may worry that hiring mangers may not consider their résumé as seriously as a local candidate, for example, but that's not necessarily true.<br /><br />"At first, hiring managers may be inclined to consider candidates that are local or within commuting distance. But as the search continues they can become more open to candidates that are applying from out of the area," Kleinworth says. "Hiring someone from out of the area can be a great way to bring in top talent that you wouldn't otherwise find in your local area."<br /><br />The level of the position can also be an obstacle when you apply for a job out of state. An executive out-of-state applicant might be more appealing to an employer than an entry-level candidate, for example.<br /><br />"Generally, entry level jobs are more abundant," Kleinworth notes. "You normally see people relocating for a job because it is a step above their current level, a great new opportunity or is in a more desirable location. This usually isn't the case with entry-level positions."<br /><br />Other obstacles that job seekers might consider when searching for a job in a different state include: <br /><br />Lack of contacts <br /><br />Fewer (or no) opportunities to attend networking events <br /><br />Traveling for multiple interviews <br /><br />Difficulty obtaining current and accurate information on the local job market<br /><br />While it may seem like the odds are stacked against you, it's important to remember that you're going to face difficulties whether you're searching locally or out of state. And like all challenges, there is a way to overcome them, if you just know how.<br /><br />Here are eight best practices and tips that job seekers should keep in mind when submitting their résumé out of state, according to Kleinworth and Barbara Babkirk, master career counselor and owner of Heart At Work Career Counseling in Portland, Maine. <br /><br />1. Identify your career and personal goals<br /><br />"Clarify the type of job want. Are you interested in changing careers or just employers?" Babkirk asks. "Where do you want to live, including location and type of residence? What is your ideal time frame for moving?"<br /><br />2. Write a job description that reflects what you want and use it as a benchmark<br /><br /><br />"Know what is necessary or negotiable for you in terms of: salary and benefits, responsibilities, physical work environment, colleagues, skills and workplace culture," Babkirk says.<br /><br />3. Research the new location<br /><br />"Look at the quality of the schools if you have children, make sure the housing is acceptable and within your new price range, check out the crime rate where you'd be wanting to live, research the demographics, look into services available and how they compare with what you are looking for," Kleinworth says.<br /><br />4. Identify and research key resources in your industry or career field<br /><br />"Research the professional associations affiliated with your target job. The Encyclopedia of Associations, available in libraries and online, gives useful descriptions," Babkirk says. "Note the officers' names and the date and place of their annual conference. Plan to attend if possible. Contact the association's officers for help with networking."<br /><br />5. Be rational<br /><br />"Be realistic about what it will truly cost you to relocate if the new employer doesn't offer assistance," Kleinworth says. "Moving is expensive."<br /><br />6. Network your way out of state <br /><br />"Tell anyone you know of your plans to relocate. Ask if they know anyone who lives and works in your target location and if they would be willing to send an e-mail asking if you might contact them for networking," Babkirk says. <br /><br />7. Stay focused on your goal and take specific steps each week toward it<br /><br /><br />"Before you know it, you'll be living and working where you want to be," Babkirk encourages.<br /><br />8. Don't give up<br /><br />If you are committed to finding the perfect job- it does exist and you can have a job you love in a place you love living in.<br /><br />By Rachel Farrell who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

8 tips to apply for an out-of-state job

You've been looking for a job for months, to no avail, so you've decided to start fresh -- in a new city, in a different state, hund...

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When interview questions get too personal: Tips for getting back to business

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/2y/ar5f13t72r0y9wcx6n2y.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/2y/ar5f13t72r0y9wcx6n2y.gif" /></a></div>Sure, it is an interviewer's job to gather information about someone who wants to be hired. But when questions veer into matters that have little to do with an applicant's ability to perform the job at hand, things can get uncomfortable. Here, experts and job seekers who have been there offer diplomatic ways to steer a nosy interviewer back on course.<br /><br />Off-limit topics<br /><br />"Some of the questions I've been asked at job interviews include age, religion, questions about my husband, more than a casual interest in what I do outside of work and my political affiliations," says Janis Badarau of South Carolina. "Whenever an interviewer has asked such a question, my polite response has always been the same: 'I'm afraid that if I answer that question I might be violating some kind of law.'"<br /><br />While she reports having received a smile from more than one interviewer with this response, the fact remains that employers are not supposed to venture into certain areas.<br /><br />"The basic illegal interview questions are ones based on religion, marital status, parenthood status and health issues," notes Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides and author of "201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions." "Oftentimes when interviewers ask a question that is off limits, their intention isn't to offend or alienate. Usually, they have a hidden concern and ask the wrong question to uncover whether or not their concern is justified." <br /><br />On-track responses<br /><br />Thinking about why an interviewer may have asked a question can help an applicant formulate a suitable response that eases worries without divulging unnecessary personal information. "You should never point blank refuse to answer a question because the refusal itself will be construed as a 'red flag,'" says Patrice Rice, author of "How to Interview" and president of the recruiting firm Patrice & Associates in Dunkirk, Md. "Either the employer will think you are confrontational or that you are hiding something. There are ways to handle questions without actually refusing to answer."<br /><br />A few to try:<br /><br />"I have been working since I was 18 years old, and I have never allowed any personal relationship to interfere with my job. I have great references." <br /><br />"I would prefer to tell you more about my transferrable job skills. What else would you like to know about my skills?" <br /><br />"That's a question I've never been asked before in an interview because it is so personal. Perhaps you can explain why you asked it and what kind of information you really want." <br /><br />Reconsidering your candidacy<br /><br />Erin Farrell Talbot of New York City, owner of a freelance consulting business, was taken aback when a prospective client said he didn't want to hire someone who would become pregnant -- and then proceeded to ask if she was planning to have any more children. Though she politely told him she would "take what God gives me and go from there," he persisted. Talbot finally told him, "I am a three-dimensional person with many aspects to who I am besides just a worker, and if that question or discussion comes up again, I'll resign from consideration." She landed the job.<br /><br />"Personal questions are asked by unskilled interviewers," says Ralph Neal, vice president of educational services at Employers Resource Association (a nonprofit serving small and medium businesses in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana). "This may tell you a bit about the professionalism of the company. Keep that in the back of your mind as you progress through the interview process, and pay close attention to help determine if the company as a whole is unprofessional or simply has a 'rogue' manager who needs interview-skills training."<br /><br />Richard Deems, a career coach and co-author of "Make Job Loss Work for You," adds, "If the candidate thinks a question was asked on purpose, and that the organization often asks personal kinds of interview questions, then we advise our clients to quickly think through if they really want to work for that kind of an organization. We coach our candidates to say something like, 'That's a very personal question and has no relevance to the position or my abilities to do the job very well.' Then stop. If the interviewer persists, we suggest the candidate end the interview and leave."<br /><br />A final thing Deems recommends after an inappropriate interview: sending a letter to the company's CEO. Respectable organizations aren't out to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and giving a heads-up to a higher-up may make a difference in how candidates are treated.<br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

When interview questions get too personal: Tips for getting back to business

Sure, it is an interviewer's job to gather information about someone who wants to be hired. But when questions veer into matters that ha...

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Should I stop my job search during the holidays? Stopping your job search during the holidays: The biggest mistake you'll make this year

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/yn/ar5f8c26bl9p8ydbpnyn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/yn/ar5f8c26bl9p8ydbpnyn.gif" /></a></div>As the calendar year comes to a close, job seekers may be tempted to put their hunt on hold. After all, companies are too busy trying to get work done amongst office parties and days off to have time for new hires, right?<br /><br />Wrong, say many experts. Slack off during November and December and you might just miss one of the best times of the year to find a job.<br /><br />Company needs for talent do not take vacation<br /><br />"I would say taking time off from your job search is never wise, regardless of the time of year or season," states Frank Dadah, general manager at Winter, Wyman -- one of the largest staffing organizations in the Northeast. "Oftentimes, year end is the busiest time of the year for companies, not only because they are getting ready for the year-end close but because they are gearing up for a quick start to the new year. It may be a bit more challenging to schedule interviews during the holidays, but that doesn't mean companies aren't hiring."<br /><br />Elaine Varelas, managing partner at Keystone Partners (a career management and transition services consulting firm headquartered inBoston), agrees. "When there is a need, a candidate needs to be there. The idea that a candidate should suspend her job search during the holidays or that employers stop recruiting during this time is very dated."<br /><br />Take for instance The Knowland Group, a company headquartered in McLean, Va., that offers business development solutions for the global hospitality industry. According to communications manager Tom Crosson, the company is in the process of hiring 200 workers to staff a new call center that is opening by year's end.<br /><br />Likewise, Josh Jones, CEO of DreamHost Web Hosting (a Los Angeles-based web hosting provider and domain name registrar) says his company is planning a late 2010 hiring "spree" for about 20 full-time positions. "We're trying to gear up for what we expect to be faster growth starting in early 2011, and we want to have people on board and situated already by the time that comes."<br /><br />Potential advantages for applicants<br /><br />Dadah and Varelas both note that one of the foremost reasons to pursue employment during the final months of the year is a reduction in competition. By keeping your search going at a time when others have slowed down or stopped, you have a greater chance of being noticed. Also, job seeking during the holidays can show prospective employers your seriousness about landing a position.<br /><br />Catherine Jewell, author of "New Résumé New Career: Get the Job You Want with the Skills and Experience You Already Have," thinks that job seekers who keep at it are even more likely to be hired during the holiday season than at other times.<br /><br />"Human resource managers have year-end deadlines," Jewell says. "The new year brings a new budget. Toward the end of the fiscal year, hiring managers may have a number of new positions to fill. They will be evaluated on whether they get the job done."<br /><br />Other reasons why Jewell suggests keeping your job search going full throttle during the holiday season:<br /><br /><br />Holiday activities often put managers in a more receptive mood. When people are focused on family and fun through the holidays, they often are more open and receptive to conversation -- even from job seekers.<br /><br />Holiday events are a natural networking environment. Professional associations often have free holiday events. Job seekers should be sure to take advantage of parties given by associations, chambers and clubs that are of interest.<br /><br /><br />Holiday greetings by mail, e-mail and telephone keep you connected. People searching for jobs should harness the spirit of the season to amp up gratitude. Thank former clients, vendors and co-workers. Thank bosses and mentors. Thank everyone who has helped. <br /><br />So while it may be tempting to take a long winter's nap during the final weeks of the year, smart job seekers should write "looking for work" at the top of their holiday to-do list. They just might ring in the new year with a new job!<br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

Should I stop my job search during the holidays? Stopping your job search during the holidays: The biggest mistake you'll make this year

As the calendar year comes to a close, job seekers may be tempted to put their hunt on hold. After all, companies are too busy trying to get...

Read more »