Making a career move can be a daunting task, especially when it also involves relocating to a new city. But with the right strategies, you can turn this transition into an opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Here are seven tips to help you successfully start a new career in a new city.
- Research the primary industries in your new city
This will help you identify what types of opportunities you’ll find, which skills you have that match those opportunities, and which skills you may need to develop.
For instance, if you’re moving to San Francisco, you’ll be entering a tech-centric job market so you’ll need top-level coding skills, or to brush up on your knowledge of cloud computing or artificial intelligence.
If you’re moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, then you’ll have opportunities in finance and banking. Employers will likely be interested in resumes that highlight accounting skills, investment expertise, and data analysis.
If you’re interested in a career in pharmaceutical manufacturing or research then Northeast or Central New Jersey is the place to be. Employers in that field will be looking for candidates with an education that focused on science and math. Any job experience that included hands-on laboratory work would be highly valued.
- Analyze job trends in your desired city
Understanding job trends in the area you wish to move to can help you form an accurate career plan for yourself. You can find this information from government reports such as The Guide to State and Local Workforce Data and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Another excellent source for job trends data is trade journals. These are print or online publications that provide information to a niche audience.
- Join local professional groups
Once you’ve identified the city you want to move to, look into joining local business or professional groups in that area. Most cities and towns have a rotary club, which is an excellent place to meet professionals. One big advantage is that these sites often have virtual meeting opportunities, which means you can join the meeting and start networking before you’ve even moved to your new city.
- Prepare a winning resume
You’re not going to land a new job in a new city or any city if you don’t have a great resume to showcase your skills and talents.
We recommend working with a five-star certified resume writer to help you craft a professional resume that will be compatible with the company’s Applicant Tracking Systems and grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
Some jobseekers are turning to AI software such as ChatGPT to craft a resume, but that’s not something we recommend.
An increasing number of employers are using AI-detection programs to weed out ChatGPT-generated resumes. According to a recent study, 11% of the jobseekers surveyed were removed from job consideration after their interviewer learned that the jobseeker used ChatGPT to create their resume. That may not seem like a large percentage, but why take a chance in such a competitive job market?
- Shape up your LinkedIn profile
If a great resume is the number one tool in your job-search toolkit, then having a top-notch LinkedIn profile is certainly the second most important tool. It’s been reported that 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source and vet possible job candidates. Of course, you can also use LinkedIn as a proactive tool to find job opportunities and grow your professional network.
Some people use their LinkedIn profile only as an online resume, but that’s barely scratching the surface of getting the most value out of a LinkedIn profile. Your best bet is to hire a resume-writing service to also create a dynamic LinkedIn profile that will make sure you stand out among the competition.
- Apply for jobs early and often
With your new resume in hand, it’s time to start applying for jobs. But don’t wait until you are settled in your new city to start the job search.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average duration of unemployment in the United States typically hovers around 20 to 25 weeks. Furthermore, a recent LinkedIn survey revealed that 80% of job seekers said it takes 3 months or more to find a job, while 32% of job seekers say it took them 6 months or longer to find employment.
So, the earlier you start your job search, the better. Just be prepared to travel to the new city if you happen to land an interview before you’ve moved.
- Be open to temporary or contract roles
You may envision yourself starting your new life in a new city with a solid full-time job. That’s certainly understandable. However, don’t dismiss any temporary or contract work that may come your way.
Temporary roles can offer you the ability to move to your new city with a source of income. Once established in your new home, you can continue your search for full-time, permanent employment. Also, you never know—that temporary position may turn into a full-time role. If nothing else, it will give you some valuable experience to add to your resume.
New Job? New City? No Problem!
If you’re ready to start a new career in a new city, then there’s nothing stopping you. With the seven tips above you can successfully land your dream job in the perfect location.
My name is Amy and i’ve been a passionate blogger about life, love and travel for many years. I first started blogging in 1997 and it’s been quite a journey since then. I keep my blog up-to-date on a weekly basis and you can also follow me on my Twitter account here: Hello