By Lauryn Franzoni

Last week we talked about how to pick the geographic area to which you want to relocate. Let's now look at what happens next.

Paying Your Own Way

Moving is expensive. Companies will often pay the relocation costs of their employees. But corporations tell us that relocation budgets are still very tight. So if you're willing to pay your own way, you'll have a huge advantage in securing a position. Companies love this not just because it saves them money but because it demonstrates the candidate's commitment to become involved in the community.

If you are prepared to pay for your own move, be sure to say so in the cover letter or initial correspondence you send the company.

Surviving the Screening

To avoid immediate deletion during the résumé screening process, experts recommend using a local address on all of your job search correspondence. Why? Some companies prefer to look in the local market and try to avoid hiring people from out-of-town. Sometimes the employment ad will even indicate this preference.

"Candidates who use an address which is not in the area where the position is often don't make the first cut and do not have an opportunity to explain they are willing to pay their own relocation costs," executive coach Joy Reed Belt told me recently.

"Having a local address and phone number often gets candidates past the first screen of applicants," Belt says. "If the company has decided to give first preference to local candidates in order to avoid relocation costs, they may sort the applicants by location without reading the accompanying information about the candidate."

Become a Familiar Face

When looking to make a move you can garner additional positive attention by becoming involved in the targeted community. The accessibility to the local job market will allow you to present yourself as a serious candidate worthy of consideration.

Depending on the time and distance involved, travel to the region and become a regular at one of the local affinity group program or networking meetings. That may even involve heading a task force of special projects - anything where you can deliver value to the group and get exposure to the business community. Ideally, this should be within your target industry or industries.

Get There

"It's a good idea for the candidate to plan a trip to the area where they want to relocate and to call the companies who might have positions. They can say they are in the process of moving to the area and will be in town on a certain date and request an interview," says Belt.

When quick accessibility and repeated face-to-face exposures are warranted, it may be easier for you to first make the move, and then establish business connections. "Get there!" is what many recruiters recommend. "Get to the desired location, find residency, make contacts, and then look for a job," Belt adds.

Conclusion

Finding a suitable position in a different part of the country poses some tricky challenges. You shouldn't even consider such a move unless you're prepared to spend the time, energy and money to make it work. But when and if you're firmly resolved to relocate, I'm confident that the advice set out in this story (and in Part 1) last week will give you an edge.

LAURYN'S MAILBAG

Interview Creep Show

Our recent interview horror stories have generated lots of mail. (Keep on writing--I love hearing from you!) I just had to share the reaction of a SafetyXChange member who does a lot of job interviewing--on the interviewer's side of the table.

The Inquisition article was excellent and the response to the member, who was being interviewed, was outstanding! I would hope that he had already figured this out without having to hear from you or others.

My personal view is that he was being interviewed because of the following:

• They used him as a way to have the company foot the bill for the play-off game, or
• To see if he would fit in as one of the gang, good old boys, or
• It was a cursory interview that they had to do.

It was unacceptable whatever the reason was.

I worked in Human Resources for years and the conduct you described was very unprofessional. I know some excellent and professional executives who would have excused themselves from the table and would have not returned. Thanks for sharing this......

R.B.

Lauryn's Response:

R.B., our thanks to you for sharing this point of view. It just shows how often we, as interviewees, forget that the company might actually have a strategy behind these seemingly off course actions. Regardless, I agree with you that such rude behavior is never excusable.

Wishing you career success!

Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet
www.execunet.com.

TOP 10 WAYS TO GET NOTICED

When you apply for a job, your resume gets added to a file containing dozens, maybe even hundreds of others. CareerBuilder.com recently asked job seekers what they did to stand out in a crowd. The 10 most unusual responses:

1. Sending a singing telegram to the employer with lyrics touting the candidate's qualifications
2. Wearing a tuxedo to the interview
3. Bringing live, in-person references to the interview
4. Sending a videotape of candidate's typical working day along with resume
5. Taking out an ad in a trade journal
6. Bringing Starbuck's coffee for the entire office to the interview
7. Sitting next to the hiring manager at church
8. Sending a flower arrangement with a small card listing information about the candidate attached to each flower
9. Using a photocopy of his own face as the background for his resume
10. Having her current boss cold call the hiring manager to tout her qualifications before even applying

Source: CareerBuilders.com

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