Recent graduate with limited experience

[BigCur]

Most jobs are obtained by who you know,esp. in this era of what seems to be permanent depression.

[Girl7]

Thank you all so much for your input!
Krispyco, I think you had a really good idea to save 6 months worth of expenses and just get up and go. We are in the process of putting our house on the market, and we are going to do a garage sale, and I got a third part-time job. So hopefully these three things will help set us in the right direction.

Currently, I am using my Illinois phone number and address on my applications and resume. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in the Springs area, so how would I go about using a CO address? Isn't that putting false information on your application?

Thanks everyone!

[otowi]

I think some places like PostNet sell local addresses. I don't know how it works.

[vegaspilgrim]

I think krispyco has the right idea.

If you're truly "desperate" to move to Colorado, then just pack up and move. From my personal experience and from people I know personally who have done it, the only people who get out of state job offers are 1) highly educated and trained, technical specialties like aerospace engineers, doctors, biomedical researchers, certain niche IT specialties, 2) certain one-of-a-kind "creative" types who have made a name for themselves in their field, 3) big wig corporate execs who don't even have to go out applying for jobs, but rather have headhunters looking for them, 4) telecommuters or travel based positions where you're flying around the country nonstop rather than working in a set location, or 5) those who know someone personally in the company doing the hiring. For everybody else, you can basically forget it, you're completely wasting your time in this economy.

The pretending you live somewhere else game works if you're within driving distance of the new location. But if you have to book last minute plane tickets, hotels, and car rentals to make a last minute interview-- you can quickly end up going flat broke after doing that a few times. Just given pure statistical probability, you have to assume it will take MANY interviews to get a job offer. In fact, it can end up being cheaper to just pick up and move to your new location instead of doing that.

I think you need to ask yourself if Colorado Springs is really the right place for you guys jobs and career wise. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I don't know, only you can answer that. Would Denver be better for the jobs you're looking for? Another state entirely? Right where you are?

[krispyco]

Originally Posted by Girl7

Thank you all so much for your input!
Krispyco, I think you had a really good idea to save 6 months worth of expenses and just get up and go. We are in the process of putting our house on the market, and we are going to do a garage sale, and I got a third part-time job. So hopefully these three things will help set us in the right direction.

Currently, I am using my Illinois phone number and address on my applications and resume. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in the Springs area, so how would I go about using a CO address? Isn't that putting false information on your application?

Thanks everyone!

I'm not sure how you can go about getting a CO address without actually going out and signing a lease. Once you are within a few months of having your nest egg saved, make a trip out and find a place. Print updated resumes on that trip with the address of your new place and date you will be moved.

I also consider it false information to put an address down that is not where you will live or fail to indicate the date you will be local.

FYI, you can get a free CO phone number now using google voice and have it redirect to your cell/home number. It's nice to give potential employer's a local number to contact you in case their long-distance account is not unlimited.

If you have not spent time in CS this trip can also help you make sure it's really where you want to move. If you fly out and decide you'd rather be in FoCo, Denver, back in IL, wherever. Even in that case, the good news is you're only out the cost of the short trip and still have the nest egg you can use wherever you decide to locate.

[Carrera32]

Girl7 - You actually have a lot going for you. Look at the positives. First, You're only 25 years old, but have 6 years of experience in the field you're interested in pursuing and you have your degree in a discipline that can directly apply to that field. Sounds like you've your academic and experience foundation pretty well set and have solid career goals. Second, you managed to get a commitment for a part time job from the Broadmoor, one of the top rated hotel/resorts in the country, through only a phone interview or two. That's incredible in this job market. Something you said must have really impressed them. Third, you're used to hard work; having three part time jobs is evidence of that. Employers love that.

Try this for a scenario. You and your husband figure out a way of starving in COS (it's easier than starving anywhere in Illinois). You're young; you can do this. Take the part time job at the Broadmoor. Now your foot is in the door and you're a local. Impress them with your work ethic and the skills your experience and education bring to the table. The next time a full-time position opens, you'll be in line for it. In the meantime, even if nothing opens up, you'll have experience for your next job on your resume at the Broadmoor. There isn't a hotel in the country that wouldn't be impressed with that.

Good luck from a retired HR Director.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by Carrera32

Try this for a scenario. You and your husband figure out a way of starving in COS (it's easier than starving anywhere in Illinois). You're young; you can do this. Take the part time job at the Broadmoor. Now your foot is in the door and you're a local. Impress them with your work ethic and the skills your experience and education bring to the table. The next time a full-time position opens, you'll be in line for it. In the meantime, even if nothing opens up, you'll have experience for your next job on your resume at the Broadmoor. There isn't a hotel in the country that wouldn't be impressed with that.

As a retired principal who hired hundreds of professional and support staff over the years, I think Carrera is right on target here.

This may seem unrelated. But about 18 months ago I decided to retire in Thailand. The first 10 months were wonderful and I was content. How was I to know that the worst riots and most dangerous situation in Thailand since 1767 would develop during the 10th month. That's why I moved back to the US and decided to settle in COS. What's my point as related to your situation? Had I not taken the chance and retired in Thailand, I would have always regretted not doing so. I have come back satisfied with myself because I gave it my best...it was Thailand that let me down. I think that's a little bit like your situation because if you don't give it a try, you may always regret it. You've got your foot in the door...so walk right in and give it your best!

[Girl7]

Originally Posted by Carrera32

Girl7 - You actually have a lot going for you. Look at the positives. First, You're only 25 years old, but have 6 years of experience in the field you're interested in pursuing and you have your degree in a discipline that can directly apply to that field. Sounds like you've your academic and experience foundation pretty well set and have solid career goals. Second, you managed to get a commitment for a part time job from the Broadmoor, one of the top rated hotel/resorts in the country, through only a phone interview or two. That's incredible in this job market. Something you said must have really impressed them. Third, you're used to hard work; having three part time jobs is evidence of that. Employers love that.

Try this for a scenario. You and your husband figure out a way of starving in COS (it's easier than starving anywhere in Illinois). You're young; you can do this. Take the part time job at the Broadmoor. Now your foot is in the door and you're a local. Impress them with your work ethic and the skills your experience and education bring to the table. The next time a full-time position opens, you'll be in line for it. In the meantime, even if nothing opens up, you'll have experience for your next job on your resume at the Broadmoor. There isn't a hotel in the country that wouldn't be impressed with that.

Good luck from a retired HR Director.

Well, when you put it like that!

Thank you! This was a real "stop and smell the roses" kind of post. You made me realize that I do have a lot going for me, and a part-time job at the Broadmoor is a great place to start. I think now I can relax a bit, and not feel so uptight about not getting phone interviews.

Now if only my 6 months worth of expenses could appear in my bank account by tomorrow. :P

[FentonForche]

Girl7, I'm going to private message you an idea to help you supplement your income while you job hunt.

You're in a good position to move in that you're unfettered--you have zero ties to Illinois. So now is as good a time as any. And though I don't have comparative unemployment numbers at my fingertips, I bet the job market is a shade better here than there.

I'm going to +1 the previous comments. Part of it is just that the economy is bad so job competition is stuff. Part of it is that companies are probably wary of putting much effort in to interviewing an out of state candidate because they don't have the money to bring you out here, and they don't want to hire somebody without a face to face meeting.

Have you contacted temp agencies in the springs, given them your background, and asked them what the chances are they'd be able to line you up with some stuff relatively soon?