Out of State Job Search (Edmond, May: relocating, tornadoes, debts)

[colleeng47]

We're relocating to OKC area next year. My two kids and I will be setting up housekeeping the beginning of Feb. and DH will be joining us when he finds a job and/or the house here (in NJ) sells. Has anyone here ever done an out of state job search? We're stymied on the best way to go about this. He has put himself in touch with a couple of headhunters, but we're wondering how the logistics of it will work since he won't be available for interviews on a regular basis. I'll be looking for a job once I get to OK, but he's the big wage earner in our family, so it will be difficult for him to quit his job in NJ and move down with nothing. As it is he will be maintaining our NJ house while I support (I hope) our home in OKC until he arrives. Anyone have advice on how to go about this the best way? What has your experience (or someone you may know) been? Thanks.

[Synopsis]

try the website Job Search | one search. all jobs. Indeed

He needs to post a resume online, and search the jobs online through places like indeed, which harvest jobs from all of the top websites like monster and yahoo hotjobs. If he is an engineer, he might also try dice.com.

Also, look in the local paper's classifieds. Sundays are the best. You can find them online as well.

Second, network. If he knows anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone, etc. that is THE BEST method of getting a job.

Resumes need to be in arial font and be at or less than two pages, with no fancy things that will interfere with the HR depts scanning the resume for keywords. The resume will never be read by a person until it gets to the hiring manager. And they don't want to read your entire life history. Just enough to get their attention and get them interested in you to where they NEED to talk to you in person to find out more.

I hope this helps. I have gone through a lot of job hunting in my career because much of my career I was a consultant, going from job to job every six months to a year.

[LadyRobyn]

Also Oklahoma Job Link https://servicelink.oesc.state.ok.us/ada/default.cfm? Lets you search for jobs specific to the area you are moving to. We moved out here with a bit of a 'cushion' to get us by, but no jobs lined up. I wound up working at WalMart for awhile until he found his 'spot'... but it all worked out just fine.


Best of luck!!

[shariok]

Ditto what the other posters said. There are tons of websites for job listings. But in my opinion, it's who you know, that will get you a job. May I ask what he is looking to do?

Good luck!
Shari

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by shariok

Ditto what the other posters said. There are tons of websites for job listings. But in my opinion, it's who you know, that will get you a job. May I ask what he is looking to do?

Good luck!
Shari

DH is a Systems Administrator for Anthony and Sylvan Pools in Doylestown, PA. He runs the entire computer system for the company which is in several states (not OK, though). He's been searching online and has submitted a few resumes, but the main problem is not "being there" to follow up, arrange interviews, etc. He has two headhunters working with him, but nothing so far. We were wondering if the lack of interest on the part of the companies is the fact that he's not there to interview. We will be coming down with a "cushion" also, and he can do consulting work until he finds something permanent. I don't know what I'll do. I'm currently working for the NJ State Division of Taxation (e-mail unit), but my education/background is in Education and Sales.

[Synopsis]

Try looking here as well.

JobsOK | NewsOK

[FutureFormerCalifornian]

My husband was a Network Administrator for a home builder in Modesto, CA. We got so fed up with low wages (tech market in CA is flooded) and the immigration problems that we moved to the metro with only our savings. (DH's BFF from college moved here in 2000 and told him the tech market is improving). We lived in an apartment in Edmond for $495/mo in the beginning. We figured with rent that low if we both wound up doing no brainer jobs for a while we wouldn't be homeless. We also had no luck job hunting while still out of state but the calls came in after we arrived (early January 2007).

In reality I read The Daily Oklahoman online every day, craigslist, postaroo (like craigslist but local), Edmond Sun, etc and sent both our resumes out buckshot style. Within 2 weeks he had a job (he has an AS in CS and 15 years experience - no BS degree) making more than he made in California.

PM me for details. I do know that one headhunter called for him and was really bummed when I told her he already had a job. She actually said, "Do you know anyone with similar credentials?" I said, "I'm a microsoft software expert, you can interview me......", which she did, but I only want to work PT in the afternoons so I didn't get a placement out of it.

[peggydavis]

That is good advice, FormerCalifornian.

If I were an employer, I would want someone to already be living here before I spent time on interviewing etc. A lot of people might think of moving to OK, but get scared away by tornadoes, etc.

[Floridamom1970]

At least the husband in the OP would be able to say that his wife and kids are already there when he does get some interviews. My hubby is disabled and we have three kids left at home the youngest of which is severely autistic,and I'm the only one who can work. He does not get disability income and we are appealing the denial to the U.S. Court of Appeals. We live in Florida now and will
move to Oklahoma when we get our debts paid off or sooner if he wins his disability case at the Court of Appeals level. I will have to look for work once I get there and we will hopefully have a small cushion to fall back on if needed.

[colleeng47]

Thanks for the tips. I agreee, Peggy, I'm sure the problem has been the fact that he's not there. I also think some companies don't want to interview out-of-staters because they might think we're looking for re-location $$, which can be pretty high.

He has a lead he's following up on today that we found online. We should (hopefully) be settled by the beginning of February, and I can then help with his job search since I'l be there. Plus the fact that I'm a former headhunter myself.