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Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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How do you reassure future employers that you will actually relocate? It has come down to me and a local candidate and the employer has picked the local--twice. They even tell me that I'm a better fit and they'd hire me--if I were local. Ugghhh. I seem to interview very well, have the experience and the skill-set, great rapport, etc. I also don't hide that I'm out of state with fake mail boxes or cell numbers or anything. During the interview process, I'm often asked things like....am I sure I want to relocate? Do I have kids and how will they react (didn't think this one was legal, but I do try to reassure the interviewer)? Do I have family in the area? Will I pay my own way? (yes, I will). Do I realize that the pay is lower since I'm moving from the DC area to the South? (yeah, I do) I mean, seriously, how much reassurance do they need?
I am committed to moving, but I can't do it without having a job lined up.
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, do you have any advice?
Maybe tell them you are looking to start fresh in a new city, and want to move away from the DC area anyways, and just need something to pull you there?
Understand that we have been burnt many times in the past. We are skeptical because of the many who we did accept their reassurance but ended up holding an empty promise. So, you have to not overcome the normal distant candidate issues, but also the past history of those who messed it up for you.
Try this, make sure you know just about everything you need to know about the area including schools, traffic and shopping. When asked questions about your commitment, you need to response as you are, but also throw in how the kids appear to like ABC school, and the family as a whole likes the area. Make it appear they have also came on their own to look. You need them to see you as having one leg already there. If you are there in the new place and in person, make mention of the house hunting and lay a bit of BS along the lines of a possible other job interview or connections.
If you are doing all this long distance via telephone or internet, you’re already behind the eight ball as the other person is a living breathing body in front of them. You may have to figure a way to get that face to face to improve your chances.
Face to face in-person signals a commitment that just doesn’t come across via Skype or a speakerphone.
well, i haven't had a job offer yet, but i have a plan to move quickly in place (places to stay lined up so i can give 2 weeks at my current job and move immediately), and i explain that to the interviewer if they ask (or even if they don't ask, if i have the opportunity to).
i'm also moving to be closer to my family, so that gives me a bit of an edge and makes me look more committed. but of course you can't change your reasons for moving (and i wouldn't recommend lying about them!)
Understand that we have been burnt many times in the past. We are skeptical because of the many who we did accept their reassurance but ended up holding an empty promise. So, you have to not overcome the normal distant candidate issues, but also the past history of those who messed it up for you.
Try this, make sure you know just about everything you need to know about the area including schools, traffic and shopping. When asked questions about your commitment, you need to response as you are, but also throw in how the kids appear to like ABC school, and the family as a whole likes the area. Make it appear they have also came on their own to look. You need them to see you as having one leg already there. If you are there in the new place and in person, make mention of the house hunting and lay a bit of BS along the lines of a possible other job interview or connections.
If you are doing all this long distance via telephone or internet, you’re already behind the eight ball as the other person is a living breathing body in front of them. You may have to figure a way to get that face to face to improve your chances.
Face to face in-person signals a commitment that just doesn’t come across via Skype or a speakerphone.
^ This. In essence, you're dealing with another's baggage. As Rabrrita indicated, most likely they've heard it all in the past and still had people accept but not commit. So when it comes down to it, its simply a risk they don't feel they need to take. This doesn't answer your question of 'well, how DO YOU overcome that?'. I think the the answer will differ from organization to organization. That said - you still got to the interview, so they must still be somewhat open to non-local applicants.
If you are at that point where you are being told the only 'knock' against you is your residence, perhaps you can just take the direct route and ask them what you can do to reassure them?
If you want to avoid the potential for this happening in the future, flip it around: don't say "I will relocate for this job." Say something like "I'm relocating to [city] and seeking employment..." Don't make your relocation contingent on getting the job when applying. If you decide later that you don't want to move, it's not cost efficient, you don't have enough time before the start date etc., then turn down the offer but present your move to the location as a fact, not something dependent on them hiring you.
Why did you tell them where you live? It's not relevant to the interview.
So if you read a candidate's resume and didn't see their location on it, you wouldnt ask them where they live?
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