I'm relocating soon. Should wife apply for jobs now or after relocating (Dallas: headhunters, unemployment)

[fastfingers33]

I'm relocating to dallas (plano specifically) soon. Should my wife start applying for jobs now or after relocating? My train of thought is this, if she applies for jobs now, she would be applying as somebody who currently has a job (which is generally more attractive versus somebody whose unemployed). However, her address isn't local. Since I'm relocating, she also has the option of quitting her current job, relocate, and then use the local address to start applying for jobs.

Which is the better option here? My priority is to maximize her chances of finding a job. She works in the corporate retail/furniture/home decoration, so there's roughly 8 companies that are really good fits for her. I'm afraid that if she sends out her resume early now, the companies would reject the application because it's not local and then not reconsider after she relocates. On the flip side, if she relocates first, I'm afraid employers might see her current unemployment as a red flag.

Thoughts? Financially, we aren't in a tight situation and I don't need her to make money. My decision will hang solely on maximizing her chances of finding a job with an employer she likes.

On that note, if anybody knows of good headhunters/recruiters in Dallas/Plano for her industry, please shoot me a message.

[Johnhw2]

I would start now but clearly disclose you are moving and where you will be living once here as well as timing of course. Another option if you have a friend or access to a local address use it but still explain the story of course.

Welcome and good luck

[chenven]

What Johnhw2 said...

Also - will both of you be moving at the same time ? Here's how some friends of mine did it and it worked well for them :
1) Relocating person moves first - alone. Rents a home/apt to establish an address.
2) Spouse stays put, but applies for positions using the local address. Be open about the fact that that spouse does hold a job out of town. But the local address does indeed get u in thru the door more often.
3) Spouse flies in / drives in for interviews as needed.

Hope it all works out. Welcome !

[fastfingers33]

Thanks so much for the advice. So for me, I won't be moving for another 2 months since I need to transition my work before I can move over to the new team. Because of this, I won't have a local address to give her. I do have a friend in Dallas though and I could possibly use that as a local address. As terms of explaining the story, how should she structure this on her resume? Should she just include 2 addresses (local address and also a husband address)? Or would all the explaining happen with the recruiter, assuming we're able to connect with a recruiter. I'm trying to think more tactically how to go about this.

We'd also strongly prefer not to be separated during this time period.

[ChristieP]

If you don't need her to work right away, just let her wait until she gets here.

[TurtleCreek80]

Both options are ok. If she waits until you move here, companies will not give a second glance to a resume "gap. People relocate all the time which means spouses need to find jobs, too. Just be sure to use temporary housing as her retail options are spread out all over the metroplex.

If she wants to start now, it can't hurt. She should start networking with the hiring managers at those companies, as well as any friend of friend connections she may have.

[fastfingers33]

How do you usually let companies know you relocated due to husband relocation? Do you include that in the resume?

[ChristieP]

That should be discussed in an interview, if at all. The employer should be more concerned that she's here now, and what her qualifications are than with why she relocated. It's not unusual at all to have applicants who are newcomers to DFW.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by fastfingers33

How do you usually let companies know you relocated due to husband relocation? Do you include that in the resume?

Put it into your intro email / cover letter: "my family is relocating to Dallas on August 15th" or whatever the date is.

[nissan]

Good advice here. You can do it w the cover letter, don't clutter the resume with it. Personally, I'd have her start looking now and sending resumes out. The process is slow, regardless if the company is small or large. Once I got an offer at a F15, it took 2 months from offer to start.

Similarly, it took an avg. of 2.5 mo. from the time my wife did her 1st interview to the offer letter with 3 separate companies (all recently). In fact, one has been a full 4 months since the first 1st interview to the offer being sent out.

I'd put your friend's address. It won't be brought up until the 1st or 2nd interview anyway, so no need to disclose any other specifics until that point.

EDIT: Only put your friend's address if (a) you're willing to pay for her to fly down for interviews or (b) she's in an industry/role where it's not likely the co. will pay for her to fly for interviews. Otherwise, keep your current address and let them front those costs or just wait till you move.