FINDING WORK IN OTHER CITIES
Finding Work in Other Cities Are you moving away from Seattle and feeling unsure about how to find jobs in your destination of choice? In addition to accessing HuskyJobs and using the job search links at http://careers.washington.edu/Resources/Web-Resources, consider using the following strategies.
Network Ask everybody you know in a given geographical area to keep an ear/eye open for positions that might fit your skill set. Be open-minded because you never know who knows whom! Call individuals working in interesting sectors, companies, or jobs and request informational interviews. For more info on networking, visit http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Make-Connections
Connect with Associations Join local professional groups in career areas that interest you. Peruse their websites for membership lists, meeting dates, and job boards. Contact members for informational interviews. Attend meetings to learn the local landscape within that field. Find groups at - http://www.ipl.org/div/aon/ or http://www.associationsdirectory.org/
Enlist Help from a Husky Find a mentor in the Husky Career Network. You can search for UW alumni by geographical area. Huskies living in other cities are usually excited to welcome another Husky to their area. You can ask them for advice on where to look for jobs, where to live, etc. http://www.washington.edu/alumni/careers
Get Linked In
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Create a free LinkedIn profile, invite your colleagues and friends to be your 1 Level contacts, and then start st expanding your network by asking your 1 Level contacts to introduce you to their contacts. You can also search for jobs in the LinkedIn jobs board, pose questions to over 13,000 Huskies by joining the University of Washington Alumni Group, and search for contacts geographically. Learn more about using LinkedIn effectively at http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Make-Connections, http://learn.linkedin.com/students/ http://www.washington.edu/alumni/careers/linkedin.html
Visit College Career Centers Visit the websites of the career centers at colleges and universities in the area where you want to move. Check to see if the career centers offer services for “community members” or offer a “reciprocity agreement” for those holding degrees from other universities. Many institutions provide a few services for individuals who are neither students nor alumni of those institutions, such as access to their job board, career fairs, etc. You also may find free helpful job links and resources on the websites of career centers and relevant academic departments. Search for universities by state at - http://www.50states.com/college/ Page 1 of 2
Use the Library Check out the library system in your intended destination. Ask the reference librarian what resources (websites, job databases, books, business journals) the library has for job seekers in that city. Find a library at http://www.publiclibraries.com/
Get the Local Scoop Download the Business Journal from nearly 40 major U.S. cities. The journals describe the sectors, industries, and companies that are thriving and struggling in each city. You can also download a Book of Lists from each city, which lists the largest companies in various industries in each city. http://www.lib.washington.edu/business/ (click on Puget Sound Business Journal)
Find Career Resources by State http://www.rileyguide.com/local.html http://www.careeroverview.com/jobs-by-state.html http://www.job-hunt.org/jobs/states.shtml
Search for Businesses & Organizations by State http://www.chamberfind.com/chambers/unitedstates.asp http://www.acinet.org/acinet/employerlocator/employerlocator.asp http://www.bizjournals.com/
Search for Jobs by State http://allstarjobs.com/ http://www.jobbankinfo.org/ http://www.50statejobs.com/ http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites http://jobstar.org http://www.newspapers.com/
Blend In If you are certain you are moving, consider getting a PO Box or a cell phone number in your intended destination. Employers sometimes favor job candidates who are local. If you know someone in the city, see if you can stay with them for a week and do a targeted job search. Research companies in advance and send them a cover letter and resume; follow-up in person once you arrive. Mention any ties you have to the city – family, relatives, friends, schools, previous experience.
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