Before offering a few viable job search options for non-local candidates, let’s first look at some cold, hard reality.
Finding the perfect job in any city is always a daunting task, however, the level of difficulty increases ten fold when you don’t already live there. Unless you’re lucky enough to be in a high-demand position, where very few local candidates can be found, it’s tough to relocate to any city. Another big factor is the inability to adequately “network” from a distance.
More importantly, why would an employer look past dozens, if not hundreds of potential local candidates – and pick your out-of-town resume from of the pile. Despite what you might believe, employers hate to relocate people – unless it is a last resort. And who can blame them? The average relocation cost a company nearly $35,000. And even if you don’t require relocation – the employer may never know. And in the unlikely event that they stopped to read your cover letter (which isn’t likely) – where you mention that this isn’t necessary – they still have to factor in the chance that it will take you much longer to get started and, of course, there is always the chance that you decide that you miss your friends and family – and move back “home”. Yeah, I know you say it won’t happen – but it does, far more frequently than employers like, and that’s one of the many reasons why the proverbial deck is stacked against non-local candidates.
So, here are a few options:
A.) Find a Nashville-area friend or family member who will allow you to use their home as your address and base of operations. However, don’t use this approach unless you are 100% certain you’re moving to Nashville. Another important piece of evidence that you’re already here – or at least committed to coming – is to go ahead and change your cell phone number to a 615 area code. Nearly any wireless company will allow you to do so – even if you don’t physically live in the area code you have requested. Additionally, through VOIP (e.g. Vonage, Packet8..,) you can select any area code you wish – regardless of where you live.
B.) Use FiveChairs to represent you in the Nashville area. Through the FiveChairs TalentPool, employers are able to review your credentials – without knowing that you haven’t yet arrived in our fair city. The ideal situation is to have your photo in the trademark FiveChairs brown leather chair.
If you can’t make it to Nashville in-person, the next best thing is to be represented in the FiveChairs TalentPool with a “prop”.
C.) Use a FiveChairs affiliated real estate agent to sponsor a custom job search. If you’re already a home owner, and you have plans to purchase a home within the Nashville-area – within 12 months of your arrival – a FiveChairs affiliated real estate agent might agree to sponsor a custom job search. The agent simply requires a job candidate to sign a buyers agreement – stating that IF they purchase a home within 50 miles of Nashville, anytime within 12 months of arriving, they agree to use the sponsoring real estate agent. And since real estate fees are paid by the homeseller – the custom search services are free to you. The homeseller is essentially paying for the job search services provided by FiveChairs. To learn more about this service, and to see if you qualify, email us at: info@fivechairs.com
D.) All of the above options.
