Helpful strategies for relocating while unemployed

Frankly, the pandemic put several people’s jobs in jeopardy, and months later, many of us have still not recovered. It forced restaurants to close, businesses to shut down, and those of us who remained employed had to work from home. During this time, numerous individuals began relocating as well. Many moved from the city to the suburbs or even went as far as starting over across the country. Whatever the reason, relocation was occurring, whether people were employed or not. This goes to show, that although stressful, moving without having a job is possible!

So if you’re currently in the process of finding employment, here are some strategies that will help you successfully relocate, even if you haven’t secured a job yet.

Have money saved up

It’s important to create a safety net to ensure you can pay basic expenses during your move, and all living expenses for the first few months (ideally 3-5). If you haven’t begun saving, start as soon as possible. Supporting yourself in a new place can be difficult, even if you’ve been able to secure part-time employment. So don’t leave it up to chance, save, save, save!

Budget

So you have enough money saved up, where you feel confident in starting the moving process. Now what? Well, it’s important to budget that money. Whether you have no income, a limited income, or are depositing a huge check every month, you should still budget your finances. Budgeting helps you analyze your money, and make smart decisions about how much you should be spending on expenses (like rent, food, utilities, transportation, insurance, etc). Moving to a big city can be expensive, not to mention overwhelming; when planning for something as big as a move (especially while unemployed), start with planning out your budget.

Get a Part Time Job

Ideally, the goal is to find full-time employment. But don’t miss an opportunity by refusing to apply to part-time positions. Part-time jobs offer a consistent income and can tie you over financially while you look for full-time work. Also, you’re learning a new skill! Adding part-time work to your resume can make you more marketable to employers, and helps to close the gap in the length of time you’ve been unemployed.

Explore the Job Market in your Area

Finding a job is not always easy, but it's up to you to put yourself out there and do the research. Scout local businesses and companies in your area, and see if they are hiring. Sometimes going there in person shows a sense of persistency and drive, that may get lost just through submission of an online application. Sometimes businesses may even have a “help wanted” or “we're hiring” sign, if you’re interested, inquire about an application.

If you have the time, compile a list of about 5-10 possible employers in the area. Do additional research about that specific business to get ahead of your competition. That way, if you do get an interview, you’re prepared to ask questions and are well versed in the companies history, policies, and mission statement. Employers are impressed by those that go the extra mile.

Use Job Finding Websites

If you don’t want to scout the local job market, the use of job-finding websites is quick and convenient. With one simple search, you have access to hundreds, if not thousands of employers who are looking to fill positions. Most allow a keyword search that can include prompts like remote-jobs, experience level, salary estimate, job type (part-time, full time, etc), location, and even company reviews. Some great job search sites include Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, CareerBuilder, ZipRecruiter, and even Craigslist! Just send in your application, along with a resume and cover letter, and you’re good to go! It also makes it easier to apply for multiple jobs at once, increasing your chances of finding employment.

Start Networking

If you know someone with connections in your job market, don’t be afraid to ask if there are open positions. Connecting with individuals who are in your preferred field is helpful, regardless. Additionally, if you come across any online groups, associations, or networks, join them! They may alert you of networking events happening in the area.

Another networking tool you can use to your advantage is tapping into your alumni. If you didn’t attend college, you may not be able to use this tip. However, for those that did, one of the best ways to find employment opportunities is making use of your college alumni database. If you joined a fraternity, were part of a scholarship program, or even signed up for a school club, you can use the connections you made to the network and find job openings. Whether you’ve been out of school for a while, or just graduated, don’t hesitate to tap into your alumni network.

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