CAREERS NOW 01-16-08

Looking For Job in One Place While Living in Another

DEAR JOYCE: I live in Texas and wish to move to Washington State. I know it's always better to line up interview appointments and vacation where you want to move but for various financial reasons and family obligations, that's not an easy option for me. What else can I do to go west when I'm not a young man? - K.P.

You can out-prepare your competition with extensive research and action. Using the Internet makes long-distance search easier, but it's still elusive for all but the most dedicated.

Remember that for virtually all attractive "permanent" jobs you need to get into the same room with a hiring authority who can welcome you aboard. What about telephone and video interviews? So, they're used more frequently for screening candidates, who if found attractive will be invited for a face-to- face meeting, usually at the employer's expense.

For contract and other short-term or part-time jobs, home-based video interviewing - using Webcams attached to computers - are expected to be the next big thing to replace traditional face-off interviews.

In addition to the traditional interviewing proximity requirement, think of a way to stand equal to local competition. Unless you offer unusual value, why should employers pay to relocate you and possibly feel guilty should it become necessary to terminate you at a later time? You can try working with a staffing or temp company that while it won't pay for your relocation may be willing to put you at the top of the call-list in its office where you want to live.

For additional comments and tips, read one of my previous columns, "Road Map to Get Out of Town," posted on my Web site, SunFeatures.com. It's free.

DEAR JOYCE: Why do you frequently suggest mid-sized or small companies as fertile job search ground for experienced managers? - Y.W.

Most experienced professionals and managers find welcoming arms in middle market organizations that want to hire leaders who've "been there and done that."

"Learning on the job is not something they have time for," says Matt Bud, chairman of The Financial Executives Networking Group, a 27,000 member national organization that includes local chapters.

Although Bud is speaking of executives in financial jobs, his comments apply to other career functions as well: "The only reason a senior-level financial type gets a job at one of these middle market organizations is that the organization has very serious problems. Large corporations rarely hire senior-level officers because they prefer to grow their own. Any high-level job that comes open has a dozen highly qualified executives waiting to be chosen. If the company goes outside, the best three inside competitors for the job leave the company."

DEAR JOYCE: Why do recruiters keeping saying they prefer "passive" candidates - people who are already working in a job? - P.D.

The theory is that someone is already paying passive candidates to do the job so the candidate must be high value, theoretically removing the risk of choosing a new face. This makes it easier for independent recruiters to collect a fee for prowling about and bringing in a "proven commodity."

But most recruiters will filter through unsolicited resumes to identify the keepers and put them in a database. If the recruiter snares a search assignment and finds a match in the database, bingo! An in-house prospect to check out.

When recruiters don't know your name, you apparently haven't distinguished yourself enough in your industry to count on being pursued by a headhunter. Suppose you are in a specific industry, such as transportation. Cast about for someone who knows a transportation specialty recruiter and ask that person to call the recruiter recommending a close look at your qualifications.

When you have a bit of time, hit your keyboard. Writing a blog is the new writing an article for industry press. And take a look at LinkedIn.com and, apparently, at Facebook.com, to see how you might toot your horn so recruiters can find you.

When recruiters continue to stay away from you, review your resume through a recruiter's eyes. I recently saw a resume targeted for a position heading an organization that finds jobs for people that boasted of saving an employer's budget by cutting its workforce.

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