Aug 12, 2011
Our clients have been increasingly reluctant to consider candidates who would have to relocate for a position, especially if the candidate has real estate to offload.
While the job market appears to be shaping up, the real estate marketing is still on shaky ground. Employers are hesitant to interview candidates from outside the area in fear of falling in love with them and then having the candidate back out due to the inability to sell his home.
While quality candidates are still a difficult resource to obtain, the time of desperate candidates appears to have passed. It’s harder to incent a candidate to relocate if he is going to take a major hit when selling his house.
A friend of mine is one of the most amazing, talented marketing professionals I’ve ever met. Because of the economic downturn, he has been out of work on and off for the past three years. Because of the limited opportunities locally, he has opened his job search to consider relocation anywhere in the country.
Previously, he applied for a position in Florida, and on his resume, he used the address of his friend living in the city where the position was being offered. He received a call, scheduled an interview, booked a flight and flew down to Florida. He was offered the job.
While going through the process, his employer commented about how happy they were to find someone who lived in the area that was qualified for the position because they would rather give the job to someone local than someone who was not from the area.
My friend scheduled his first work day for a few weeks out, went home, packed up his pertinent things, flew down to Florida and settled into a new apartment before his first day on the job.
This was about 2 years ago. Unfortunately, the position did not work out and he is back in Buffalo, again looking for work. His house is still for sale.
If he had felt any hesitation about relocating or he had wanted to sell his house before he moved, that job would never have been offered.
Think About Why You Want To Relocate
It’s easier for recruiters to present candidates who are 100% open to relocation and have no ties holding them to the city they currently live in. My friend proved that he was willing to make any move possible with no reservations.
And honestly if you’re looking to relocate, think long and hard about where you would be willing to relocate to. Our recruiters have found that when our clients are interviewing candidates, they gravitate to the candidates who have a solid reason to move.
Generally the most convincing reason is moving to be with family or friends. If you’re intent on relocating and you have no ties holding you where you’re currently living, then a relocation package should essentially be a non-issue. Employers want to speak with people who have a genuine want or need to relocate to the area and thus would do it with or without a new job offer.
Consider Contract Staffing Opportunities
Another option if you’re truly having trouble finding permanent work in your town and you’re tied to real estate is making the move to a contract staffing position.
Contract staffing opportunities can take you throughout the country on both short and long-term contract engagements and can prove to be highly lucrative to your pocketbook.
Contract staffing gives you the opportunity to find qualified work and not worry about the sale of your home until the market picks back up. It also allows you to fill the time voids on your resume.
Be aware however. Many employers are skeptical of resumes that prove a candidate has only ever held a permanent position and is now looking for contract work or vice versa.
If this is your situation, be prepared to really convince your potential employer that you have put thought into your career move and that your decision is hinging on more than just job desperation.
About TxMQ
TxMQ is a leader in the IT staffing and solutions industry. We offer contract, contract to perm and permanent placement positions in a variety of industries.
Since its inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including Linux Virtualization, network Virtualization (Cloud Computing), and desktop Virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like WebSphere, BPM and SOA, including both Lombardi, and Metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as DataPower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29, or email wendy@txmq.com.
