Relocating gives an advantage

Relocating for work is practically a U.S. tradition. From the early pioneers to the California dot-commers, we have always been willing to pull up stakes to seek better opportunities.
With the job market excruciatingly tight in some cities, job seekers continue to cast an appraising eye on other towns. Will the grass be greener? Or will they risk everything only to be unemployed in unfamiliar surroundings? And, if there is a job already waiting in the new place, will it last -- or end in a layoff?
For some, calculating the financial or vocational risk of a move is beside the point. They may be relocating to get a new start, or to live in a long-desired location -- or to return home. In these cases, unemployment presents an excuse to cut ties and pack the moving van.
The big question
If you've been considering a move and you need an income, you have a strategic question to answer: Move first and then look for a job, or look for work from your current location? From my conversations with job seekers who have done both, I will offer this perspective: The job search seems to work better if you're already in the new town.
Perhaps employers more seriously consider someone who is close at hand. If you haven't moved to their town yet, they may wonder if you are really serious about working at their company. Another possibility is that a job seeker who has already moved has no choice but to find work and so becomes more focused and energetic in the search.
This chicken-or-egg question is probably moot for most relocating workers. If you have a family and limited financial resources, the risk of moving without a job may be too high, particularly if it means giving up a job you have now.
Steps
Here are some steps to take:
1. Decide why you're moving. If it's because you are an XYZ worker and you want work in that field, then the availability of those jobs will drive your relocation. But if you're moving to have a different lifestyle, or to be close to family, you will need to be flexible in your choice of jobs.
2. Choose a goal date for the relocation. You may miss it, but having a date will help you create a schedule of tasks.
3. Choose a city. This may be harder than you think. Do you choose according to the average salaries, the weather, the culture? Web research might help with this step. Here are some sites to try:
Uwww.bestplaces.net
Uwww.virtualrelocation.com
Uhttp://money.cnn.com
Uwww.homefair.com
Uwww.relocationcoach.com
Or, for free logistics and pricing assistance on van-line moving or real estate issues, call FAS Relocation at (800) 247-1965 and ask for the relocation coach.
4. Gather resources. You need to start living and breathing the new city, so subscribe to the newspaper, get a phone book, borrow key directories for the area (nonprofits, social services, manufacturers), and start studying maps.
5. Create your contact tools. When you're serious about a job search in the new city, buy a cell phone service with a phone number from that area. Then sign up with a mail-forwarding service with a street address in that town. Put the new address and phone number on your resume and on a business card, along with your e-mail address.
6. Find connections in the city. Forget about online job applications. This job search is going to be about networking. Do you attend church now? Is there a church of that denomination in the new town? Ask your religious leader to arrange an introduction. Do you volunteer for a charity now? Does the charity have a branch in the new town? You know what to do.
Other connections include professional associations, fraternal organizations, alumni groups, hobby groups and sports clubs.
7. Start visiting the city. By now you should be visiting the new place at least quarterly. If people don't see you, they won't remember to help you. If you can afford it, consider renting a room or an apartment as the job search intensifies. Track these and all expenses for tax purposes.
XAmy Lindgren, the owner of a career-consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn., can be reached at alindgren@pioneerpress.com.