2 Easy Ways to Get Started with Relocation

You’re currently in Boston, but want to relocate to New York City. You don’t know anyone in NYC, and you’ve been applying to jobs posted online for months, even though you haven’t received any calls. If you want to speed up your job search (even without any contacts), read on!

If you are solely relying on job postings to find a job in a new city, it’s going to take you a long time! In today’s tight economy, most employers are looking for local candidates to fill positions.

They do this for the following reasons:

1. It’s cheaper to hire someone local than to pay relocation fees.
2. There are so many people looking for work, there’s usually not a good enough reason to look outside the general area when employers can sit face to face with candidates and assess whether or not he or she is a good match for their company.

With this knowledge, it’s crucial that you start building connections in NYC. You will need to start networking via phone and the internet in order to get to know the players out there who could help you and who you could help in return. Without a personal connection, finding a job from an online posting is going to be very difficult. Employers want to hire people they know, like, and trust. If no one knows you, you are just another resume in a stack of hundreds.

So, how do you create relationships in a city where you know no one?

1. First, think about your UMass Amherst connections. Many alumni have settled in New York and may be great resources for you! Rather than starting your networking with a cold call to someone you have no connection to, reach out to UMass Amherst alumni. You can do this in the following ways:
   1. Login to MaroonCentral and search the database of alumni using search terms specific to you. Email the contacts that interest you.
   2. Create a LinkedIn account (www.linkedin.com) and join the UMass Amherst Alumni Association Group. This group has over 12,000 members from around the world. You can search through the members to find the people you want to connect with in NYC.
   3. You can also check out the UMass Amherst Alumni Club in New York City. Contact information for all clubs is here and you could try sending the club leadership an email outlining the type of people you are interested in connecting with.
   4. The UMass Amherst Alumni Association also offers a mentoring program which could be a great opportunity for you to connect with a professional in the NYC area. Not only would this person be a great contact, but he or she would also be able to offer career advice and potentially introduce you to people you wouldn’t have otherwise met. Logon to MaroonCentral at UMassAlumni.com and check out the Minuteman Mentors program for more information.
2. Once you have created your LinkedIn profile, try searching for other groups that you have an interest in. For example, if you are an accounting professional in the insurance industry, you would look for accounting groups and insurance groups. You could also try looking for groups that are location-specific, like “New York City Young Professionals”.

At this point, you should have a strong list of people you could reach out to. Start making phone calls and sending emails to your targeted list. Request an informational phone interview to learn more about your prospects. You are NOT asking for a job, you are simply looking to connect and learn.

Examples of appropriate informational interview questions to ask:

• How is the changing economy affecting this industry?
• What is the most important thing that someone entering this career should know?
• What do you like most / least about your job?
• What kind of decisions do you make?
• Can you describe a typical work day to me?
• What do you think is the best type of educational preparation for this career?
• How did you get into this industry / job?
• Why do you like working for this company?
• If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose this career?
• Can you suggest anyone else in this field that I could talk to?

This process of building connections and learning about jobs/opportunities available in NYC or any new market may seem time consuming and exhaustive, but in reality it is the fastest route to getting a job you want. When you connect with people you are interested in getting to know, you will start to uncover the hidden job opportunities that are not being advertised to the general public, your competition lessens and your job placement opportunities skyrocket.

The key to networking is building relationships and keeping relationships. So, don’t make one call and then cross the name off your list. Follow up after conversations and find reasons to keep the conversation going. The more you offer to help someone else, the more he or she will be willing to help you. Remember that all relationships are two sided, and when you start asking for too much, it can start to become a job for the other person. Keep a balance of connection, offering ideas and solutions, and requesting help to achieve your own goals.