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I'm an American overseas for many years looking to return, and not to my home state.

I wish to live in one of three different states, in specific cities, in the case of two based on where I want to live which I believe have strong economies.

Despite replying to job notifications which are very good fits mailed to me by a variety of job sites, applying online to active roles on company sites, cold-Linking (new term here) to recruiters on LinkedIn in those cities, etc. I have yet to get interviews.

I totally get the importance of face-to-face, and it benefits both sides.

The best alternatives I can come up with are:

a) taking the risk of moving to a place I've never lived, being out of work until I find something there.

b) moving back to my home state, getting something there first, then move to where I want (a multi-year plan which might not work for the same reasons as from here to there).

Plus I'd probably have to get a car first.

So realistically, can one make this happen remotely? For the recruiters reading this, am I the type of candidate you wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole?

Hopefully this is a useful thread for not only myself but others, and apologies up front if there is a thread on this already.

donm's picture
Training Badge

You need to know people. I'd say that if someone in my organization recommends someone for a job, that candidate gets special treatment as far as giving him the benefit of the doubt. If one of my top performers recommends someone, that person is probably hired, as my top performers are aware that they should only recommend people who will make their jobs easier. None of them has ever recommended a "dud." We're growing gangbusters, so I always have openings. The more people I have, the more jobs I can do, and the more jobs I can do, the more money my department makes. We're really big on training, so we take recent graduates through folks with 30 years of experience.

So, what field are you in? And what do you do in that field? I live in Dubai and work in the oil patch. If I want a job, I call people whom I've helped in the past. There's nothing like calling someone who you "saved their butt" and say, "I am looking for a job. Do you have any openings at your company?" You need to call PEOPLE, not drop papers into anonymous in boxes.

This is not rocket science. The reason it is "who you know" is that if you know them, they know you, and therefore they know at least some of your abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. So, what field and what cities? Who have you worked with in the field? Who is in the home office? Have you taken classes? What about your instructors? Can they put you in touch with a person whom you can talk to? This is the way you should think. Sending CV's to anonymous email addresses works about 0.5% of the time, or less.

"Knowing someone" does not mean you have them to your house for Thanksgiving dinner. Knowing someone means you can call their number, and say, "So-and-so whom you know gave me your name. I hope I'm not calling at a bad time. If I am, please let me know a time to call back, and I'll be happy to call then, but if you do have some time, I understand you might have an opening for an experienced, stellar, top-of-the-line whatever-I-do...."

And take it from there. You need a name and a number. You know SOMEONE. Call him and get a name. And you know SOMEONE ELSE.Call him, too. And the next guy. And the next guy.

DonM

donm's picture
Training Badge

Nearly everyone who works for a company was hired in to that company. The only exception I can think of is the founder. Therefore, they went through the hiring process already. That means they know at least the people they talked to in their department, the HR folks, any recruiters, etc. They also know at least the rudiments of their company's hiring policies and practices. Will you get a gang interview, or will they take your pulse and see if you can fog a mirror?

So, everyone you know who works in your field for any of the companies in your field that have offices in the towns you're thinking of knows someone whom you can call.

So, start calling people. No doubt you have a drawer full of business cards you've gotten over the years. Even if you didn't follow the MT way of developing contacts, you must know someone in your field. Call every one of the people you know.

We've all been unemployed at some point. Almost everyone likes the good feeling of helping someone, and the knowledge that they are now "owed" some minor consideration if he needs something later. So, pick up the phone, and stop sending emails to "[email protected]" and stop sending CV's to "[email protected]" and start calling people with names.

I'm a high I. Even at my worst, I've not been unemployed for more than a few weeks. I doubt I've been unemployed for more than 3 weeks in my entire working life. Why is that? I'm no more smart, experienced, handsome, or able than others. Why do I get jobs? Because I call people. And I can talk the stripes off a zebra. And I smile the whole time. Why do I smile? Because I'm genuinely happy. Why am I happy? Because I'm talking to someone who's going to offer me a whole lot of money to come to their office every day for the foreseeable future.

People are who hire new hires. Email boxes do not.

Kevin1's picture

 Hi

One option is to look at companies that have headquarters in your cities of choice.   Do they have any openings in your home state or anywhere else that would be acceptable?   If you can get into these companies, you may be able to work towards an internal transfer in the future.  It is still longer term, but if you can accept the initial stage, then you are spending the whole time building good will in that company.

good luck

kevin

Alex_W's picture

Thanks Don and Kevin.

I guess my question was directed at front-door approaches, as I am of course exploring any back-door approaches with people I know in those cities, where I actually do know someone there (I don't in all of them).

Agree with you that the relationship approach is the best.

I need to pursue both. And to Kevin's point, I do know a couple of friends who went to work for one company in one country and got themselves transferred to the States eventually, and that is another route I am exploring.

Don, I will PM you with some replies to your questions, as I wish to remain somewhat anonymous on the internet.

donm's picture
Training Badge

I have some "burner" email addresses. If you want to communicate off the board, use file (underscore) temp (at) hotmail (dot) com

That's an email address so you'll have to parse my meaning. I'll be sure to check that for at least the next few days.

 

DonM

Kevin1's picture

Hi again,

Do you know any recruiters in those towns?  Can you reach out to some of the bigger ones who work with your area of expertise?  By reaching out, I mean a phone call.  You probably won't get very far with an email.  Are you prepared to be flexible on salary, job responsibilities, contract or part time, etc. just to get a foot in the door?  In a phone call, you can share that kind of 'open to opportunities' attitidue much more convincingly than via an email or website.

Good luck,

Kevin.

 

Alex_W's picture

Just an update, I've corresponded offline with Don, and to answer Keven's question, yes, I've sought out some headhunters in the cities I am targeting and connected with some. But this is a slow process, it will take time.

Am still interested to hear from others who may have tried this.