Conducting a Long-Distance Job Search

The methods used in a long distance job search are much the same as the methods for a local job search since the majority of your efforts take place by phone and mail. The primary differences are that it is more difficult to identify out-of-town job openings and that your search must be exceptionally well-organized since you are dealing with the added difficulties of geographic distance. The following pointers can guide you through a long distance search, and the resources listed on the reverse can help you locate potential employers.

Focus your career goals
As with any job search, you need to identify the type of job you want and should have an idea of short-term, if not long-range, career goals. When looking for out-of-town jobs, this first step is particularly important since you usually do not have access to one convenient listing of jobs in your target area. Instead, you must do some investigating to find job openings, so it helps to narrow down the career areas in which you are looking. Focusing your goals requires an assessment of your interests, skills, abilities, values, and priorities. See a career counselor in OCD if you need help with this process.

Know how to market yourself
As you contact potential employers, keep in mind that not only do you want to know what they can do for you, but they want to know what you can do for them. You need to present yourself as a package of tangible, marketable skills and experience. As a college student or someone just embarking on a career, you might feel that you don't have such a "package" to offer. Don't sell yourself short! Think of the skills you have aquired through academic work, internships, part time jobs, participation in clubs and organizations, etc. Even if these skills were aquired in situations that are unrelated to the jobs for which you are applying, they are still valuable skills. Remember, too, that you want to sound serious about relocating. If possible, use an address on your resume that is in the location where you want a job.

Explore the job market
Once you have identified your career goals and evaluated what you have to offer an employer, you should research potential employers. The resources on the reverse of this page can help you locate actual job openings as well as listings of organizations which might have openings. As with any research project, you must be thorough in your quest for job leads. You cannot simply rely on one source such as the newspaper want ads or a family contact to help you find a job. You must use all possible sources.

Conduct an effective job search
· Go for quality, not quantity - Mass mailings of resumes and cover letters are usually ineffective. It is better to send smaller batches of resumes or make phone calls to a targeted list of people whose names you have gotten through networking or who work in organizations that are particularly interesting to you.
· Be Persistent - Do not expect employers to respond to you. Unless you are responding to a job listing that clearly states "No Calls," you should follow up your resume with a phone call about a week to ten days after mailing the resume. If you initiate the contact, i.e. if you are not responding to a job announcement, you should always bear the responsibility of following up.
· Be Organized - In a long distance search, you have to plan your time well so that you can schedule a visit to the area where you want to move and can arrange as many interviews as possible during that visit.
· Be Creative - Try not to think strictly in terms of formal job interviews. If you are reaching dead ends looking for job openings, try to arrange informational interviews by phone or in person when you visit the area. Often, people will not take you seriously until you are actually face-to-face with them.
· Network - Refer to the Career Development fact sheets on Networking and Informational Interviewing.

Resources for Conducting a Long Distance Job Search

Alumnae Contact Files: The contact files are a series of binders containing listings of Barnard alumnae willing to offer advice and support to other Barnard women. The alumnae can be contacted for information on career fields and on living in various areas of the country. While you cannot expect them to find you a job, you may ask for suggestions on conducting a job search in their geographic regions or career areas. Please ask the Career Development receptionist for assistance in using the Alumnae Contact Files.

Job Bank Series: This series of books lists organizations in various cities. Each book focuses on a different urban area. The books contain listings of organizations in each area, with an emphasis on corporations, and also provide general job search suggestions. Some of these are located in our library.

Encyclopedia of Associations and The National Trade and Professional Association Directory (NTPA): These are listings of thousands of professional associations around the country. Professional associations are organizations of individuals who work in the same career area or industry. To make use of these groups, find the ones that match your career interests. Call or write to them asking any or all of the following questions: Do they have any printed materials for people starting out in the field? Do they have regional subgroups in the locations you want to work? Do they have a newsletter or other publications? Do they have any job listing or resume circulation service? Do they have student memberships? These two directories are located in the Reference section in the Career Development library.

Out-of-town Job Listings: Most of the listings that are sent to Career Development are in the New York Area, but we do receive listings for jobs in other areas from time to time. These are located in the Full Time Binders and are arranged within the books according to their career area. The office subscribes to several national listings of jobs to supplement the Full Time Binders, including Artsearch, Environmental Jobs, Community Jobs (listings in the not-for-profit), Academic (teaching positions nationwide), and Peer Schools Newsletters. The Full Time Binders are behind the front desk of Career Development, and most are posted online on monstertrak.com (ask the receptionist for a password).

Local Newspapers: University and public libraries keep many US newspapers. You can also find them at Out-of-Town News in Times Square. The Chamber of Commerce for the location you are interested in can provide you with the name of local newspapers if you have trouble finding them in libraries. You can also call papers directly to subscribe. Be aware that some papers do not include the classified section when they mail to out-of-town subscribers, so you may need to have someone you know in that location send you copies of the classifieds.

Local Libraries: Many public libraries have job or career information centers containing career guide books and job listings. Some have counselors to assist you with career issues.

Internet Resources: The Career Development website lists several pages of websites grouped according to area of career interest. Most of these websites list jobs that are searchable by geographic location.