Not Getting Interviews Because of Location

David_Brent

Just put on your CV the locations you would like to work rather than where you are currently. Add that you are Flexible when it comes to location. That got me my job on the other side of the country...Moving to the area and looking for a job in my opinion is high risk too much of gamble.. (I moved down the next day after being offered the job and lived in a hotel until I found a flat).

You have to be prepared to to fork out some cash on rail tickets or petrol driving backwards and forwards for interviews (which your JSA should help you out with) - which can be quite costly - but compared to being stuck in a flat paying rent in a new area with no job is the best option.

It can actually work in your favour if you travel quite a distance for an interview as it shows your keen and eager for the role on offer and will impress the people interviewing, though you do need to convince them that you are all ready to relocate and have no ties back where you move from that could get in the way of you doing your job. Talk about the area and how much you like it mention a few places you have visited then ask if they have ben there etc..


You have to be flexible in todays job climate and move to the job rather than the job find you in my view! At least until this country gets its feet back on the ground.

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yet again this morning I've had a fast response from applying for a job to say that the employer won't be even considering me because I'm not local and have no local connections.

As I am applying for jobs across the whole of the bottom of one county, I am not keen on actually moving (especially mid winter) to a place that might turn out to be the wrong end of the county for any job I secure, as I'd prefer to get a job then house-hunt within 2 miles of it.

Would you:
1] Accept that until you're local you're rarely going to get an interview and just sit and apply for ages?
2] Move and pray you'll get a job by being local?

I'm tempted to just move and be done with it. Thing is .... what if I then spot jobs in the next county ....?

PasturesNew

David_Brent wrote: »

Just put on your CV the locations you would like to work rather than where you are currently. Add that you are Flexible when it comes to location. That got me my job on the other side of the country...Moving to the area and looking for a job in my opinion is high risk too much of gamble.. (I moved down the next day after being offered the job and lived in a hotel until I found a flat).

That's what I intended to do.

David_Brent wrote: »

You have to be prepared to to fork out some cash on rail tickets or petrol driving backwards and forwards for interviews (which your JSA should help you out with) - which can be quite costly - but compared to being stuck in a flat paying rent in a new area with no job is the best option.

I am not on benefits, none, so it'd be out of my own pocket. If the bugg4hs wanted 2nd interviews (which they mostly seem to want these days), then it can equal two days of driving and £100 to come 2nd.

David_Brent wrote: »

It can actually work in your favour if you travel quite a distance for an interview as it shows your keen and eager for the role on offer and will impress the people interviewing, though you do need to convince them that you are all ready to relocate and have no ties back where you move from that could get in the way of you doing your job. Talk about the area and how much you like it mention a few places you have visited then ask if they have ben there etc..

You have to be flexible in todays job climate and move to the job rather than the job find you in my view! At least until this country gets its feet back on the ground.

I am flexible, it's the employers who are increasing the barriers.

I'm going to move in January.... need to move somewhere, so I have to pick a random place and just go, then hope they've got jobs when I get there

teabelly

The location thing is just an excuse. Employers have loads of applications for each job so they need to cut people out on something. Unfortunately it is going against what you are trying to do as you want to move. I think the B & B idea is a good one. Go off somewhere for a week or two when you see jobs local to there and get as many interviews racked up as you can. If they ask why you are in a B & B you can say you are moving to the area. If you don't get offered anything then head back and pick somewhere else you like the look of. Not great in this weather. I'd recommend doing a relocation hunt in summer

jennikitten

I think it's either an excuse to narrow down the applicants or they are worried about paying relocation expenses.

Make sure they/recruiters know that you're perfectly happy to move without relocation expenses as the job sounds exactly what you're looking for [which isn't a lie, because otherwise you wouldn't have applied in the first place].

I applied for jobs all over the country after I graduated, and their only concern was did I know I'd have to move. Once I said yes, they were fine with it.

StumpyPumpy

I'd say, don't lie, do research.
What you've said here about wanting to move but not until you have a job offer should be acceptable to an interviewer as long as it doesn't sound like you'd take any job just to get out of the situation you are currently in. A better attitude to foster would be "I'll move anywhere in the country to get the right job for me".
I don't believe you've stated what sort of job you are looking for but whatever it is, know what it involves inside out and do your homework beforehand. Also research the area and make sure that they know that you know something about it. I've interviewed lots of people for various jobs and relocation has never been a problem for the right person but you want to hire someone who will stay. So knowing a little about the immediate area means you can be enthusiastic about it.
IMHO the idea of saying you're moving to be closer to a partner raises more problems than it solves. I'd immediately think "what would happen if they split up? Would they go running back home?" I know that thought falls into the same verboten category as "Is she going to want to start a family soon?" but it would take a better man than me not to be slightly influenced by it.
Final piece of advice: Have you asked for feedback on your rejections? It is very hard to do (you are, after all, asking someone "why do you think I'm rubbish") but you can get some very good information to help you prepare for the next interview. I've even known people who have been told they weren't suitable for the role they'd applied for to then be offered an interview for a different job just because they asked why they failed the first time. It shows gut, commitment to learn and real interest in the company if you can swallow your pride and do it.

Hastobe_Katt

To update. I got the job. Start next week and I'm flying to the states with them in the New Year The post interview feed back was that they were most impressed that I came to the interview with a solution for the travel issue rather than presenting the company with a problem and expecting them to come up with an answer.