Thinking About Job Relocation?

As a result of the global economic meltdown, companies are trying to find ways to cut costs. In addition to compensation freezes and layoffs, some firms are relocating to areas with lower real estate or rental prices, and where workers are used to drawing smaller salaries.

In order to keep your current job, you may be asked to move — to a new city, a new state, possibly even a new country. This can be one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make. And moving is right up there with divorce, a death in the family, and losing your job as a life event that provokes stress and doubt.

Some advice:

Only relocate if both the job and the company are secure. Sometimes this is hard to gauge, and you may have to take a leap of faith. But the last thing you want is to uproot your life to a new city, just to lose your job three months later because the company is failing. And remember, when you join a new office, if they do decide to hold layoffs, the “new” people at that office will be the first to go — even if you’ve been with the firm much longer.

Consider the effect on your family. If you have a spouse and children, their happiness should be more important than your career. Still, they have to eat, so the relocation may be necessary. Discuss the issue with your family. Listen to what your kids have to say. Make the decision as a family unit, and the upheaval will be easier to bear.

Get help choosing a new place to live. It happens all the time — someone planning to move to a new city or state finds a great apartment or house close to the work site, and seals the deal. And it’s not until you arrive that you find out your new home is wedged between a crack den and a drum school.

Find a local native, and get some advice about which neighborhoods would be right for you and your family.

Meet as many locals, as soon as you can. There are two reasons for this — one is that you and your family are leaving your whole support system, friends and possibly family, behind you. Start making friends, both at work and in your neighborhood. Join a club, or take a class. Building up a social group is key to finding happiness in a new city.

Also, if your company should lay you off, you won’t be all alone in a new place. Some of your new friends and business colleagues may be able to help you find new work.

Got any more advice for those considering relocation? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: economic meltdown, job security, networking, relocation, social networking

Still Employed? Don’t Make Job Search Mistakes

If you’re like me, an oxygen-breathing hominid, then searching for a new job while you are still employed causes you a lot of stress. It shouldn’t — especially in this economy, workers need a job in which they can feel secure. Many of today’s job searchers aren’t looking for a better wage or title. They want greater job security.

But certain mistakes can reduce your current job security, or even get you fired. While employers should take an employee’s job search in stride, most don’t. And many managers will fire you if they find out you’re looking, even if you’re only passively searching.

So keep your job search secret at work. And here are some things you should not do.

Don’t discuss your job search with your “friends” at work — even the trustworthy ones. Remember the young woman who admitted an affair with her boss to a co-worker “friend?” What was her name? Monica Lebowski? Feel free to discuss your job search with your work buddies — after you get a new job.

Don’t conduct your job search on your computer at work. As I’ve mentioned before, your employer has the legal right to monitor everything you do on your work computer, even if it’s personal business or your personal web email. Conduct your job search at home.

Don’t mention your job search on social networking sites. Believe it or not, some employers actually know that Facebook and LinkedIn exist. Use these sites to network — but get a hold of possible job contacts via your personal email, from home.

Don’t talk to your current employer’s clients or competitors. I know, this can make it very hard to find a new job. But there’s a very good chance these people will contact your boss and report that you are job hunting. You can never know who your boss hung out with at the national convention last year.

Don’t go to job fairs. There’s too a high chance that one of your boss’ friends, or someone representing your own company, will see you there.

Be careful where you post your updated resume. It’s okay to have the latest version of your resume on LinkedIn or a resume hosting site. But you don’t want your boss to see your resume on Craigslist or some other classified ad site — it implies you are actively looking.

Don’t forget to ask anyone you interview with to PLEASE not call your current employer. I’ve never personally known a potential employer to call a current employer without express permission. But mistakes happen, so make sure the recruiter or potential employer understands they should not call your boss. Provide three alternate references, at least one a former supervisor.

Tags: boss, Craigslist, currently employed, Facebook, job application advice, job fairs, job search advice, job security, LinkedIn, networking, resumes

If You’re Not Networking, You’re Not Job Hunting

Some people hate networking. I should know, I’m one of them.

But if you’re not getting out there in the world and meeting people in your profession, then you are doing direct harm to your career. There are reasons that professionals in your field attend conventions and conferences, join organizations, take classes and exchange information online. They are keeping their skill set updated, learning about trends in their own field, and meeting their next employer.

If you are “between opportunities” right now, and diligently sending out resumes every day, then those resumes are competing against the resumes of people who have actually met the employer, who handed their resume over in person, who have made an indelible impression on the person doing the hiring. Whereas you are nothing but a list of qualifications on a piece of paper.

If you’re unemployed right now, the best thing you can do to find a new job is to network. However, you may not have the financial resources to take classes, attend conventions, or go to school reunions. That’s why it’s vital to do your networking when you’re gainfully employed.

Even if you don’t enjoy it, networking may get you your next job, or help you avoid unemployment in the first place!

Tags: career training, conventions, job search advice, networking

Looking For a Job? Don’t Forget Your Alma Mater!

So you’re researching job prospects — making use of job search sites, working the social networking sites, keeping in touch with former colleagues. You’re using every weapon in your arsenal to get your name out there. Or are you?

What about your nourishing mother?

You went to college. You earned the degree. You probably still owe on the loans. Why not let your alma mater help you get a great job?

And I don’t mean just joining the alumni association, although that will definitely help. Through the UCLA Alumni Association, I get invites to networking groups and career symposia.

With a little research, you can locate other graduates of your college or university who may be able to help you find employment at their firm. Just reach out to them — send a letter or fire off a quick email. You don’t have to ever have met — just the fact you went to the same school will induce a lot of people to take a second look at your resume.

Even if you graduated in 1994 with a degree in Old Norse Languages while your contact graduated in 1963 with an MBA, you still have something in common — love of your old school — and it may be enough to move your resume to the top of the list.

In today’s career environment, you need all the help you can get. Find out what services your alumni association offers — many will actually set you up to meet with successful alumni!

Tags: alma mater, alumni associations, college, networking, UCLA

Why Steppin’ Out Helps You Step Up

Whether you work in a high-stress environment , have a grueling commute, or are searching for a new job, most of us probably have a tough time breaking out of our after-hours and weekend routines.  Sometimes just the thought of tagging along to Happy Hour with the gang or showing up at the junior executives birthday party on that Saturday you really wanted to spend just re-thinking your personal finance goals makes you want to call it quits as soon as you shut down your computer for the weekend.

And, along the personal finances chain. . .can we talk about how expensive it is to go out? ESPECIALLY if you’re in a big city. Hello? My Roth IRA needs care and feeding, thanks. Going out doesn’t always have to mean spending tons of money or going only to the most exclusive places.

Going out with co-workers, participating in social events, putting yourself out there–whatever you may call it helps you enjoy your job more the closer you become with your after-hours buddies. Just like the old adage that most major deals are made on the golf courses or the smoky back room. . most truly funny inside jokes and work friendships are not formed during budget meetings.

Just like Going.com and CitySearch are great resources for finding unique events and places for you and your co-workers, EmploymentCrossing.com offers unique job sites across 90 industries and allows you find an position that’s right for you.

Now this blog post is done, I think I’ll head home for a nice date with TiVo. What’s that you say? I can hear you chanting that same phrase Mom used to tell me when I tried to bow out of a party game.

Don’t be a fuddy duddy. Ok I hear you. So I’ll repeat it back. I promise not to be a fuddy duddy, but only if you promise, too.

Tags: Career, co-workers, friendship, job, networking