When most college grads begin looking for jobs, they begin looking in grand cities that have always caught their eye such as New York or Los Angeles, or in comfortable places such as their college or home town. However, today's job market doesn't always make choosing where you want to work a possibility. To make sure they obtain a job, recent college grads should be more concerned with moving for the job, and not having the jobs come to them.
Not only will being willing to relocate provide you with more positions to apply for, but it will also make you more likely to be hired. Companies like to see that kind of dedication. When starting your job search, here are a few tips to keep in mind that may help you become more flexible and more available for a job:
Leave Your College Town
Unless you went to college in a big city such as Chicago, New York, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you shouldn't plan on hanging around after graduation. Most college towns are isolated markets that don't have many career opportunities as most college town firms rely on the cheap labor college students provide. Don't stay in your college town simply because it is comfortable. You will make new friends and find new favorite restaurants and bars in which ever city your new job may be only now you will have the money to enjoy going out.
Get a Storage Unit
Don't worry yourself with your possessions after graduation. Your main focus should be looking for a job not wondering if a friend or parent is willing to house your belongings. Instead of begging parents to house your possessions or toting them from one city to the next while interviewing, get a storage unit. Self storage units are cheap, and storing your items in one will allow you to jump from city to city more easily.
Do the Math
Always do the math before choosing a job in a certain area. If you have found great jobs in both Chicago, Illinois and El Paso, Texas and both pay $45,000, you are going to get more bang for your buck by taking the job in El Paso. Sure, the city isn't as fun as Chicago, but you will be able to use the salary you receive there to enhance your quality of life. The same salary in Chicago won't go nearly as far, and you may be left struggling to make ends meet each month.
Moving to a new city can be scary, but it can also be incredibly exciting. Don't limit yourself to what is comfortable simply because you are afraid of giving something new a try. The job market is rough, and in addition to a strong resume and skill set, being willing to relocate for a job is another great way to get yourself hired and out of your parents' house.
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