7 Tips For Relocating Without A Job Lined Up

Whether you are fresh out of college or looking to pursue a career abroad, moving without a job lined up can be quite stressful and intimidating. But that doesn’t mean you have to put your plan of moving to a new city on the back burner. Here are some strategic steps you can take to make the job-hunting process in this new chapter of your life much easier. 

Getting Your Finances Together

The last thing you want to worry about when moving to a new city is an empty bank account. When dedicating most of your time to looking for a job, making sure that you have enough savings to support this job-search process will significantly reduce your stress level. The first step to properly managing your finances is to calculate your monthly expenses with a budget app like Mint. Although this might entail living below your means for a few months until you finally land that dream job. 

If living on a tight budget seems a bit challenging, consider starting a side-hustle to bring in a steady source of income. With less financial pressure, you can fully focus on job hunting and not rush the process. 

Job Hunt Like A Pro

Before packing up and moving to that new city, take the time to master your networking skills and learn how to job hunt like a pro. Job-searching requires you to step out of your comfort zone and take proactive steps to increase your chances of getting hired.

Whether it’s through sending personalized emails to previous professional contacts, attending virtual networking events, or posting your resume on LinkedIn to get yourself noticed. Opportunities are everywhere. Put yourself out there, and you’ll receive that job offer before you know it!

Image courtesy Intuit Mint

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Free CareerOneStop Job Search and Career Tools

Are you looking for a job, starting a career, or looking for a change? Not sure what you want to do or how to find career options or opportunities? There are free tools you can use for every step of the process. Using them will streamline the process and make it much easier to get hired. Even better, you can find tools for every step of the way all in one place.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website has tools and advice for every stage of your career. Whether you’re exploring career options, assessing your interests, matching your skills to jobs, looking for a scholarship, learning about apprenticeships, or looking for a job, there are free tools that will make the process much easier and help you get your career on track and moving forward.

CareerOneStop Tools

Here are some of the free tools available to help with your career and job search:

Assess Your Career Interests

When you’re just starting your career or if you’re considering a career change, one of the first things to do is to assess your interests. The job market is always shifting and there may be jobs available that you haven’t considered. A career assessment is a terrific tool for exploring career alternatives. CareerOneStop’s Interest Assessment will help you find careers that fit your interests. 

Assess Your Work Values

We spend a lot of time at work, and it’s important to find jobs, whenever possible, that are meaningful and match our personal values. Work Values Matcher will help you find your top values, define your ideal job, and find employers whose values are a fit with yours. 

Match Your Skills to Jobs

You may have more skills than you think you have and those skills can help you get hired. Use CareerOneStop’s Skills Matcher to learn what jobs you’re qualified for by rating your skills and learning about the jobs they qualify you for.

Find New Career Options

Are you tired of your current job? Do you want to do something different or switch careers? You can use mySkills myFuture to see different types of jobs the skills and experience you have already will transfer to. This is a good way to consider what else you could do with your current skills and experience.

Learn How Much You’ll Earn

One of the most important things you’ll want to know about the jobs that you’re interested in is how much they pay. Enter an occupation and your ZIP code into the Salary Finder to learn about salaries for over 800 occupations.

When you have several occupations you’re interested in, you can compare them (add up to five occupations and locations) in the Compare Salaries tool. And if you’re interested in relocating, you can find out about the cost of living in a different location.

Get Training

If you’ve explored options and you’re not finding jobs that seem to be a match for your interests, you may want to consider getting training to qualify you for the next stage of your career. CareerOneStop can help you find training including high school equivalency programs, adult basic education, short-term training, college, certification, apprenticeships, internships, and professional development.

Financing can be a challenge, but financial aid and scholarships that are available can help you fund your education. 

Get Local Job Search Help

Do you need help with your job search? For local assistance, American Job Centers (AJC) are available nationwide to help people look for jobs, find training, and get answers to questions about employment. Search by city, state, or ZIP code to find an AJC near you. 

Find Job Listings

It’s easier to job search when you can review listings from multiple sources in one place. Use CareerOneStop’s Job Finder to search NLx, CareerBuilder, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter by keyword, city, state, or ZIP code to find job listings. 

Practice Filling Out a Job Application

When you apply for jobs, you’ll need to share the details of your educational background and employment history. CareerOneStop’s Practice Job Application will guide you through the process step by step, so you know what information you’ll need to provide to employers when you’re completing job applications. 

Tip: Find all the tools you need for your career in CareerOneStop’s Toolkit section.

More Free Career Tools

Here are some more free tools you can use for your career:

• Free Resume Builder Sites
• Interview Practice Tools
• Tools to Match Your Skills to Jobs

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Are You Stuck in a Career You Hate?

Sometimes, your career path doesn’t end up exactly as you expected it would be. What seemed like a great career option when you started out may not seem so good at the moment.

Worst case scenario, it could have turned into a career you hate. It happens.  Jobs change, people change, life circumstances change, and what was once a promising career can turn into one that’s not.

What You Can Do When You Hate Your Career

One important thing to keep in mind is that it’s never too late to change careers. Depending on what you’re doing it might take some time and effort, but it can be done. Here are just a few examples of people who have successfully changed careers:

• Kristin worked as a buyer for a major retailer.  She transitioned into teaching yoga by cutting back her first job to part-time until she could afford to leave it altogether.
• Jack started out as a software consultant but moved into app development by taking classes online.
• Jenn transitioned from a career as an English teacher to working as a content and social media strategist.
• Penelope went back to school mid-life to get a Master’s degree so she could leave her job in Human Resources to work as a college career counselor.

Explore Career Alternatives

When you’re at the point where you just don’t want to get up and go to work, consider the alternatives. What else could you be doing that would make you happier at work? Options will vary based on the type of work you do, your aptitudes and the stage of your career.

The first, and most important, step is to decide what it is you want to do. There are free online career quizzes you can take to explore options.  If you’re a college grad, your career or alumni office may be able to help with career counseling and exploration. Hiring a career coach is another option for help in getting started on a new career. Here are tips for choosing a career coach or counselor.

Options for Changing Careers

Quit your job. The most drastic option is, of course, quitting your job. That’s risky though, especially if you don’t have the skills to get hired to do something different. The sensible alternative is to take the time to figure out how you can shift your career focus.  However, if you really and truly hate your job, see if you can figure out how to make ends meet with other income sources. Before you hand in your notice, check out these tips to be sure you’re prepared to quit your job.

Keep your job while you upgrade your skills. Take classes online or in-person to get the skill set you needed to start a new career. Dedicate the time you need to get the credentials that are required for the career you’re interested in.

Work two jobs. It’s challenging from a time perspective, but the more experience you have, the better chance you’ll have of shifting careers. Consider an entry-level, part-time job or internship (even unpaid) to gain skills that will increase your hireability.

Cut back your hours at your first job. If your employer is flexible, consider cutting back your hours while you start working in your chosen career. It can take some juggling, but it can pave the way for a smooth transition.

Consider freelancing. Starting out as a freelancer is a good way to try out a new career option without making a full-time commitment. Here are tips for turning freelancing into a career.

Volunteer. Volunteering is another great way to gain new skills. It helps you make new connections who can provide information and advice on how to switch careers. You may even be able to convert your volunteer position to a job.

Go back to school. Going back to school and starting over may be the only option when your new career choice requires a degree and education that you don’t have. Carefully check out your potential earnings before you take on student loans, and consider what’s the best and most cost-effective way to get the skills you need. Here are 8 questions to ask yourself before going back to school.

Taking the Leap

It takes some courage to make a change, but if you’re not happy at work consider how many hours of your life you’re spending at a job you’re not thrilled with. Even if it means less money, hard work, and sometimes a struggle, a new career will pay off in the end.

The hardest part can be making the decision to do it. Once you get started, it will be an exciting new venture for the next phase of your working life!

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How to Find a Career Coach

You may be considering working with a coach if you just got laid off, are contemplating an industry change, or want to level up in your career. There are tons of coaches and professional resume writers out there, but how do you find the right one?

What steps do you take to vet them? Are there best practices when it comes to finding and selecting a career coach? Keep reading. In this article, I share proven strategies to help you find and select the best one for you.

3 Steps To Find a Career Coach

Let’s get started. The following are three steps to help you find the best career coach for your needs.

1. Consult industry associations.

Because the career industry is unregulated, anyone can claim to be a career coach. I recommend starting your research by turning to top career and resume writing industry associations such as Career Directors International (CDI), Career Thought Leaders (CTL), and the National Résumé Writers’ Association (NRWA) to identify suitable coaches. Read through the coach’s profile to get an understanding of their credentials, the clients they serve, and the services they offer.

2. Ask for recommendations.

As you begin to narrow down your search for a coach, you can also ask for recommendations from people you trust. Your friends, family members, and mentors may be able to recommend a career coach or professional resume writer they trust.

If you are publicly looking for a new job, you can also use social media to crowdsource recommendations. Along a similar line, you can review top career coach lists online.

3. Consider the career influencers you already follow.

Take a little time to think about the career experts you admire. Are there influencers you already follow on social media? Whose articles do you turn to for advice? Perhaps you heard someone speak at an industry conference. One of these career experts may be a good fit for you.

How To Choose a Career Coach

Now that you have identified potential experts to support you, how do you select the best one? I recommend starting by reviewing their social media presence. This allows you to quickly get a sense of their Zone of Genius and see if their career advice resonates with you. You can also observe the more personal side of their brand and take note of how they interact with their community.

But social is just the first step in researching coaches. While anyone can build an impressive social media following, you want someone who is a true expert in your industry, who can effectively address your unique pain points. What industry events does the prospective coach speak at? In what publications do they appear? How compelling is the brand they have created for themselves? Be careful. If the coach cannot successfully market themselves, how will they help market you?

Next, look closely at the testimonials they have received. How similar are you to these clients? Can you see yourself in their stories? Importantly, you want to ensure the testimonials are legitimate, verified, and from one-to-one coaching clients. Personally, I request all my testimonials via LinkedIn, which gives them greater legitimacy.

Remember: The career industry is unregulated. As part of your due diligence, ask about your prospective coach’s credentials, education, and advanced training. You deserve a coach who is truly committed to the profession. Be cautious if they have not pursued advanced training in the field.

Finally, speak one-to-one with several coaches to find the best one for you. Learn more about their coaching philosophy, style, and pricing. Each coach should provide you ample time to answer any questions you have. Then, choose the coach with whom you feel the greatest connection and confidence. You’ve got this!

Guest author Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES (he/him/his) is the founder and career coach behind CaffeinatedKyle.com. His expertise is in Silicon Valley and high tech. He is an official member of the invitation-only Forbes Coaches Council as well as a member of the Gay Coaches Alliance.

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Tips for Attending a Career Fair

Have you thought about participating in a career fair? Not sure how they work or what you should do when you get there? Whether you’re job hunting or thinking about making a career move, it’s worth taking some time to attend job and career fairs (the terms are used interchangeably).

You will have the opportunity to meet with companies that you might not be able to access any other way. You’ll also be able to explore career options, talk to prospective employers inperson, learn about companies and available roles, and apply for jobs. You may be able to interview for open jobs, andyou could even get an immediate job offer for in-demand jobs.

In addition, job fairs and career expos typically offer networking programs, resume reviews, job search workshops, and other workshops for attendees.

Here’s what you need to know about preparing to attend a job fair, how they work, what to bring, how to participate, and the best ways to make a good impression.

How to Prepare for a Job Fair

Here’s how to get ready to attend:

Register in Advance

For some job fairs, you’ll be able to just show up. For others, you may need to register online to participate. Have your resume ready when you register, in case there’s an opportunity to upload it as part of the registration process.

Dress Appropriately

Attend the job fair dressed for success in interview attire and bring a portfolio or folder for your materials, if you have one. Your interview attire should err on the side of the conservative. Many fairs suggest guidelines for what to wear—it could be casual, business casual, or professional attire, depending on the type of fair and the organizations that are participating.

Check the fair’s website for recommendations on appropriate attire. At the least, make sure that your outfit is neat, clean, and tidy.

Tip: Make sure your shoes are comfortable, because you may be standing in line.

Get Ready to Pitch Your Credentials

Practice a quick pitch summarizing your skills and experience, so you’re ready to promote your candidacy to prospective employers. Also called an “elevator speech” (because it should only be 30 to 60 seconds long, the time the typical ride on an elevator takes), this pitch should enthusiastically explain who you are, what your skills are, and what your career goal is. The more you practice this pitch beforehand, the more confident you’ll feel delivering it at the job fair.

Check Out Companies Ahead of Time

Many job fairs and career expos have information on participating companies on the job fair website. Be prepared to talk to hiring managers by checking out the company’s website, mission, open positions, and general information before you go. If you demonstrate knowledge about each company or manager you’re talking to, you’ll certainly stand out from the crowd.

Make a list of the companies you’d like to meet with the most and visit their booths first. Then, if time permits, you can browse the booths and meet with other employers that catch your interest.

Be Prepared to Interview

Some job fairs have on-the-spot interviews, so be prepared to answer interview questions and discuss your credentials with hiring managers. Taking the time to prepare in advance will ensure you’re ready to interview—and to get hired.

Have Questions Ready to Ask

Have some questions ready for the company representatives that illustrate your knowledge of their organization. Employers are not merely looking for the most skilled candidate for the job—they are looking for candidates who are truly interested in their company. The more you engage them, focusing the discourse on their company’s needs, the better the impression you’ll make.

Tips for Attending a Job Fair

Here are tips for getting the most out of the job fairs you attend:

Bring Your Resume

Bring extra copies of your resume, pens, and a notepad, and consider bringing business cards with your name, your email address, and your cellphone number. You might also want to consider bringing “mini resume” cards as an efficient way to sum up your candidacy. A mini resume is a short synopsis of your credentials.

Arrive Early

Keep in mind that lines can be long, so arrive early—before the fair officially opens. Give yourself plenty of time to meet with companies and talk to hiring representatives.

Show Initiative

Shake hands and introduce yourself to recruiters when you reach the table. Maintain direct eye contact. Demonstrate your interest in the company and its job opportunities.

Be Positive

Employer surveys identify some of the most important personal attributes candidates can bring to a new position as positivity and enthusiasm. This means that employers want to see you smile!

Collect Contact Information

Collect contact information or business cards, so you have the contact information for the people you have spoken with. After you get home, immediately compile this information into a contact list and use it to send “Connect” requests on LinkedIn.

Take Notes

It’s hard to keep track when you’re meeting with multiple employers in a busy environment. Jot down notes on your phone, on the back of the business cards you have collected, or on your notepad, so you have a reminder of who you spoke to about what.

Participate in Workshops

If the job fair has workshops or seminars, attend them. In addition to getting job search help, career advice, and/or your resume reviewed, you’ll have more opportunities to network.

Spend Time Networking

While you are waiting in line, talk to others and exchange contact information. You never know who might be able to help with your job search. Along the same lines, remember to stay polite and professional.

Even if you’re feeling discouraged in your job search, don’t vent to other participants about your situation or about any specific companies. Keep it positive and make the most of the opportunity.

Follow Up After the Fair

Take the time to send a brief follow-up thank-you note or email to the company representatives you met at the job fair. It’s a good way to reiterate your interest in the company and to remind company representatives that you’re a strong candidate.

Tips for Attending a Virtual Career Fair

Virtual job fairs are very similar to in-person events, other than how you will participate online. Typically, there are opportunities to meet companies in both group and one-on-one settings, and to learn more about the company. Here’s what you need to know about attending a virtual career fair.

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5 Ways to Fund Your Freelance Career

You’ve heard the advice, ad nauseam: if you want to turn freelancing into a career, you need to have three to six months of expenses saved up, plus start-up costs, before you take the leap. That sounds practical, but how are you, a normal working person—not a lottery winner or a trust-fund baby—supposed to make that happen?

 By using the smarts that will make you a success once you’re a full-time freelancer, you can find the funding you need. It’s all a matter of rearranging finances and your schedule to reflect your new No. 1 priority: being your own boss and making your freelance dreams come true.

Here’s where to start looking for the money:

1. Cut Expenses

If you’ve never made a basic household budget, now’s the time to start. Budgeting is not most people’s idea of a good time, but if you want to save money without feeling deprived, the first thing to do is to figure out where your money is going right now, and then make the cuts that will sting the least.

For example, when I went freelance, my husband and I went over our expenses and realized that we could save over $100 a month by cutting cable and going with streaming services. Although I went into the switch feeling a bit nervous about how I’d keep up with my TV series (I know, I know), the end result was that we continued watching the same shows as always, with relative ease. 

The cost savings we achieved with that, plus a few other fairly easy choices, meant that I could buy myself a bit more time to see if freelancing was the right decision for me.

Bottom line: don’t assume that being frugal has to hurt. If you look honestly at your expenditures, you’ll probably see a few places where you can make some fairly painless cuts.

2. Make More Money

You could look for an extra part-time job, but if your day job is like most, you won’t have time to juggle both and be effective in either. My best advice for someone who’s looking for extra money to fund a transition to freelance is to start that switch right now and make a gradual move to full-time, freelance work.

By picking up a few gigs here and there, you can determine whether the freelance lifestyle is right for you, as well as figure out which types of clients and jobs suit you best. And because you won’t be committing to another regular job, there’s less chance that you’ll get in trouble with your full-time employer while you bank money

3. Use a Windfall

Did you get a tax refund, a settlement, or money for an event or milestone? Consider using it as a nest egg to finance your new venture. You can always make a plan to pay yourself back over time, if it feels wrong to burn through an unusual influx of cash by switching to freelance.

4. Use Severance Pay

If you’re considering freelance in part because you’ve been laid off or otherwise lost your job, severance can be a great way to finance the next phase in your career. Just be sure that you read the fine print in your severance policy so that you’ll understand exactly how much money you can expect to receive, after taxes, for how long, and whether healthcare benefits and other perks will be included in your package.

5. Consider a Loan

There’s a reason this one appears at the bottom of the list: if you’re going freelance, and not starting a business with demonstrable cash flow and the potential for market analysis, you’re probably not going to convince a bank to give you a small business loan.

Nor would I necessarily recommend that you hit up friends and family for money, especially before you’re sure you’ll make enough to pay them back in a timely fashion. But if you have other sources of financing, and a growing client base, and need a little extra to make the leap, a small personal loan can get you there that much faster.

Just be sure to spell out terms in writing and to fulfill your promises to your benefactor. You don’t want there to be any confus

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10 Things You Need to Start Working as a Freelancer

Are you interested in becoming a freelancer? Freelancing isn’t all working in your pajamas and cashing client checks. If you want to escape the rat race for good, you need to make sure that you’re prepared for both good times and bad.

Back your passion with the right preparation, and you’ll never have to go back to working under those buzzing fluorescent lights ever again. Here are 10 things you need to get started.

1. An Idea

What do you have to sell that others want to buy? Even if you don’t produce widgets, or specialize in a single service, it’s a good idea to clarify this point before you get started. Think about what differentiates your business from your competitors. It’s perfectly fine for your answer to evolve over time—and it will—but you need to start out with this question in mind.

2. A Plan

If you’re not pitching your business to investors, you might not need a formal business plan. But you do need some goals, if only to be able to assess whether you’re moving in the right direction. A little preparation before you hang out your shingle will save you time and trouble down the road.

3. A Pricing System

Freelance rates vary widely by industry, geographic area, skillset, and experience. There’s no set formula for determining yours, but a few things to keep in mind are:

• Your rate of pay for the same work at your day job. If you were full-time and salaried, don’t forget to add in the value of benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement.
• Whether you want to bill hourly or by the project. (This will likely change from gig to gig.)
• Your absolute drop-dead dollar amount. Do not pitch this number, of course, but keep it in mind. You might accept lower pay when you’re starting out and building experience, but you’ll want to develop an idea of how low is too low, so that you don’t keep taking jobs that don’t pay enough. There’s no quicker way to become an ex-freelancer than by consistently pricing too low.

4. Savings

Most experts recommend that everyone sock away three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund. If you’re starting a business, you also need to add in startup costs and money for unexpected expenses, e.g., replacing a laptop.

For most working people, that can seem like a prohibitively large amount of money. Before you give in and give up on your freelance dreams, think big. There are plenty of ways to raise money, without borrowing against your 401(k) or putting everything on a credit card. (Note: do not do either of these things.) The best is probably starting your freelance career while you still have a day job and banking the money you make to take a leap.

5. A Client Base

The need for money in the bank is just one reason why it’s a good idea to start freelancing on a small scale while you have a day job; another is that you’ll have an opportunity to build up a roster of clients before you go out on your own.

Having two or three solid clients before you get started means that you have a measure of security, right from day one, because you’ll know, roughly, when you’ll be paid. Plus, you’ll have time to work out any kinks in the client-freelancer relationship while you still have a job to fall back on if things don’t work out.

6. A Way to Handle Money

You don’t necessarily need an accountant, but you do need a way to keep track of expenses and invoices, and a means of tracking and paying estimated quarterly taxes.

When you work for someone else, they provide the equipment, from computers to desks to software. When you’re on your own, well, it’s up to you. The upside is that you can set up your work environment in a way that meets your needs, not those of an employer—and you can write off your purchases.

Important: Save your receipts and be sure to note why each expense qualifies as a write-off as you file them.

8. Discipline

Many people go into freelancing assuming that the best part about it will be flexibility, only to discover that clients get tetchy if they routinely can’t get a hold of you during normal business hours, and that it’s almost impossible to put in 40 or 50 hours a week if you get up at noon. (Almost impossible: night owls might prefer a later schedule, and if they’re willing to work at night, and have amenable clients, that’s OK.)

Just remember that while your clients can’t ask you, for example, to be available for a total of 15 hours a week, but demand instant access whenever they decide those 15 hours should occur, you will need to be accessible. It’s a fact of modern working life that everyone is in a hurry, all the time. If you’re not available, you won’t get—or keep—the gig.

9. Persistence

Even the most successful and blissfully happy freelancers have dark days, especially in the beginning. Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself wondering whether you’ve made a mistake. If you and the freelance life are a good fit for one another, things will work out. Either way, a bit of self-reflection is any career-minded person’s friend.

10. A Willingness to Reassess

Finally, it’s a good idea to reassess your goals periodically to make sure that freelancing is still providing what you need. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you won’t know if you’re on the right path.

Tip: Sometimes, freelancing might not be the best option for this stage of your career. Here are 5 reasons not to be become a freelancer, and the pros and cons of freelancing.

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