I read in our local paper the other day that our region has higher than average levels of unemployment. In fact, a receptionist position in a small business received over 400 applicants.

The thing is, this is nothing new. We have lived here for nearly five years, and it was exactly the same story when we were searching for jobs back then (you can read about how I found a job via the hidden job market here).

When I voiced my surprise to the employment officer helping me apply for positions, he said something that was obvious as soon as it left his lips, but had never occurred to us.

‘Didn’t you do your research before you moved here.’

Um, no.

If you’re planning on moving to a new town, a new state or even a new country, don’t make the same mistake we did by not doing your research.

Things to research before moving

1. Jobs and income

You may have a job lined up before you move, but if you’re winging it, check out the employment in the area you intend to move. Are there jobs available? Are there jobs in your chosen field? Will you have to commute to work?

As well as job availability, you will want to investigate average income levels (we moved to one of the most expensive areas to live in Australia mostly because the income levels are so low compared to the cost of living).

Where to find this information:

• Seek.com.au
• Job classifieds in the local paper (if they have an online edition)
• Local employment services. Call them and ask. They may also help you find work when you have moved.

2. Housing availability and affordability

Where are you going to live when you move? Are you going to rent or buy? Are there places available to rent or buy? Are they in your price range? Keep in mind your expected income once you move, affordability will change if your income drops significantly like ours did.

Where to find this information:

• Realestate.com.au

3.The vibe

I guess what I’m saying here is: are you going be happy living there? Is it going to suit your personality? Is the crime rate low? Or are you moving to a town where hooligans rip up the streets each night in suped-up cars? If your passion is for fine dining, are their restaurants that will ‘feed’ your passion?

Where to find this information:

• The best way to pick up on the vibe is to visit a place, spend a week or two there and talk to the locals.
• Also, read the local paper (online if available) everyday for a while to get a feel for the place (keeping in mind that newspapers sensationalise stuff).

4. Future development / opportunities

What is the main industry in your prospective town? Is it a growth industry or a dying one? Can the town be sustained if the main industry closes down? Are there plans for future development and growth?

If you’re planning to move to a new town to settle down and raise a family, you want to make sure that there are employment opportunities today and in the future and a plan to increase services and infrastructure in line with population growth.

Where to find this information:

• Local council website.
• State website.
• Local newspaper.

5. Cost of living

The price of goods and services ranges widely across the country. To give you an idea of the affordability of where you intend to live, do a little research as to the cost of basic goods and services.

Where to find this information:

• For grocery prices check out the online shopping facilities for the local supermarket and enter the postcode of your prospective town. Also look at ads in the local paper and check out the Yellow Pages for butchers, greengrocers etc.
• Get online quotes using the details of your prospective area to give you an idea of insurance costs.
• Check the state transit website for vehicle registration requirements and cost (in QLD for example, we don’t need a pinkslip and we don’t buy our greenslips separately, they’re part of the registration cost).
• Find out which companies supply your utilities (electricity, gas, phone, internet) what utilities are available in the area (some places don’t have natural gas lines, many towns don’t have cable internet, for instance) and ask them their supply rates. Compare this with your current consumption and supply cost to get an idea of costs in your new area.

6. Public transport

Is there adequate public transport for you needs? What are the costs?

Where to find this information:

• State transit website.

7. Community services

Finally, are there adequate community facilities that you may need to use either now or in the future. Facilities and services like a hospital, doctors, police, childcare, playgroups, schools, support systems (like family health clinics and charities), a library, parks, entertainment, sports clubs, civic spaces (like an art gallery).

Where to find this information:

• Local council website.
• Tourist website for the area.
• Google maps.
• Yellow Pages.
• Local ‘what’s on’ guide.
• Community notices website.

Then what?

So you’ve done your research, what now? Does that mean you don’t move? Not necessarily, but at least you can weigh the pros and cons of moving (or not moving, or moving somewhere else) and you know what you’re in for before you get there.

Draw up an approximate budget to make sure you feel comfortable with your future potential cash flow, and to give you an idea of what your limits are when looking for a place to rent or buy.

Start dusting off your CV and your cover letters and if you can, apply for jobs before you make your move. Don’t forget to ask for references from your current employer.

Put aside as much money as you can into a emergency fund so that you can eat and pay for rent and all those other extra moving costs that come up while you’re looking for a new job.

And finally, when you get there, go out and explore your new home. The first few months of living somewhere new are so exciting, it’s like being on holiday, even if you’re working.

What do you consider when moving to a new place?

Have you read these articles?:

1. moving house on a budget
2. a man drove into town – a story of modern economics
3. Transparent Charities – Becoming Informed And Asking Questions

According to the stats, around 75% of jobs are never advertised. These jobs are often filled through an informal network and they can only be accessed through networking or cold calling.

When I first moved to QLD, I decided that I only wanted to work in an accounting firm despite not having finished my studies and having pretty much no experience. Having no success with the few advertised positions there were, I cold called until I was hired. From the time I started cold calling, it took me two weeks to get the position I wanted in an accounting firm.

The key to cold calling for employment is having an organised and systematic approach. Treat getting a job as a job in itself. This kind of job hunting approach can be harder than the usual job hunting methods, but the result can be a better job than those that are advertised.

1. Update your resume and write a basic cover letter

Your cover letter and resume are your first impression on prospective employers, so you want them to have a positive impact. The whole point is to sell yourself. Spend some time updating and rewriting your resume.

Also write a basic cover letter template that you can adjust and customise for each application. Not only are you going to customise the basics such as who the letter is addressed to, you will want to target your letter to each business, showing that you’ve done some research about the business.

I found this website very useful for writing cover letters as well as my resume (the website does have a few pop-ups though). This website gives the basics on resume writing. For a resume that packs a punch, you can find tips here.

2. Make a list of potential employers 

Once you have your resume up to scratch, make a list of those businesses that you will be cold calling. Ask around your personal network for any positions that they have heard might be available and go through the phone book, listing potential businesses to cold call.

Below is the form that I set up and used when looking for the accounting position. It lists the business name and details and has room for the date when my resume was sent, the date that I plan a follow up call, a date for potential interviews and any follow up notes.

3. Research the businesses in the industry

Many business have websites and if they do, spend some time reading about the company and their main business. For example, the firm that I ended up working for specialised in accounting for farmers, so I could tailor my application to show how I would be able to fit into such a firm.

If the business doesn’t have a website, read through the business’ advertising (even if it’s just an add in the phonebook) to get a feel for how they position themselves in the market. Talk to friends and family who may have been customers of the business, or call the business as a prospective client and ask them questions about the business. 

4. Call each business and ask for the name of the hiring officer

You will want to address your cover letter to a specific person rather than just “Dear Madam” or “To Human Resources”. If you can, get the name of someone senior to address your letter to, otherwise ask for the name of the person responsible for hiring staff. Ensure that you double check the correct spelling of their name and ask if they prefer correspondence by post or email. You could also enquire now whether there are any positions currently available so that you can tailor your cover letter to suit.

5. Send your cover letter and resume

Spend some time customising your resume and cover letter to reflect the research that you conducted on each business. You want to demonstrate what you can do for the business, your ‘fit’ or why you would be a valuable employee and how you have taken the time and care to research the business.

At the bottom of the letter, write that you will be calling to follow up on any available position and note when you will be calling. Write this time down in your cold call database and stick to it.

If you’re cold calling a lot of businesses, stagger when you send out your resume. Prioritise which businesses you want to work for the most and just send a few each day. That means that you will also only be making a few follow up calls each day and if all goes well, you can prioritise and stagger interviews also. This helps avoid the conundrum of waiting for a response from your preferred job, having been given a position from a less than preferred job.

6. Make your follow up call and enquire about any available positions

After about five working days from posting your resume, make your follow up call and ask to speak to the person that you addressed your cover letter to. This is where your database comes in handy. Remind them that you sent them a letter and ask whether they would be interested in meeting with you to discuss any available positions.

I want to mention here, that I found this whole process absolutely terrifying. I’m not a naturally outgoing person and I dreaded these cold calls. The upside of only sending a couple of letters a day meant that I only had to psych myself up to make a couple of calls a day. Make your calls first thing in the morning if you can, knowing that the rest of the day can be stress free.

7. Keep records of when you post, when you call back and the results of your inquiries.

Avoid forgetting who you’ve spoken to, when you posted your resume, when you need to make your follow up phone calls and what interviews you have with whom by keeping records in your cold call database. Also, keep a notes section to jot down rejection letters or not-now-but-later responses, suggestions, job leads and referrals and notes on how the job interview went.

Career Magnifier provides career advice and career counselling to help you make a career change. This online career test assesses your interest in over 170 occupations to determine the career and course that best suits you. The assessment is based on extensive research and provides guidance to people of all ages.