Jobs Simply

Searching for jobs on Craigslist?

So I've just graduated from a university in California and have begun the job search but I want to relocate so I've been looking deeply into local job listings on Craigslist which seem to have some very interesting leads in various cities across the country. The only problem is, when the employers reply to my email they ask if I currently live in those cities, and since I don't, I am not getting a second reply from them, even though I state that I am willing to relocate. They always say that they are looking for local people. What's up with that! How do I get around this? I don't want to move before I've landed a job!

Public Comments

1. It may be that they want people who have ties to the local community like home owning ,family and such because then they feel that the time they spend hiring and training you will pay off with an employee who will stay with them and not job hopping.
2. The problem with hiring out of state people is that it may take longer to get those people into the job. I have two suggestions for you. 1) State that you are willing to relocate and your availability is 2 weeks. That will encourage more people. Some people require 1-3 months to relocate. 2) Craigslist is a horrible place to find jobs. Most companies do not use Craigslist. Small companies tend to use Craigslist because it is free to post. I advise you to look for national job hunting agencies and work with them. 3) Monster.com is the best job site for general searching. 4) What is your field of interest? Often, there are professional organizations and web sites that are ideal for networking and job searching. 5) What state are you trying to relocate to? I can speak for Oregon, but not other states.
3. I post the jobs for my small business on Craigslist. There are two reasons I don't bring in people from outside the local area. First, there is an expectation that we pay travel costs for the interview. For a small company interviewing several candidates, this can be prohibitive. Second, small companies that advertise on Craigslist don't want to pay for relocation which can run $2,500-$10,000. It's not really fair because I've had companies pay for both interview travel and relocation in my career but if I can save my employer money with a good local candidate, then I will. I would suggest in your cover letter to the prospective employer that you suggest you're willing to cover or split the travel costs for the interview and that you will not require a re-location package. If you can't foot the bill for a relo, offer to do the relo as a loan that you'll pay back out of earnings once you get the job. Again, this isn't necessarily fair but may help you with your problem.