How to Find a Job in a New City (Before You Move!)

Have you ever managed a mid-career move to a new city? Let us know how it went, and any tips you have for the Idealist community, in the comments!

A couple of summers ago, I did something that seemed highly unlikely to my partner, friends, and family: I got a job in a city I wanted to live in before I moved there, and from 3,000 miles away.

When I first made the decision to move from New York City to Portland, OR, I wondered if it was possible to secure a job from afar. Initially, the logistics and distance made it seem like a mountain to climb—how would I go about finding an apartment, securing interviews, sharing a local address, and showing up for work after landing a gig? In hindsight, being proactive and organized in my nonprofit job search made relocating rather easy.

So, I decided to write a simple guide to moving mid-career, based on my experience. Read on for tips, some unsolicited advice, and best practices below!

How to find a job in a new city before moving there

Step 1. Learn about the local nonprofit scene

Before relocating to a city far-far away, you want to know what you’re walking into! Maybe you have some family or friends there who can tell you about its qualities—is it community-oriented and propped up by local nonprofits, or a burgeoning metroplex where larger foundations have their offices? This research is even more important if you don’t have anyone to fill you in on the goings-on in your potential new hometown.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of this research stage of your nonprofit job search:

• Scan Idealist, peruse GuideStar, search “nonprofits in xyz” online—do everything you can to figure out which nonprofit organizations are operating in the place you want to live.
• Make a list of local job boards and sources to scour. In Portland, I found places like Mac’s List to get hyperlocal listings.
• Read online verticals and blogs that have great tips for relocating your career, like Ask A Manager.
• Take some advice on long-distance job searching from some people who have done it! Don’t know anyone personally? Reach out to your network and ask them to put you in touch with people they know who successfully scored a job before moving to a new city. 

Step 2. Mention the move in your application materials

Something I considered early on was how my New York City address would appear to prospective employers across the nation—not favorable in comparison to local candidates, I estimated.

It seemed like a possible barrier, so to remove it, I replaced my current address with the line: “Relocating to Portland, OR in Summer 2023” on each document. And for a more definitive explanation, I reserved a sentence in my cover letter’s final paragraph to say something like: “I am relocating to Portland in the summer, but I welcome any opportunity to interview for this role before then.”

These steps effectively alerted nonprofit employers of my current location and not-so-distant future intention. While a common piece of advice is to use a friend’s local address, I learned that this can be confusing to prospective employers since you’re not actually there yet.

Be ready to explain why you’re moving

When you decide to make a long-distance move, your parents, friends, and neighbors will all ask why you are leaving—and so will a prospective employer during your first phone interview, and probably any subsequent interviews.

To avoid bumbling through an answer about coffee and beer (Portland!), do yourself a favor and come up with a preferred story beforehand. Focus on the culture (you’ve always wanted to be closer to nature), the logistics (your long-distance partner lives there and you want to move in together), or the spontaneity of your trip (I wanted to try something new!), and turn the conversation back to why you found their particular organization intriguing. 

Having your story straight, and telling it with confidence, will underscore your seriousness about relocating, and make an employer who might take a chance on a non-local candidate more comfortable with hiring you from afar.

Leverage your network and actively build a new one

I found that networking was the single most important step I took to relocate my nonprofit career. Specifically, I reached out to:

• Colleagues. I sought advice from my coworkers, past bosses and mentors, and other affiliates I met through my work-life, asking them about my chosen city and whether they could connect me with anyone who lived there.
• Local nonprofit associations. I became friendly with nonprofit professionals in Portland by reaching out to local places like the Nonprofit Association of Oregon and building relationships.
• Online connections. I scanned my online professional accounts for anyone who might be able to help me secure a job, and even reached out to some 2nd – 4th degree connections that had experience working in the nonprofit field in Portland.

By spinning a web of connections for my relocation project, I ultimately forged some important relationships with those in my soon-to-be nonprofit market and garnered some important information during the process. I found that having my name “out there” led to a series of interviews, and I stopped being nervous about asking others for help. Think about it—wouldn’t you want to help someone land a job? 

Be flexible 

It is important to be flexible with a potential employer because unfortunately for you, there are likely local candidates who will be far easier to access, especially for nonprofits that rarely have the time or money to treat you differently.

During your long-distance job search, you will be required to have interviews at odd hours, and be asked to travel for an in-person interview. So be ready for anything, whether it means interviewing over the phone and online, or by heading to the airport for a five hour flight.

Make sure any commitments you make are both within your means and the realm of reason. If you are traveling a great distance for an in-person interview, you must weigh the opportunity cost with your time and money. For one, I’d advise making sure interviews on the road are final interviews, due to the time and cost involved. Don’t be afraid to ask if you’re a final candidate for a position and be open about your availability, desires, etc.

Finding and getting a job is never easy, but doing it from long distances makes it even more difficult. I ended up relocating my nonprofit career over the course of five months by taking into account the tips above.

My best advice would be to seize the opportunity like you never have before. Bring your top game in any interaction with a potential employer and make sure you are doing everything you can to act like a candidate that is not-so-far away. 

About the Author | Michael V. Paul recently relocated to the Portland, OR area and is the Annual Campaign & Grants Manager at Columbia Land Trust. He is an appreciator and practitioner of efficient operation, strategic thinking and hard work, and an avid reader and soccer enthusiast.