Everyone has different reasons or circumstances, but most of us will, at some point, make a choice to leave our jobs and move for our families.
Here are some ways to start your job search when moving to a new place:
Utilize the UIAA Alumni Career Center services that include…
- Virtual Career Center: An online resource to help alumni succeed in all areas of career management. It covers many areas of the job search and career transition including resumes, interviewing and networking. Through the VCC (www.uiaacareers.org), alumni can also subscribe to a monthly e-newsletter.
- Professional Development Webinars: Hosted at no fee to alumni throughout the year. Events are listed in the VCC calendar.
- Hire UI Alumni Job Board: Presents job opportunities and is available to all alumni. Accessible from the VCC.
- Alumni Directory: Connect to fellow alumni and networking contacts. The "Find a Friend" feature is open to all alumni and helps alumni connect with other alumni they already know. "Alumni Offering Assistance" is available to Sustaining and Life Members* and connects alumni with other alumni who have volunteered to share information about their careers and organizations.
- Advising on career choice, resumes, interviewing and networking: Available to alumni for nominal additional fees, www.uiaa.org/careers/packages.html.
Network in the following ways…
- Update your profile(s) and utilize your social network connections on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.
- Reach out to existing contacts in your new city.
- Reach out to existing contacts in your chosen industry or field of work.
- Once you have announced your move appropriately to your current employer, discuss your move with a trusted/respected supervisor and request introductions in reaching new contacts. Most of the time, when moving for your family, companies will be supportive, but it will be up to you to decide if this is a conversation that you can safely have at your place of employment. Also, you will need to keep in mind if your current employer has an office in your future city where you are or are not willing to work.
- Once you have announced your move appropriately to your current employer, discuss your move with friends, colleagues, clients, consultant, etc. Pretty much, talk to anyone that will indulge you as you never know who will have the connection that you are looking for!
- Join the alumni club in your new city and attend its events.
- Attend the Big Ten networking events in your new city
- Utilize the professional organizations associated with your field of work to meet new contacts.
*To become a Sustaining or Life Member to help support the UIAA Alumni Career Center and other programs, you can make a tax-deductible gift to the UIAA: www.uiaa.org/membership/make_gift.html.
Written by Jessica Leach '04 BUS (UI), who is currently enrolled in the Eastern Illinois University MS in College Student Affairs program and interned with the University of Illinois Alumni Association this summer.
