Moving can be equal parts exciting and stressful. And no matter why you’re moving, one of the things you likely have to do is find a job. Since even remote jobs often have location requirements, it would probably put your mind at ease to secure employment before the moving van drives off with your stuff!
Relocating and job searching at the same time seem daunting enough that you may just skip the job search until the last box is unpacked. But you can connect with an employer willing to hire you from afar if you mention your relocation in your cover letter the right way.
How to Mention Relocating in Your Cover Letter
Most cover letters are “standard.” You talk about your skills and experience and give concrete examples of how you’ll put those to work for the employer. But when you’re relocating, you need to reassure the employer that you won’t leave the area (and job!) in a few months or even a year. Here’s how.
Talk About the Town
Explain where you’re relocating by naming a specific town or the general area. Why? Consider California. It’s one thing to say you’re relocating to the state for the sunshine. But it’s another to say you’re relocating to San Diego, California, when you’re applying to jobs in San Francisco, California!
Make your intended location clear so the hiring manager has a better understanding of why you’re applying for the role when you don’t live there yet.
Mention Your Ties
In addition to mentioning where you’re moving to, mention any ties you have to the area.
It could be that you have family in the area or that you’ve bought a house or signed a lease. Whatever it is, use that information to demonstrate you’ve got a reason to stay put for the long haul.
Give a Time Frame
Explain when you’ll be moving or how open your schedule is prior to relocating. This can help the employer understand when you’ll be available to interview and start the job. If you have specific dates, throw those in. And if you don’t, that’s OK. You can give a range, like “end of May” or “mid-October.”
If it’s in your budget, mention that you’re willing to travel to in-person interviews at your own expense. Or, mention that you’ll be in the area over the next few weeks or months attending to other business and could arrange your schedule to be available for an interview.
That said, if you can’t afford the travel, do not worry! You can interview online before you relocate or in person once you get there.
Do You Include an Address?
In general, it’s OK to omit your address from your resume. However, if you think mentioning you signed a lease or bought a home isn’t enough to sway the employer, you can include your local address in the contact information.
More: Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume?
Where to Mention Your Relocation
So, that’s the “how” part of the equation. Now, for the where. Should you mention your relocation at the top or bottom of your cover letter?
Near the Top
Mentioning your relocation at or near the beginning of your cover letter puts that information front and center. If that’s your preference, include the details in the second or third paragraph.
Start with the introduction to your cover letter and explain why you’re applying to this role. Then, bring up your move and that this job fits into your career and relocation plans.
Toward the Bottom
It’s also acceptable to include the information at the bottom of the cover letter, usually between your final paragraph and before the closing.
The advantage of this placement is that it puts the focus on your skills and experience before the topic of relocating ever comes up. This helps reinforce that you’re a fantastic candidate for the role and could calm any fears about hiring you.
Movin’ On
Knowing you have a job waiting for you after you move can make everything before the move a little less stressful. Use these tips to craft a cover letter that helps the hiring manager understand not only why you’re applying but also why they should hire you!
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