applying for IT jobs out of state

I'm going to WGU, live in Florida, but am trying to get to Austin for an IT Security or IT Compliance job. I already have a B.A. from 20 years ago (in English) but have started another B.S. in IT Security at WGU in an attempt to get the foundation/credibility (in addition to my 10+ work experience in the IT business field). I stopped my Master's Degree in IT Security at Florida Tech University because I felt I really need more education in the basics on networking and hardware that I didn't have.

Question 1) Will my 2nd Bachelor's make sense on a resume? When I talk about it at work, everyone says it's great, but will people go "huh?" when they see that I've gone back to school... for a bachelor's instead of a master's. I'm wondering if I should just leave my Master's attendance on the resume and leave it at that.

Question 2) I've heard that the minute employers see that you're out of state, they dismiss you. I could try explaining it in the cover letter, but if they don't read the cover letter, and just see my address at the top of the resume, they may discard it immediately. Should I just leave my residential address blank on the resume? Depending on some employers' job websites, putting in your address is a requirement.

Thanks for input!

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Comments

MSP-IT

You could try leaving off your residential address, I'd assume that would be your best bet.

I've also heard that technical recruiters could be a valuable asset when looking to relocate. I would recommend looking for some IT recruiting companies in the Austin area and explain your situation. As long as you're qualified and they can make money off of you, I don't see how it could hurt!

RoyalRaven

I've done this before and landed a role (Michigan-to-Florida). Best bet is to plan a trip or two and be there in person for some interviews (nothing beats that). If you have a few extra bucks, make it a short vacation. When you're there in person, the residency issues is downplayed, as long as you have full intentions of getting a place to live (also worth checking out while there..).

I don't think a 2nd bachelors is a bad thing, but yeah, you probably have to explain that one as to why the masters wasn't taken care of. Not a big deal unless the job description gives priority to a grad degree. It's just not super common (two bachelors degrees) unless someone goes into a totally different career path and goes back to school in that area (not sure if you got two of them simultaneously...that does happen occasionally in academia). Put the bachelors as the highest "obtained" but also put that you have attended grad school (or you can always put "in-the-works").

Don't give up on that masters unless you've waited way too long (i.e. 5+ years...grad programs may start excluding old classes then). If you're more than half way, finish it so you always have it!!

PurpleIT

razz2525 wrote: »

Question 2) I've heard that the minute employers see that you're out of state, they dismiss you. I could try explaining it in the cover letter, but if they don't read the cover letter, and just see my address at the top of the resume, they may discard it immediately. Should I just leave my residential address blank on the resume? Depending on some employers' job websites, putting in your address is a requirement.

Thanks for input!

I just went through this process myself and while I ran into some issues with being out of state; most notably a couple of cases where they wanted to interview local candidates first and would call me if they still wanted to talk to me, I don't think this was a major issue. Honestly, it surprised me how well it went.

A couple of things I did:

Get a local phone number via Google Voice.

Don't put you address on your resume; just your (local) phone number and email address.

Recruiters aren't dumb, they can figure out pretty easily that you aren't local, usually by your last job, BUT my theory is it is best not to slap them in the face with this fact.

Once they start reading your resume they have an investment in you. It's a small investment, but the more they read, the more time they spend looking at you, the more they have invested. If the first thing they see is an out of state address they have zero investment and can more easily toss you aside, but if by the time they get to your job history (and maybe figure out you are not local) they have seen a few things they like and start to think you might be a fit they are more likely to go ahead and call you.

Once they have bothered to call you there is a larger investment and, most importantly, you now have a chance to interact and be an active component of their decision making process.

Be willing to travel out there and let them know it. I know a lot of people will say don't pay for this yourself, but if I need to spend a couple hundred dollars to get a job I really want in a place I want to live, I will gladly invest in myself and my future that way.

As I said, this is all just my theory, but I did recently get two offers with 24 hours of each other, sight-unseen and was able to get an additional $5,000 on my preferred job by making them aware that I had another offer.

pert

I put my address on there. I don't think its fair to fake being local. If they throw your resume in the trash, so be it. If you are applying for a significantly advanced job, they will accept people applying from out of state.

That said, if youre 100% willing to move on your own dime and can make the move within the time a local candidate would need, then there is no reason to speak up.