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My wife and I currently live in Tennessee but are planning on moving to Norman, OK in a few years so I can resume my college work at OU.
What we're wondering is, is it common for employers to hire out of state candidates? My wife is a PTA (physical therapy assistant) and she's unsure if she should bother applying for jobs in OK shortly before we move, or would employers shy away from her since we're not officially residents of the state just yet?
We're both a little uneasy moving to a new area without jobs. It's unnerving moving so far away and hoping something comes available after we get there. It'd be nice (and reassuring) knowing that at least one of us will have a job once we get there.
The answer is "it depends." Is there a shortage of PTAs in Norman, OK? It is a hassle to hire out of state candidates for positions that can be filled with local talent, which is why most employers won't bother with it.
Just reread your post. Nothing wrong with applying shortly before you move. I would note that I was moving to the area and would by a resident of Norman effective X date.
Apply a few months before you move. Use a local address if you can on your resume to gain the appearance of being local, it should boost your chances of getting interviewed if that is something they take into account. If questioned at the interview, "I'm staying with family now here locally" should be your response. I would say use a local phone number too but in today's day and age that really doesn't matter any more. But you can usually create a Google Voice account with a local area code if you really want to be certain. Good luck.
It really needs to be a high skilled job or a booming job market. I can't imagine Norman being booming. If you had a high up job at OU, that would help.
If you have the skills and background they need, sure, they'll hire anyone.
You won't know until you apply.
This.
I work a skilled trade (CNC machining) and I was hired in 2011 while living on the east coast. I did paperwork via email... drug tests locally and a few Skype interviews.
Probably wouldn't have happened if I worked the night shift at Walmart.
If you have the skills and background they need, sure, they'll hire anyone.
You won't know until you apply.
This.
I think the biggest thing is communicating to them that you aren't going to be a headache candidate. I would write a cover letter to explain why I'm moving, when, and how I plan on facilitating the interview process so they can make their evaluation and get me started on a mutually-agreed date. You can't assume this stuff... if you don't spell it out, they're going to assume you're going to be all delays and "I missed my flight" and "Got held up with the movers" or whatever. If you show them how you're going to be where needed and when, they don't have a lot of reason to pass you over just because you aren't local yet.
I think the biggest thing is communicating to them that you aren't going to be a headache candidate. I would write a cover letter to explain why I'm moving, when, and how I plan on facilitating the interview process so they can make their evaluation and get me started on a mutually-agreed date. You can't assume this stuff... if you don't spell it out, they're going to assume you're going to be all delays and "I missed my flight" and "Got held up with the movers" or whatever. If you show them how you're going to be where needed and when, they don't have a lot of reason to pass you over just because you aren't local yet.
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