Businesswoman with a suitcase.Alex Hinds
The question
I am a 41-year-old professional who works as an internal audit manager in a financial services company in Alberta. In the past few months, I started to look for positions within my field in Toronto. Unfortunately, I've had no success getting a similar position in that province. I have applied many times for managerial positions in Toronto and I even talked to recruiters about my possibilities. The recruiters have been very honest and acknowledge that employers are not always willing to cover relocation expenses and prefer to have a local candidate. Currently, there is an opportunity as a senior auditor at a company located in the GTA. My dilemma centres around whether going to a less-senior position could affect my career in the long run.
The Answer
Accepting a less-senior position may, in some cases, hurt your career growth plans. You could take the current job being offered to you, and continue looking for a more senior position. The risk with this approach is that for some employers this may signal red flags, where they may question if this step back was due to performance issues, management, or taking a filler role while looking for a better opportunity. They may also wonder if you will be doing the same thing to them. Often, for employers, past behaviour is seen as a predictor of future behaviour. You could pre-empt such misinterpretations in your cover letter, clearly explaining your circumstances, and then articulating this again during job interviews.
There are two other strategies that you could consider:
1. Make the move to Toronto first, and then look for a job presenting yourself as a local candidate. If you haven't lived in this city before, take the opportunity to study the nuances of local industries as they relate to your profession. Showcase this knowledge during a job interview to neutralize any competitive disadvantage you may have faced as an out-of-town candidate. This option also lets you examine where you can land your dream job, since you will be "on location" and can assess company cultures and personal fit much better in person.
2. Consider removing your current Alberta address from your résumé (so at first glance, employers don't eliminate you for being an out-of-town candidate) or keep your current address on your résumé but clearly state that you are relocating to Toronto. Make it clear when applying for positions that you intend to move to Toronto and are not expecting the employer to cover relocation fees. Communicate how you can fly into Toronto for an interview fairly easily – in case the employer wishes to meet with you on short notice. This approach, while costly to you, shows your true interest in the company. It also demonstrates your strong desire to get this job and may even bring you up on the short-list of candidates.
You have some very important decisions to make. Evaluate your entire situation, such as how long you can go without a job if you opt to move to the city first, and which strategy is most comfortable for you both personally and professionally.
Julie Labrie is the vice-president of BlueSky Personnel Solutions.
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