How to Move to Another State Without a Job

Moving to a new state is always stressful. Yet, if the reason for your move is that you got a great new job in another state, the stress will be much lower – you’ll have a sense of certainty and stability and won’t be so anxious about your future. If you’re moving for work, it means that you’ve found a job that you like and that pays well – so, you’ll likely be excited about it (and about new life) and will feel financially secure (and optimistic about your future). You won’t be so scared of the unknown and will feel positive about your move.

If, however, you’re moving to another state without a job, your stress level will be at a peak.  Whether you’re moving for love, lower cost of living, or new horizons, it’s extremely hard to relocate without a job lined up. There are too many risks and too many things that can go wrong. Yet, sometimes you have to take risks in order to grow, find your true self, find happiness, and succeed in life.

Moving without a job may turn out to be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made – if you play your cards right. Or, in other words, if you prepare properly, plan in advance, and take advantage of every opportunity you have.

Read on to find out how to move to another state without a job and make it work (and also get work as soon as possible).

Should you move out of state without a job?

Before you start wondering how to move out of state without a job, first you need to consider your reasons for doing so and make sure that this is the right step for you. You also need to understand the risks involved in such a bold move and decide if they’re worth taking.

1) Why do you want to move to another state? Are you looking for a change of scenery and a fresh start? Are you trying to get away from personal or professional problems? Are you just eager to move out of your parents’ house and start your independent life? Do you wish to live in a warmer climate, in a cheaper state, in a place with more opportunities, etc.?

2) Are you moving to a specific state for a specific reason (to be near family, to move in with your significant other, to get better career prospects, etc.) or do you just want to move away (because you feel stuck, don’t like your current city, don’t have any opportunities, etc.)?

3) Why do you want to move right now? Can’t you wait until you manage to secure a job? If the circumstances do not necessitate a move, it may be wiser not to rush the matter.

You need to be honest with yourself – and to think things through before making a final decision. As tempting as it may be to just pick up and move to another state, the difficulties associated with moving without a job may outweigh the positives of such a choice. 

If you have a good reason to move, however, feel like the time is right to take the big step, and believe that moving to another state will be beneficial for you, there may be no point in waiting any longer – take your chances and move! Just make sure you can afford the relocation and prepare well.

Save up and plan your finances

The last thing you want when moving to a new state with no job is to run out of money before you manage to land a job. So, the first thing you need to do when planning to move without a job is to ensure that you have enough money to cover your relocation costs and your living expenses for the first several months in your new area (while you’re looking for employment).

Do not even consider moving with no money and no job! Save up as much as possible before your move, so you can get by without earned income for some time – until you snag a job in your new city.

Calculate your moving costs first

Fill out a moving quote to see how much it will cost you to hire professional movers for your relocation, evaluate your self-moving options and the associated costs, and consider all relocation-related expenses you’re likely to incur (packing materials, travel expenses, etc.), so you get an idea of the price of your move.

Additional useful information: How much does it cost to hire movers; Forgotten costs of moving on your own; How to estimate moving costs

Calculate your monthly expenses in your new city

Research the housing costs and the cost of living in your new area and estimate your approximate monthly expenses. Factor in all the essentials – rent (or mortgage), groceries, utilities, transportation, etc. – and include some margin for unforeseen spendings and “desirables”.

Build a financial cushion

Now that you know how much money you’re going to need for your relocation and for living expenses per month, you can plan your finances – make a moving budget and a post-relocation budget, assess your savings, and see if you have the means to relocate and to support yourself financially in your new state while looking for employment.

Make sure you have enough money saved up to cover your moving costs and to live on for a few months in your new area without receiving any income (in case your job search takes a while) before you go through with your decision to move out of state without a job lined up. (It’s considered best to have about six months of living expenses saved – plus a certain amount for emergency purposes – before your move.)

See also: How much money to save to move out

Research the job market in the state you’re moving to

Unless you’re moving because you want to work for a particular company that is located in another state, you need to get a sense of the business environment in your prospective new location before moving there. Research the job market in the area and find out who the major employers are, what industries are hiring, what sorts of jobs are available, whether your skills are in demand, etc. Consider the unemployment rates and “backup” employment options in the state, too.

Typically, you can get all the information you need by reading the local business papers and by browsing local employment websites and company websites.

Identify prospective employers

While scouting out the job market in the state you’re planning to move to, you’ll find out which companies are hiring in your field. Visit their websites and social pages, read their recent media coverage, and look at any available annual reports to identify which of these companies you’d like to work for – so you know where to apply for a job after the move (or even before that, if possible).

Prepare your resume before the move

You’ll likely be quite stressed – and quite busy – after moving to a new state without a job, so it’s a good idea to prepare your resume in advance. If you haven’t yet found a place to live in your new state, you can simply leave the address section blank and fill it in later.

If you have identified prospective employers, be sure to customize your resume to fit the qualifications they’re looking for and to write your cover letters ahead of time too.

Upload your resume and cover letters – as well as scanned copies of all your important documents – on secured networks so you can easily print or send them out when needed.

Start applying for jobs before the move

The best thing you can do when moving to a new city without a job is to start applying for jobs well before the relocation.

Check for job openings at the companies you’d like to work for, look at job placement ads, reach out to local recruiters (placement agencies have large networks and strong connections, so they can help you find a job quite quickly – and their services are usually free of charge for job searches) and apply for every suitable position that you find.

In your cover letter, be sure to state that you’re moving to the city permanently, so your prospective employer doesn’t see you as a “flight risk”. Specify your move date and note that you’re willing to come for an interview before the actual relocation, if needed.

Good to know: Local candidates have better chances of getting an interview, as employers don’t want to deal with relocation-related complications (relocation packages, possible delays, etc.).

Since you’re already moving to the area anyway (and paying for the move yourself), the fact that you’re applying from out of state shouldn’t work against you, but it may still be wiser to use a local contact phone number and address on your application. It should be easy enough to obtain a new cell phone number (local to your new area), but the address part will be trickier – you need to either find a place to rent before the move or to use the address of a friend or relative who lives in the area (if you have any).

Start networking as soon as you know you’re going to move

Connecting to people and building a strong social network is of paramount importance when moving to a new place – and especially so when moving to a new state without a job.

You’re, therefore, advised to begin networking as early as possible – well before your move:

• Get on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social networks and announce that you’re moving to a new state and looking for a job there. Give a short summary of your experience and skills and ask for help with any leads;
• Reach out to the people you already know in your new state (if any) – friends and family, former coworkers and fellow students, etc. Tell them you’re moving to town and ask if they know of any available positions in your field or if they can connect you with someone who might;
• Ask friends and colleagues for connections in your new city and get in touch with these contacts right away (e-mail them, message them on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, etc.). The more people you know in your new area, the easier it will be to adjust to your new environment and the higher your chances of getting suitable job leads will be;
• Join your college’s alumni chapter in your new area and see if anyone can help you with your job search;
• Connect with professional associations and industry groups in the area – this will help you find job opportunities in your field and will also make it easier for potential employers to find you.

Expanding your social circle and making as many professional connections as possible before your move will make things much easier for you when you find yourself in your new city.

Explore your telecommuting options

An ever growing percentage of U.S. workers telecommute nowadays, so you too may be able to work from home after moving to a new state. 

If your current job can be performed remotely or if your company hires for slightly different remote positions that suit your skills and experience, you may even be able to continue working for the same company. Discuss your telecommuting options with your employer – they may be fine with you working from afar, either permanently or until they hire someone in your place (so your colleagues don’t need to take on extra tasks while the company is looking for a replacement).

Telecommuting will take a lot of stress off your shoulders as it will provide you with regular income and will give you time to look for your dream job in your new area. (And if you love your current job but need to move to another state for one reason or another, it will enable you to keep your job after the relocation.)

Bonus tip: Ask about a transfer – If you’re working for a large company, they may have presence in your new state too. If so, it may be possible for you to get transferred to a company branch located in your new area.

Move into temporary housing first

Moving out of state with no job is a risky endeavor – things may not work out well and you may not be able to find a suitable job in your new area (or you may not like your new city, after all). You need flexibility, so you can easily move away if your plans go awry.

Therefore, it’s not a good idea to tie yourself down with a mortgage and a newly-bought property, even if you can afford to buy a home in your new area. It’s better to move into temporary housing first.

You can stay at an extended-stay hotel or rent a short-term apartment until you get to know the area, find a job, and decide that this is where you want to live – at least for the foreseeable future.

Be sure to start looking for a place to live well before your move though – securing an apartment when moving without a job may be quite difficult. You’ll need to provide a number of documents (references, bank statements, credit scores, etc.) and to give proof that you have enough resources to pay rent for at least several months.

If you can visit your new city shortly before your move, you may be able to find a month-to-month rental that suits your needs and sign a lease. Otherwise, you might end up living with a friend or a family member for several weeks – or staying at a hotel – until you find an appropriate place to rent.

Good to know: When relocating without a job, you’re advised to take only your most practical and most valuable items with you:

• Find out what household items are available in your temporary home, so you know what you need to bring along;
• Sort out your personal items and sell or donate everything you don’t need or don’t like anymore (See also: How to get rid of unwanted items when moving);
• Ask family and friends if they’d be willing to keep those of your belongings you can’t take with you but don’t want to part with – until you settle permanently in your new city or come back;
• If necessary, rent a storage unit so you have a safe place to keep your belongings in until you find more permanent accommodations.

Decide whether you’re going to use professional moving services or will perform a self-move (depending on the number of items you have for moving and the distance to your new state) and organize your move (hire reliable movers or rent a moving truck and ask friends and family to help you relocate).

See also: Moving out of state checklist

Be proactive

Once your move is over and you find yourself in the state and city where you want to be, you need to start looking for work right away.

But how to find a job in a new city?

Checking out job placement ads and applying when you find a position you like is not enough – you need a more proactive approach in order to find a job quickly.

Explore your new area and take every opportunity to meet new people – you never know who might give you a great job lead:

• Meet in person the contacts you’ve made before the move – visit recruiters, invite friends of friends out for coffee, etc.;
• Volunteer for causes you care about – you’ll meet like-minded people, some of whom may work in your field and may be able to point you to a job opportunity;
• Attend industry events and business networking events to get in touch with people from your industry.

Keep applying for jobs until you get an offer that you like.

Related: How to make friends when you move to a new city

Keep your old connections (both professional and personal)

Starting afresh does not necessitate cutting your ties to your old life – you can make new friends and new connections, while also keeping your old friends and your old connections. Staying in touch with your old world and maintaining positive relationships will, in fact, be very beneficial for you when moving to another state without a job – you’ll have the support of family and friends even though you’re far away, you’ll get great references from your former employers, and you may even get job leads through old connections.

It is, therefore, in your best interest to keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, keep in touch with former coworkers, and stay on good terms with former employers.

It is even more important to stay connected with old friends, of course – talk on the phone, exchange e-mails, chat over VoIP, interact on social media, etc. There are plenty of easy ways to keep friends and family in-the-loop on your new life, share your experiences and thoughts with them, ask for advice, and keep your meaningful relationships alive.

Consider freelancing and part-time jobs

Finding a job in a new city can take a long time – your industry may not be hiring at the time of your move, there may be too much competition, you may not get any good leads, etc. You can’t afford to stay without a job for too long though – you need to work so you can support yourself in your new state.

So, you may have to take any work you find and work in various different fields – or even in the gig economy – before you manage to land a job that suits your skills and that you’re passionate about:

• Check out temporary and part-time positions in your new city – a micro job will bring in some much-needed income, introduce you to new people, enrich your experience, and teach you new skills. Gigs can be a great way to gain exposure and ease your finances until you find a job that you like;
• Try freelancing – If you’ve got good writing skills or good technical skills, you can earn a living through freelancing – you can work for different companies on a project basis, so you have an income while looking for permanent employment. Blogging, transcribing, editing, marketing, programming, web designing, etc. are all wonderful options to make money while searching for your dream job.

One final piece of advice: Make sure you have a backup plan! You may know how to move without a job and how to increase your odds of success (thanks to the expert tips above), but you never know what will actually happen when you do make the move – you need an exit strategy, so you can move forward if things don’t work out as you hoped.