Q: I am a recent college graduate from Arizona State University who is looking to relocate to the Boston area. I graduated with an art history degree and a minor in anthropology and I have a vast background of customer service experience. I have been applying for jobs in the non-profit, marketing and arts sectors in the Boston area but I am still confused as to how I find a job in a place where I have never lived before. I have a ton of skills and am willing to learn but how do get my foot in the door and find an employer that can trust somebody with entry level experience?


A: Your job search in the Boston area will be a greater challenge but one that can be successful. A few tips that will increase your success:

1. Use social media to your advantage. Create an account on LinkedIn. Learn how it works. Join groups on LinkedIn that further your connections in Boston. Create a Twitter account. Begin following job sites and Boston-centric sites. If you are targeting specific employers, follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.

2. Research alumni connections and associations in the Boston area. Talk to your professors about contacts that they may have in the Boston area.

3. There are several job posting sites that have a focus on non profits jobs. Idealist.org is one to think about visiting frequently. Check other sites as well.

4. Think about buying a cell phone with a Boston-base phone number for job hunting.

5. Be clear that you don’t expect a prospective employer to pay for your relocation. The thought of a relocation expense may scare them off. Let them know you could relocate quickly.

6. Make sure that you have video chatting capability in case they invite you to interview using this type of technology.

7. Like other job seekers, you should ensure that your resume is crisp, error-free and well designed. Your resume should not exceed one page.

8. Also make sure that your resume includes key words which are desirable for your target industry and/or target employers.

9. If possible, travel to Boston and try to fill that time period with a jam-packed schedule of interviews and/or networking meetings.

10. If you know where you plan to live and can use that address, begin using that address on your resume. A local address conveys that you are serious about relocating.


Job hunting from a distant location can be daunting but not impossible.