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How to handle an out of state job search? Resume tips Looking for a job is hard enough, applying for a job that is in another state is even harder. It can seem impossible and it can come with a whole load of stress but rest assured it can be done. Many have done it and many more will. Here a few resume tips on how to handle an out-of-state job search. How to list your address? When hunting for a new job, your address can be a determinate as to whether you are considered for a phone or face to face interview. Some recruiters find an out-of-state address discouraging and may not even put into consideration a resume with an address that is miles away. Of course, their reasons for this are valid. An out-of-state candidate is not readily available for interviews, and if they are, there are travel expenses involved or even relocation costs. It's all a hassle and some employers would rather not deal with it. Below is a list of ways to have your resume eligible for consideration like you are a local applicant. In your resume templates, in the header where your address is supposed to be, you can choose to fill out the following information. The first two options below are not quite convincing but the third option is highly recommended and comes with very little risk. Lie You can choose to use a friend's or family member's address who lives in that city where the job is listed. Or even just list the city without a street address. Perhaps even flat out make up an address, after all, potential employers hardly send anything through the mail anymore. Now, this may seem quite convenient, and it may actually work but the potential drawbacks outweigh any positive outcome you can expect. First of all, you cannot hide everything. Let's say you have used a local friend or family member's address. Your actual phone number is still not local and you cannot leave it blank otherwise it would all be for nothing. Secondly, if you do get a phone interview and the recruiter asks to meet in person. You will have to cover all the travel expenses. Plus, there is the added pressure of the fact that the recruiter actually thinks you are a local. It even gets more rueful if the recruiter asks for multiple face to face interviews. Lastly, in case you are offered the job, the recruiter may mail the offer letter to the address you provided in your resume. It is risk-free if the address you listed is that of a friend or family member, they will probably get it to you, but if the address you used is fake, it's pure trouble and one more thing to worry about. There is also the possibility of losing out on any relocation assistance the company can offer since they already think you are a local resident. Tell it like it is You can also choose to simply list your actual out-of-state address. They say honesty is the best policy. And it is true but when you are applying for a job in another state, it can come at a cost. Some employers will not even look at a resume by someone who lives in another state when there are local candidates. If you decide to be transparent and honest about your location, this is a risk you will have to take, but if you do it cleverly you can leverage it to your advantage. For example, you may find employers who are open to recruiting people that are not local and come with a fresh perspective on the company. So to have your resume sighted by such an employer, you will have to be highly enthusiastic about the city and the company. Show that you are excited about the position, company, and city. Give unique ideas about the company or position and let your personality shine out. In your cover letter, you can say that you are open to relocation and also talk about why you would find relocating to that specific city exciting. If you are convincing enough the employer will be encouraged to consider you for the job. All the same, it is good to start out your job search with honesty, but if you get to a place where you are not getting enough phone interviews and responses. Here is where the third option comes into play. Explain that you're going to relocate Instead of listing your address, in that space where the address should be, you can say that you are going to relocate to that city where the job is listed. Explain that the move is already in process and it helps to add a specific date. It can be something like, "Relocating to Portland in August". This removes the risk of having your resume written off by a recruiter because of an out-of-state address. It allows you fairground like the local applicants without having to lie. Techniquely, it's not the whole truth so you will have to be convincing about your relocation plans. The employer should be convinced that getting the job is not the main determinant towards your relocation. In fact, if you do get a phone interview the recruiter will ask you why you are relocating. This is something you should think about beforehand and by the time you get to the interview, you have a convincing answer to give. As an out-of-state applicant, even one who is presumably going to relocate, you have so much more to prove. Do your research about the company and the job. Include information specific to the job title, and the company. Basically, give the company a reason to want you on their payroll. In conclusion, the hustle of finding an out-of-state job doesn't stop at just figuring out the right way to list your address on your resume. Everything in your resume should be appealing, exciting, and genuine. The biggest asset you have when applying for jobs that are in another state are your contacts. Reach out to any contacts you have in that state for recommendations and connections. Most importantly, do not be discouraged, stay positive and clear-headed.