How would getting an out of state engineering job affect my future prospects?

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crunchercrunch

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I am applying to multiple jobs in MEP engineering across the country. I have some warm leads and I was wondering how that would affect me in the future if I were to take an offer out of state. Would future employers be turned off by the fact that I am designing under different codes and regulations?

On a different note, how would I improve my chances of landing an offer out of state? It seems like companies prefer local candidates, even though I emphasize that I am looking to relocate.

 
Where are you at and where are you applying to? Do you have your license yet? Are you just sending out mass emails with your information? Following up on all resumes sent with phone calls?

MEP firms can operate in one state but conduct business across the country. At the last MEP firm I was at in Kentucky we did work from Miami Florida all the way to Seattle Washington so that isn't a big deal. Your issue is going to be to get someone on the phone to take you seriously when you send your resume in and that you aren't just firing off 100 resumes a day.

 
many don't want to pay for relocation expenses so if you aren't looking for help to move then that might be something to bring up

 
Where are you at and where are you applying to? Do you have your license yet? Are you just sending out mass emails with your information? Following up on all resumes sent with phone calls?

MEP firms can operate in one state but conduct business across the country. At the last MEP firm I was at in Kentucky we did work from Miami Florida all the way to Seattle Washington so that isn't a big deal. Your issue is going to be to get someone on the phone to take you seriously when you send your resume in and that you aren't just firing off 100 resumes a day.


many don't want to pay for relocation expenses so if you aren't looking for help to move then that might be something to bring up

I'm in Southern California, looking to either NY or Chicago because of family. I have my license and I understand that some states (like NY) don't have comity rules. I'm not sending out mass emails. I'm actually applying for large MEP firms at EE positions. I have stated on my resume that I am looking to relocate. I have not bothered with phone follow ups because I used to do that, and they would often just say that they will get back to me if they decide to move forward with my candidacy. I've also tried this with LinkedIn, where I would contact a recruiter of the said company, but they would just tell me to apply online. Is there a strategy involved to get in touch with the right person?

And if relocation expenses are brought up, I would usually say that I don't require them to cover if, if they sound hesitant to.

 
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Network and find someone within the company that you have a connection with. When dealing with larger firms you usually have to deal with their online recruitment systems and your resume could be getting tossed out for whatever reason and human eyes aren't actually seeing it (your current location for example).

You could:

Use address of your family member when applying for these positions

Visit family and try to get an in person meeting with someone that works there. Research people on linkedin that you may have some sort of connection with (alumni, same high school, i dunno)

Get a job at a smaller firm then apply/network to get in at a larger firm.

You need to circumvent the online application process somehow

 
The fear of relocation expenses would probably be your biggest obstacle that I could see.

On the flip side, I moved out of state for four years and then came back. It didn't do any harm career-wise for me.

 
I think mostly your fear of moving out of state, getting out the comfort zone is the greatest fear for almost everyone including me. I have move from KY to NC to MD then to VA for my short career due to job...it give me a chance to see other part of the country. Eventually I would love to move to Oregon

 
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