LogFAQs > #889287844

Broken_Zeus posted...

I've specified several times that SOME fields are more region-locked. The majority, however, are not. More importantly, for all sorts of logistical reasons, you don't "have a choice of 10k in the entire country" because -- unless you're like some idiots I know -- you're not going to fly out to interviews on the other side of the country. You MIGHT move to a new area and look for jobs in that area, but that's just locking yourself into another area.

And it's not anecdotal that the vast majority of Americans -- at least 80% -- in the vast majority of jobs have more than "10 employers within 30 miles" (and, of course, you can commute more than 30 miles -- I certainly did). Doubly so because if you're going to college for something specialized, usually there are employers with that specialization in the area.

As for your "numbers game," most people who complain about not being able to get hired in one area wouldn't be able to get hired somewhere else -- after all, keep in mind that places with more businesses/opportunities also have more competition. There are some recessed regions but, if you're going to college, odds are you're going to be nowhere near them.

You're absolutely wrong on this one. If you're working in a low-skill position, sure, don't bother. But if you're in a professional field you should absolutely be looking everywhere. You need to know what your worth, and that comes from applying/interviewing with multiple different employers in different environments.

Let's take programming for instance. Sure, you could find a low-level programming job at some small-mid sized company almost anywhere, but more often than not you're going to get paid a terrible wage. However, if you open your search to the big guys like Microsoft or Google, if they're willing to hire you then you know you're worth far more than the 50k that Joe-Bobs Programming Shack was going to offer you.

Also, I don't know what kind of interviews you're aware of, but I've never heard of someone having to pay out of pocket to fly out to an interview. The general procedure is that they'll usually do a video conference/Skype first (if they don't have any local reps) and determine whether you're good enough to be considered. If you are, then they'll fly you out on their dime and pay for your flight. Sometimes it's a quick turn around to where they'll put you back on a same day flight, other times they'll put you up in a hotel for a night.

Hell, I had one interview that was going out to Southern California and I asked if they could set my return flight a few days later so I could stay for a few days. I of course paid for my hotel, but I ended up getting a practically free vacation out of the deal.

What could you possibly have to lose by looking outside of your immediate area?
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