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Topic: Moving to NYC -- what to say in cover letter?
| Author | Message |
| missprint | Posted – 7/11/2007 2:09:10 AM | show profile | email poster I'm a recent college grad currently doing an internship in the Midwest. When the internship is over in early August, I'm moving to New York (already have a sublet). Can I begin applying for jobs (copy editing, if that makes a difference) before I move or is it pointless since I'm not there yet? Would it be OK to put my to-be NYC address and explain in my cover letter my situation, noting the exact date when I'll be moving to the city? Or am I just better off waiting to do it all until I'm there? Thanks. |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 7/11/2007 9:33:34 AM | show profile i was in the same position as you, but moved from NH to NY. despite the fact that i was just a 5-hour drive from the city, i still didn't heard a word back from any employers until i actually moved here. there's no harm in applying now, but i think it's unlikely that you'll hear back. |
| foodlit | Posted – 7/11/2007 12:04:42 PM | show profile Here's what I'd suggest. Use your New York address. It's already mid July, so I wouldn't even explain when you'll be in NYC, just apply. And I'd suggest going to www.grandcentral.com and getting yourself a New York City area code number. It's free and this number will ring to any of your phones, and it also allows you to screen and even record calls. It's very cool! I use it and love it as it also saves the voicemails to your email so you can listen online if you prefer. It's also extremely helpful because it will give the impression that you are in NYC and it is very true that you are more apt to get a call if you appear to be local, especially with junior level jobs. Since you'll be there soon anyway, it's fine. By the time you get through the interview process and give notice, it will be your time to move anyway. Good luck! Pam |
| cabaraba | Posted – 7/11/2007 12:38:42 PM | show profile SAVE money... i say go to nyc without a job, unless you're ready and willing to re-locate there within a week (after accepting a job offer). I've heard the whole "put a nyc address from a friends who already lives there..." but then you spend ridiculous amounts of money on last-minute airfare, if you get an interview! i, too am a mid-westerner who is looking to move to nyc. i got a job offer (seriously like a dream!) and turned it down because i couldn't rationally be in nyc overnight (or the following week). You just have save money, move there so you can live comfortably, then seek a job. Opportunities are plentiful in NYC. I am in the process of saving, and moving. I can't wait :) Best of luck to you! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 7/11/2007 12:44:09 PM | show profile The person is moving in early August, which is only a few weeks away, so that shouldn't be an issue. By the time someone sorts through resumes and calls, she can probably set up the interview for early August when she is there. --I've heard the whole "put a nyc address from a friends who already lives there..." but then you spend ridiculous amounts of money on last-minute airfare, if you get an interview! -- |
| WordyBird | Posted – 7/11/2007 1:03:42 PM | show profile Put your NYC address as your permanent address and your internship address as your temporary address. Explain in the last paragraph of your cover letter when you will be relocated. Now for the caveat: Don't expect much. I've been doing that since *January* and have had two interviews. Finally, I just decided to bite the bullet and set a move date, which will be the week after Labor Day. Not that I'm not applying. But I'm really not going to worry about it until I'm there, because so far this has cost me hours and hours and hours of my life, not to mention two round-trip tickets at my own expense to go back and forth for the interviews. One called me back but I didn't sense a good fit so I declined. The other didn't call me back, but that's fine because I really don't want to schlep from where I'll be living to where they are located every day. In fact--and maybe you can learn from this--I'm irked, because they asked for salary requirments in the cover letter and I included them. Then, during the interview she asked me what my salary requirements were. I said they were in the cover letter, which she couldn't find, so I told her, "Well, it said $XX range." Her face fell. My blood pressure did the opposite. I wanted to say, "I'm assuming you didn't ask me to make the trip all the way up here unless you were prepared to pay what I noted in my cover letter." But I held my tongue. Also, there were others who called, but wanted someone within 3 weeks and there's no way I could pull off a move that quickly. The lesson: It's tough to find employment in NY without actually being there. A lot of them want you to start soon. So, apply, but don't expect much until you're there. Me, I've gone from sending out three or four letters a day to three or four a week. I'll worry about it when I get there. |
