Ask Liz: Out of State Job History?

Dear Liz,
Yeah! I got the interview for an ideal job. However, over the last year, I've come in 2nd for several positions. The pattern that I see is that the hiree appears to have a connection and is known to the interviewers or organization. The connection could be an internal employee, a contractual employee, someone who has worked with collaborating organizations, etc. As I am newly relocated to this area, I don't have those local connections, but I'm working on them. Question: what can I do to break through, and make a convincing presentation even with most of my references in another state, and my competition has local cred.

My thought is to put this on the table during the interview; state it as a problem that needs to be solved. (ie: the problem being that I have the skills they need, but not the local proof of those skills). The job requires strong people skills, strong communication skills, facilitations skills and problem solving skills- the kind of skills that are nice to observe in action, not just have someone describe in an interview, so I understand the hiring local aspect.
Anybody out there with suggestions?

Carmen

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Dear Carmen,

Congratulations on the interview! In a situation where one has a real or potential obstacle that has a solid explanation - for example, a break in work history - I'd definitely recommend naming the issue and addressing it. I'm not sure I'd do that if the issue is the 'no local proof of skills' obstacle as there isn't a specific remedy for that. There will always be competition in a job search and it's safe to assume that most if not all of the competition for any job will come from local folks. I'd tell your best story during the interview, one that captures how you approach problems and that illustrates why you'd be a fantastic person on whom to offload the manager's most vexing problems. If you have ties to the area apart from your own short-term residence there, I'd definitely talk about them:

"I lived here in college, and am having fun looking up my old friends now"
"I vacationed here as a kid, and still have relatives all over this county"

If you talk in the interview about some of your reference-givers and paint compelling portraits of them, and the work you and they did together, that'll make it easier for the hiring manager or the HR person to pick up the phone and call those people and get the warm references they're standing ready to provide for you.

Also, as soon as possible [obviously it won't happen in time to affect this interview] I'd join a well-known charity Board or take on some other volunteering role that will build your local network. That helps you in two ways - not just to hear about jobs and to have an in when you do hear about them, but so that you can refer to the volunteering post - and to people you and decision-makers at the employer may know in common - when you interview for jobs you located on your own. Best of luck!

Yours,

Liz