The Partner Job Search

Question

Hi y'all.

So as my husband starts this job search process, he's been contacting head hunters and companies in the area and throwing his resume out there. Even though it's 7 months ahead of time, he's going to recontact companies in a couple months, and so on. For anyone who has relocated in a struggling economy, any tips or advice that you'd like to pass along for job searching?

Anyone out there choose to live separately from their partner/spouse during MBA school because a job situation not working out?

riverripper · Answer

This may actually be better in the applicant forum since I think there are a fair number of people who will be facing this. Of course you have the typical actions like going through monster.com and those types of sites. Then finding the major companies in the area who hire people with your significant others background and going to their sites routinely. I am sure we all know that a lot of jobs are only posted directly to company's own career website. At least you are being proactive and looking ahead of time. However, its still tough since companies prefer to hire local since they think its more likely they will attract you and also they wont have to pay to relocate you...this is what we ran into when my wife was searching.

OK now the unusual aspects of the MBA significant other job hunt...
First thing I would do is contact the school and ask if they provide any help with the job searches. Some schools have a person specifically there to help spouses find jobs. I know at Kellogg there is a woman who part of her job is to help connect significant others to people that may help find a job. They have been doing it for a long time so they probably know the best recruiters and also will have contacts in many other industries. This can be incredibly valuable, several of my wife's friends got this job way. The students and significant others you will meet are also a valuable resource that should be tapped.

Now something you may have to face that can be a challenge is why are you in the area. Lying is bad, and eventually people will find out the real reason you guys are in the area and you dont want make a bad impression. It may not come up but you will want to come up with your "story" ahead of time. I know people who framed it such that it makes it sound like you will be working for the school not attending it. Simplying saying, oh my wife/husband is starting at X University this fall. My wife I believe kind of framed that I was going to school but my career choices made Chicago the logical long term place we would be as long as things worked out well. She also choose a job with a company that has multiple locations so there is a chance she may be able to transfer to another locatoin if I end up at a job there when I graduate.

My wife attempted to look before we moved but found it difficult to make much headway. We arrived a month before school started and she really started looking at that point. She got interviews lined up, did phone interviews in August, then got called back for in person when we got back from KWEST and ended up getting mutliple offers a few weeks later.

Now the words of caution:
I know there are significant others here who still are looking and a few who lost their jobs alread. It really depends on the field you are in and its only gotten more difficult since October. My wife's company placed a hiring freeze in November and some of friends companies have too, and she also has friends who had offers that vanished. Some are just doing temp work and still looking for fulltime stuff. Hopefully, your significant others work in fields that still have jobs and not in those fields that have tons of available talent but few jobs. Depending on your situation, giving up a well paying job and moving with poor prospects might cause more stress than doing long distance for a few months. You also would have more money that way even if you are paying for lots of airplane tickets. Its a lot to ask someone to give up their life to move so you can attend school, if you add to that them being stuck at home looking for work while you are super busy at school it may be incredibly difficult.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for the input River.

A few questions-
-Did your wife utilize head hunters? If not, why?

-My husband is approaching employers by stating in his intro email that he will be relocating to Chicago this summer, and when asked will say I will be starting school, plan is to stay in Chicago long-term (which is a potential plan). I'm thinking this is a good approach - considering companies haven't been paying relocation fees for awhile now, but what do you think? If he can't get a job, we'll be living apart until he can - in hopes that it won't be more than 6 months or so. But I was wondering, did your wife look very actively before moving?

-How useful did she find Kellogg's resources?

-What are the most active suburbs around Chicago in regards to employment?

Thanks again!!!

riverripper · Answer

My wife did go through one for two of her job offers. One of which was the one she accepted. My wife works in a field that actually had a pretty large number of jobs, so they allow recruiters to place and those people also know of other opportunities. A few of her friends used them too and some went the websearch way. I think companies these days, at least for positions that arent hard to fill, prefer not to use professionals since that can cost them a pretty large fee. It doesnt hurt to use them but personally I wouldnt rely on them completely.

My wife looked but if you cant get a human being and are just dropping a resume or applying online its hard to get it across you are looking. With the job current market for some industries I am sure that people are looking all over. If locally its a tough market then it may be difficult elsewhere. She knew there were a lot of opportunities for her here, so we decided just to go for it. I would say she looked from back home from mid to late May but other than a few phone interviews made little headway. Talking with a friend's wife who works in HR its pretty common no matter what to have a radius from the location they are willing to hire, if you aren't applying while living in that place then its difficult. So if he hasnt found a job, he definitely should use your Chicago address on his resume and applications.

She didnt really use them, she wasn't very proactive with getting in touch well in advance and by the time we moved here and her friends talked about it she was well on her way to getting offers so didnt bother. I know several of her friends got a lot of very valuable contacts. They have the advantage of knowing alums in different industries, headhunters that have done very well for them in the past, and contacts at various companies...here at Kellogg it also seems that jobs within the university are pretty open to significant others. Like the ones that may only be open to internal hires and I think in someways they give priorities to JV's, I know of several spouses working for the university. Depending on the significant others community there might be some valuable people there to help, a few spouses of 2nd years gave job leads and pass resumes along for people

I think that most people work downtown, some in Evanston and this area, and then some do longer commutes. I think that people focus on this area and downtown because of the easy commute.

riverripper · Answer

I moved this from off topic to this forum since I know a lot of you are married and this is something that will be a big issue for many of you going forward.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks again for your insight River.

Does anyone have any experience looking in industries that are hit hard during a recession? Any tips would be appreciated!

Paradosso · Answer

Great insights River.

Do you have any advice for internationals in the same situation (e.g., how did that architect find a job in the US?)?

riverripper · Answer

I think its a little more difficult and if they lose their job it gets dicey. I think networking helps but its still tough. Many internationals dont actually work since its hard to get visa's if you arent in a tech field. Once again reach out to the school and see what they can offer you in terms of help. I know very little about visa issues, there are plenty of internationals on here who work in the US they might offer some helpful advice. Or you could just marry her and let her become a stay at home mom. You start now then the timing will be just about right. :lol:

mbaleader · Answer

Good insights River, Very relevant topic. I was just wondering for internationals, the spouse accompanies on F-2 visa. Is it possible for the spouse to get enrolled to some school and have visa status changed to F-1 or so? indirectly, not only spouse upgrades skill and makes him/her better employable but also gets entitled to 20 Hr. / week work permission!!(hope that way she can part pay my tuition - now that fin-aid for internationals is an issue):wink:
thanks

riverripper · Answer

I know a few of my friends wives are in another grad school or are applying to go, so there has to be some sort of program available. I am not an expert but I am sure an immigration lawyer would be able to answer that in 5 seconds.

fall09 · Answer

Just like you applied to schools,he/she would also need to apply to schools.For the 20 hr/wk part time job,you don't get much to pay for your tution.probably $500/month.

Paradosso · Answer

On this point regarding Kellogg: there's a contact point at Kellogg who will get in touch with your significant other to discuss possible job opportunities.

E-mail someone at the admission/international office and she will redirect you to the appropriate person.

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