Out-of-State Resumes

Applying to jobs in Boston and living out-of-state can be challenging. Applicants often feel as if their resumes are not being considered with an address outside of Massachusetts. So when sending out your resume to companies in the Boston area, what can you do to get the interview?

One thing NOT to do is mislead the employer by writing in a friend's address on the top of your resume. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot and have to explain why your resume is inaccurate.

Be honest and briefly explain in an email or your cover letter that you live out-of-state and include some dates when you'll be in Boston to schedule interviews. Provide reasonable time parameters that are coming up as well as a few weeks out. The point of providing dates upfront is making it easy for an employer to set up an interview with you.

If you decide not to take this approach, some recruiters suggest summarizing your most recent experience at the top of the resume and labeling it "relative skills summary" or "qualifications." In this section include your willingness to relocate to the Boston area, your most pertinent professional experience as it relates to the job at hand and highlight your strongest skill sets.

Remember to be as personalized and thoughtful as possible when sending out your resume. If you use an online job site you are often not given the opportunity to write a personalized email but when given the chance, find out the name of the person hiring and address your email to him or her directly.

For a personalized review of your resume contact us today!