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Arizona Dreamin': Three Success Stories

Unemployment...congestion...crime...power outages...poor schools...long commutes...high taxes...over-regulation. These are just some of the reasons people cite for leaving such states as California, New York, Massachusetts and others.

Low housing costs...nice weather...lifestyle...health...golf...natural beauty...family and friends...opportunity. These are reasons people give for choosing to relocate to Arizona.

Each week here at American Career Executives® (ACE), we hear from individuals and couples who want to relocate to the Grand Canyon State or who have already made the move. Why do they call? Simple. They're seeking employment. What do they say when they call? For starters: "I was laid off at my job in Hartford (or Wichita or Seattle) and decided to move to Arizona because I think there is more opportunity here." "We have vacationed here for years and decided to move to Arizona because we love it!" "My wife was transferred to Arizona with her job and I am now seeking employment here." "I just graduated from college in Ohio (or Iowa or Michigan) and have a friend who lives in Arizona, so I decided to look for a job in Arizona." "I want a job in Arizona, but I'm just not having any luck."

Arizona appears to many Americans to be what California represented in decades past – the land of golden opportunity, the land of milk and honey, the promised land—and, along with that, the dream of a better life.

However, individuals and couples who wish to relocate to Arizona do not know enough about:

the status of the state's job market and economy,
how long it takes to obtain a job,
the compensation rates compared to other areas, and
what it takes to find a good position (how hiring is REALLY done in Arizona).

Our job at ACE is to provide information, leads and resources to find the best opportunities and pay in as short a time as possible.

Resource Careers, a national company that specializes in dual-career relocation services, reports that the national average for a job search is 20 to 24 weeks. That's five to six months without income when you've just relocated and are in a job search! The good news is that when a job search relocation expert assists the job seeker, that time can be reduced by 25% or more! One 2002 transplant from Boston found a position in just six weeks. This indicates that the job seeker benefits by receiving income weeks earlier than when trying to find a job without assistance, and that translates, literally, into thousands of dollars in your pocket!

The Big Question: Should I conduct my job search long distance or make the move? Here are three REAL LIFE examples:

From the United Kingdom, a professional in the golf and hospitality industries, made two job search trips, one for a week, the second for three weeks. Prior to the first trip, contacts were made via letters and telephone calls with key industry leaders in his field to set up appointments. Each trip was rich with meetings, some for networking with industry leaders, others were formal interviews. Interest was developed and further interviews planned. After the second trip the job seeker and his family decided to sell their home in England and move—lock, stock and barrel. Interestingly, in the follow-up interviews after the move, he was told, "I thought you were serious before about moving here, but now we know you are." He took an "interim" sales position for cash flow. He's taken an active role in a professional organization that is providing even more exposure to people and companies in his industry. As of this writing, he has two pending job offers.
From New York, an internet security expert, has been doing the same thing. He made contacts with key industry leaders to schedule appointments when he came to town for his job search trips. He has made three trips so far, and is currently awaiting an offer from a Phoenix company. His plan was to make a trip once a month until he secured employment. By the way, he and his wife also made a full commitment to being in Arizona. They sold their home and rented a house in Grayhawk. The children have already started school and are active in sports. The wife is enrolled in a community college. The job seeker has a small apartment in New York, which he will gladly give up as soon as the Arizona offer comes through.
Our last example is a recent MBA with six years in marketing and operations in a small manufacturing company in the Boston area. After the company was sold, he and his wife, and baby, made the move to Arizona. He had spent the weeks prior to the move working with ACE to determine his best career options in this market. With defined career targets, research and networking, he netted dozens of potential contacts. He reports, "It's all about your network. Phoenix is a big city, but it's really a small town. I found that I was able to get more than 60 contacts within two weeks by being introduced to just 4-5 key people in my field, and that's how I found my new opportunity." He secured a new job in a record six weeks!

Tips for relocation and finding a job in Arizona:

Have a plan and a budget.
Research the market, including salaries.
Schedule job search trips.
If you move, consider a "bridge" job for cash flow until you get the career job.
Have a realistic budget for job search trips (and living expenses for several months if you move without a job).
Contact an expert for help!

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