Page 2 | How to relocate with a rubbish job market

Waitingandwaitingg · 2023-08-15T09:53:37+00:00

Hi I'm trying to relocate from London to Birmingham. I've been in London for years, but now for a number of reasons will be relocating to Birmingham. After looking at a number of areas, it looked like this had the best job market. However, after looking for a number of months, there's hardly any suitable jobs at all on job boards etc. And what I have applied for I've heard absolutely nothing. I'm getting really worried as I have to move in the next few months. I've spoken to a few west Midlands recruiters and they've said I won't be taken seriously until I actually move and therefore employers won't consider me! Which is ridiculous as I can't move without a job. I'm currently miserable in my job, so I really want to move on! I know the job market is vastly better in London, but I thought I would have had some positive news over the past six plus months. How on earth have others relocated out of London?! I am mid senior HR, so remote doesn't exist and I would be lucky to get 2 days a week wfh, which obviously doesn't work. Posting for traffic.

Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 15:59

And I do have friends and family locally. I have said this to every recruiter I've spoken to. But they (apart from what I mentioned above) will not consider me.

I actually am a really great candidate with great experience!

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Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 16:09

Frustrating that they are being so short-sighted! I'd be inclined to say - yes I've been working in London but I have accommodation sorted in Brum" (assuming you're happy to take the risk of needing a hotel if you can't get a rental in time.)

worriedandworries · 15/08/2023 16:13

EpsilonMaltravers · 15/08/2023 11:27

Are you looking for private or public sector? Public sector can be more flexible. If you would consider a council job in the Wsst Midlands they are all on WM Jobs website

I was going to suggest these boards too.

bluegreenandcoral · 15/08/2023 17:10

What do you mean by mid-senior? What salary range are you looking at?

I’m in HR in the public sector and there’s no requirement for more than 2 days in the office, in fact some only attend 1 day per week. My private sector HR friends seem to have similar arrangements but admittedly I don’t know the full details. This is more in the 30k - 60k salary range though so could be a lot more junior than you.

Also, I thought it was an employee’s market right now (or so my colleagues in recruitment keep telling me!)

Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 18:10

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 16:09

Frustrating that they are being so short-sighted! I'd be inclined to say - yes I've been working in London but I have accommodation sorted in Brum" (assuming you're happy to take the risk of needing a hotel if you can't get a rental in time.)

It really is frustrating!

Thank you, I'm leaning towards telling a white lie!

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Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 18:10

worriedandworries · 15/08/2023 16:13

I was going to suggest these boards too.

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Thank you

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Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 18:17

bluegreenandcoral · 15/08/2023 17:10

What do you mean by mid-senior? What salary range are you looking at?

I’m in HR in the public sector and there’s no requirement for more than 2 days in the office, in fact some only attend 1 day per week. My private sector HR friends seem to have similar arrangements but admittedly I don’t know the full details. This is more in the 30k - 60k salary range though so could be a lot more junior than you.

Also, I thought it was an employee’s market right now (or so my colleagues in recruitment keep telling me!)

£75k basic

I would love such flexibility! I honestly don't know anyone in HR in private sector that only go in two days a week! I wish I did so I could try and get in there!

I go to HR networking events and have a good sized network of hr friends and acquaintances, and they all are in absolute min 3 days a week, often 4 days. I often find those at HRD and above are in 5 days a week with maybe 1 day a month at home for personal appointments !!

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Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 18:18

@bluegreenandcoral
Also, I thought it was an employee’s market right now (or so my colleagues in recruitment keep telling me!)

Please point them my way! They are roles in London definitely!! But not up North.

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Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 18:20

I am on a thread in the work section (under a different name) for those waiting for feedback. It's quite a busy thread. It seems there's a lot of people looking at the moment and lots of rubbish interview experiences from that snapshot of people on there.

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heartofglass23 · 16/08/2023 08:11

I'd guess they are guessing you are relocating out of London to live with a DP/ settle down/have DCs. I bet they are trying to avoid 2 x maternity leaves!

Employers are shit!

StamppotAndGravy · 16/08/2023 08:31

When I've relocated internationally, I've always used a white lie to make it look like I live in the city I'm applying for and am moving because the commute got too much. You have to switch your location on LinkedIn, sometimes even the office location too, to make it look like you're doing remote from Bham for a London company.

Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 16/08/2023 10:27

heartofglass23 · 16/08/2023 08:11

I'd guess they are guessing you are relocating out of London to live with a DP/ settle down/have DCs. I bet they are trying to avoid 2 x maternity leaves!

Employers are shit!

It has crossed my mind!

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Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 16/08/2023 10:27

StamppotAndGravy · 16/08/2023 08:31

When I've relocated internationally, I've always used a white lie to make it look like I live in the city I'm applying for and am moving because the commute got too much. You have to switch your location on LinkedIn, sometimes even the office location too, to make it look like you're doing remote from Bham for a London company.

Fantastic idea, thanks.

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Shallana · 16/08/2023 11:41

bluegreenandcoral · 15/08/2023 17:10

What do you mean by mid-senior? What salary range are you looking at?

I’m in HR in the public sector and there’s no requirement for more than 2 days in the office, in fact some only attend 1 day per week. My private sector HR friends seem to have similar arrangements but admittedly I don’t know the full details. This is more in the 30k - 60k salary range though so could be a lot more junior than you.

Also, I thought it was an employee’s market right now (or so my colleagues in recruitment keep telling me!)

This is my experience too - I work in HR at a mid senior level and go into the office once per week at most. I have been speaking to recruiters recently and they have all told me that the majority of HR roles are hybrid at the moment with an expectation of only one or two days in the office.

Checkcurtains · 16/08/2023 11:44

Are you sure it is about location?

The job market is very competitive right not from an employers perspective, so a good place to be looking for work as a capable and experienced employee.

YouveGotAFastCar · 16/08/2023 11:50

Seconding everyone saying that it won't be about your location. I've made this move both ways, and location hasn't been an issue either time. Employers will believe that you will take care of yourself and get yourself to work.

I suspect it's your salary that's the problem, and the first company found someone cheaper. Recruitment agents will say anything to avoid having to say they don't have any suitable jobs, in my experience 😆

Can you afford to take a pay cut? There seems to be a lot more HR jobs around the £55 - 60k mark - which if you take off the London weighting from your salary, is comparable. I wonder if you need to be making it clearer that you're aware of and okay with that; moving for other reasons, etc. Although you may still hit the issue that you'd be going in at the "highest" level and wouldn't have progression; so they may be concerned you'd leave, whereas someone joining on £50k would have £10k worth of progression so might stay around longer...

caerdydd12 · 16/08/2023 11:55

Is £75k your current salary?
It's possible you've got a London weighting in there, and comparable roles are a lower salary in Brum. Could you be looking at roles that are too senior for you on paper?

A comparative role on a very similar salary between London and Brimingham sounds unlikely.

caerdydd12 · 16/08/2023 11:55

*Birmingham

Goodness me.

Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 16/08/2023 13:04

Shallana · 16/08/2023 11:41

This is my experience too - I work in HR at a mid senior level and go into the office once per week at most. I have been speaking to recruiters recently and they have all told me that the majority of HR roles are hybrid at the moment with an expectation of only one or two days in the office.

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That's just not my experience or of any of my acquaintances.

Which industry is this?

All of the job adverts I look at say 1-2 days at home. And all the recruiters say the same.

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Original poster

Waitingandwaitingg · 16/08/2023 13:07

£75k isn't my bham expected salary. I'm aware I will have to take a pay cut.

I'm just feeding back my experiences and what I've spoken to recruiters about.

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Ifeelsuchflutterings · 16/08/2023 13:12

When I moved (out of the west midlands as it happens) I put an address on my CV of a friend who lived in the area I was moving to

If you have someone who doesnt mind you doing that it helps. With the address at the top often recruiters etc paid far less attention to the location of my current role

As it happens I managed to get my then current employers to agree to keep me on a 3 month fixed contract at the end of my notice period 100% wfh, is this something your current company might be willing to do temporarily for you?