To Relo or Not to Relo: What Recruiters Really Want to Know

A recruiter’s arch enemy is time.

A recruiter may have 20 job openings and enough time to screen 40-50 candidates via phone on a perfectly productive day. That’s assuming they do zero planning, research, online searching or administrative work that day.

If a recruiter is unsuccessful in finding, qualifying and submitting strong matches to the client in a timely manner, the client hires another recruiter who can.

A good recruiter learns to recognize potential time-wasting situations. In other words, situations that will likely not turn into a hire. A recruiter who misses the signals is one who can’t pay their mortgage.

To be fair, candidates for the most part do not intend to waste anyone’s time, they’re simply exploring career options and are focused on what they want to do next. A good recruiter focuses on what could go wrong and will challenge the candidate to fully evaluate their situation.

Good recruiters hold relocation under a microscope.

Relocations are challenging. They involve much more than the candidate’s career. Moving impacts partners and spouses, children, in-laws, ex-partners and spouses.

Any recruiter with a week of experience has heard, “For the right situation, I’m open to relocation.”

Recruiters toeing the poverty line accept that at face value and hope for the best.

Experienced recruiters who’ve been burned enough to change their ways will ask questions.

There are many red flags when it comes to relocation, and any one of them can lead to a time-wasting outcome and an unhappy client. For the candidate, not understanding your viability as a relocation prospect can lead to disappointment, conflict at home, and animosity with a potential employer.

If you want a recruiter to consider you seriously for a position that requires relocation, here are basic areas you should cover. The successful recruiters (the ones you want to work with) will not move forward with you unless you sound like you’ve hit this checklist. More important, you should cover these items with anyone impacted BEFORE committing to any further activity with the opportunity.

Have you discussed relocation with your partner? What did they say? Their concerns?
Do you have kids in school? High school? Sons or daughters? How are they doing in school? Are they popular? (I don’t ask whether a candidate’s kids have special education needs, but in my experience this is one area parents call out early as a critical issue to investigate.)
Do you or your partner have parents near your current location? Do they need you close by? How does your spouse or partner feel about being far away from them?
Have you been to my client’s location? Are you aware of its pluses and minuses? The cost of living differences?
Have you relocated for work in the past? What did your employer offer you financially toward your expenses? What are your expectations?
Are you a homeowner? When was the last time you had a professional value your home? Has there been sales activity in your neighborhood? Do you know what those homes sold for and how long they were on the market? Can you/would you rent your home?
If you rent, how much time is left on your lease and what is the penalty for ending it early?
What would be your plan in a new area? Buy a home? Rent? Rent for 30 days or 6 months? Would you store your stuff? Do you need to sell your home before you buy a new house?
What other special considerations do you have with relocation that must be addressed?

I ask every potential relocation candidate these questions, and it becomes clear whether relocation is even feasible. Sometimes we table the conversation until further discussion can take place at home, sometimes we discover a move will be too disruptive, but at least the issues are in the open and the client can decide whether they can provide what the candidate needs to make the relocation work.

Candidates who work through this checklist at the onset of their career search will be seen as serious contenders by experienced recruiters and will have options outside their current location.