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[mongoosee3]

I was wondering if people have advice about dealing with a non-academic SO job search.

I accepted a TT job in a small town.  I'm delighted with the job.  My fiance somehow missed the fact that I was applying for this job and didn't cross it off the list as an unacceptable place to live.  This has caused some friction in our relationship, but we're working through that. 

Right now he has a job he loves and he's doing well career-wise.  He doesn't want to get a new job, but his job can't be done long-distance.  He's ten years out from earning his BA in a liberal arts field.  He has any number of skills from his current job as a corporate trainer, but he is having no luck with the job search in the region. 

In our discussions, we're wondering if it is because he's applying from 500 miles away.  He is including the info about planning to move there in his cover letters, but I imagine that in this economy there are plenty of local people with similar skill sets.  Several people have suggested using my local address as his when I move there in a few weeks, but we're both concerned about the ethics of this.  What employer wants to hire someone who lies about his address?

Any thoughts on how to proceed or improve his chances?  I've tapped resources in the department who have been helpful.  He has absolutely no desire to pursue any more education.

[jonesey]

What's the area you're moving too like?  If it's smallish, it's going to be much harder for him to get a job there than if it's in, say, NYC or somesuch. 

But, as someone who's also married to a non-academic looking for a new job, the market sucks out there.  Everywhere.

[madhatter]

Exactly this:

But, as someone who's also married to a non-academic looking for a new job, the market sucks out there.  Everywhere.

The real tough question for your relationship is not how your SO can best get a job in your new town; it's how long and how well the two of you will survive if he follows you there and remains unemployed for an extended period of time.

[sibyl]

There's no ethical problem with his using your address, especially since that will be his address at some point.  I think that it might be marginally more convenient for most employers to interview someone who's down the road, and so it might behoove your fiance to add a phrase like "I will be in Yourtown from August 14-28..."

But I don't think that's the main problem.  The bigger problems are (a) the job market is bad all over, and (b) he can't tap into local networks that you haven't built yet.  When most people hear about new jobs, they do so from friends, neighbors, fellow church members, or other kinds of local contacts like Realtors and bartenders.  It's tough to do that from 500 miles away, and impossible when you haven't moved yet and met your neighbors, favorite church, or preferred saloon.

He might want to consider using a week or ten days of vacation time to come out and do in-town research and make face-to-face contacts.  This may mean it'll be better for you to live apart for a while, which is something you might consider.

Good luck.

[thespouse]

I don't have any particular advice other than to say "good luck." I'm currently trying to find a job where my DH is moving to for his faculty position (major metropolitan area), and despite having a pile of contacts there, I'm coming up with nothing so far. Hang tight, keep trying, and hopefully for everyone's sanity the economy will improve soon.

[artsy_122]

My partner had this problem when I was in school in a small town.  Finally she just sucked it up and moved -- made looking for work her full time job for a couple of months and then found something.  I think actually being there really helped.  You are just able to commit more resources to it.  Of course it was tight financially...  but it worked out in the end.  Perhaps he could just move now and then see what happens. 

Good luck!