Land your dream job: mention you are willing to relocate on your resume

Are you willing to move to a new location for your dream job? If so, you need to let prospective employers know about your interest in relocating when applying for jobs in a new city, state, or country. Without providing this information on your resume, a hiring manager may dismiss your application since you’re not a local candidate.

This article will show you how to indicate that you’re open to relocation on a resume. We’ll go over the following topics:

• How to put you’re willing to relocate on a resume

• Tips for mentioning relocation in your job search

• Answers to other questions about relocating for a job

How to put willing to relocate on a resume

Whether you’re open to moving or you’re already planning a relocation, you can include this information on your resume. Follow these steps to show an employer your willingness to relocate:

Mention relocation in your resume header

If you’re willing to relocate but don’t have immediate plans to move without a job, you can mention relocation in your resume header. That way, an employer will know you’re serious about the position.

After your current address, write “willing to relocate.” You can also use similar phrases, such as these examples:

• Willing to relocate to the East Coast

• Willing to relocate nationwide

• Available to relocate to Illinois

• Willing to relocate abroad

Make the relocation stand out

You want the hiring manager to know you’re willing to move, so make this part of your resume stand out with unique formatting or styling. For example, you can use an asterisk or italics to indicate your willingness to relocate. You can also include the statement on a separate line below the rest of your contact information.

Describe your plans to move

If you’re moving and want to find a job before you arrive, you can mention your plans on your resume. Include information about your upcoming move in your resume header. Provide the location you’re moving to and include your expected relocation date. These details allow an employer to know when you can reasonably interview for the job or start the role.

Here are a few examples:

• Searching for a position in Chicago, Illinois by June 2024

• Relocating to New York City in July 2024

• Relocating to Los Angeles, May 2024

Use your summary to expand

If you want to provide more details about your willingness or plans to relocate, the summary is a good place to include this information. After describing your top skills and achievements, include a line at the end of your professional summary about relocation. You can share more details about your plans to move or explain why you’re considering a relocation for the right role.

Here’s an example:

Driven and passionate project manager with four years of experience leading teams to achieve quality project outcomes while remaining within budget. Skilled at identifying ways to reduce costs with a track record of minimizing project expenses by up to $5,000. Excited about the prospect of moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue new opportunities for project leadership.

Tips for mentioning relocation on a resume

Follow these additional tips when you want to show you’re open to relocation on a resume:

Never lie about your address

Avoid the common mistake of lying on your resume by listing your desired location as your address. A potential employer may discover that you don’t live there currently, and you may appear unorganized—or worse, deceptive—once they find out.

Usually, an employer learns about the discrepancy when they contact you to set up an interview. If you’re far enough away, you’ll have to travel to get there, and potential travel delays might keep you from arriving on time. It’s best to be honest on your resume by using one of the examples above to indicate an interest in relocating. 

Include location-specific details

While you can typically mention your willingness to relocate in the header and summary of your resume, there are other ways you can include location-specific details. Some details you may highlight on your resume for relocation include:

• Licenses or certifications you hold in a new state or area

• Your previous experience with working in new locations or environments

• Your knowledge of local or state laws regarding the position you’re seeking

Provide more details in the cover letter

Your cover letter gives you the opportunity to expand on your desire or plans to move for a new job. Keep the focus of the letter on your qualifications and achievements, but add a paragraph about your reasons for wanting to move. For example, you may mention that you’re moving because your partner got a new job, or you may write that you’re interested in exploring new opportunities.

FAQs about relocation

These are the answers to other frequently asked questions about relocating for a job:

How can you find jobs that offer relocation?

One approach is to choose a city or region and search for jobs from there. The benefit of narrowing your search like this is that you can utilize local platforms for job hunting. Additionally, when you speak with a potential employer, you can say that you were only looking for positions in that area, which can convince them that the move is right for you.

What industries will relocate you?

Even for an entry-level employee, paid relocation is an option, especially in certain fields. Industries that commonly offer paid relocation include healthcare, education, mechanics, engineering, and construction. 

Ready to start applying for jobs in a new location? Make your search easier with Career.io’s Job Tracker, a user-friendly platform to find, save, and track your jobs, all in one place!

Key takeaways

1. You can use your resume to show an employer you’re open to relocation or planning to move in the near future.

2. Mention your relocation interest in your resume header and summary to show a potential employer you’re a serious candidate.

3. Be honest about your current address, even when applying for jobs in a different city or region.

4. If you want to provide more details about your willingness to relocate, you can include this information in your cover letter.