Latest / The Resume Room with Fexingo: Resume Writing, Cover Letters, and Application Strategy / How to Write a Resume That Explains a Relocation
Transcript
- Lucas: So, you're applying for a job in a new city. You don't live there yet. Maybe you're moving for a partner's job transfer, maybe for family care, maybe you just want a change. The question is: how do you write a resume that doesn't make the recruer think, 'This candidate isn't even local, why would I bother?' Luna: Right. And it's a real concern. A lot of companies, especially smaller ones, filter out non-local candidates automatically. They don't want to deal with the risk of you not actually relocating. Lucas: Exactly. So today I want to walk through a specific example. Let's say you're a marketing manager in Chicago, and you're moving to Austin because your spouse got transferred there. Your resume currently says Chicago. How do you handle it? Luna: I've seen people put 'Relocating to Austin' right at the top of the resume. Is that a good move? Lucas: It can be, but it has to be done carefully. If you just add 'Relocating to Austin' as a line under your name, it can look like a flag — like you're trying to explain something before anyone asked. The better approach is to put the target city in your header. For example: 'Jane Doe | Austin, TX | 512-555-1234'. You're essentially claiming the new city as your location, even if you haven't moved yet. Luna: But what if you get an interview and they ask, 'Oh, are you local?' and you have to admit you're still in Chicago? Lucas: That's where the cover letter comes in. You don't lie on the resume itself. You set the location as Austin — or 'Greater Austin Area' — and in the cover letter, you state directly: 'I am relocating to Austin in due to a family move. I'm eager to bring my marketing experience to a local company.' It's honest, proactive, and makes the relocation a feature, not a bug. Luna: So the cover letter does the explaining, not the resume. That makes sense. The resume stays focused on your qualifications. Lucas: Exactly. Now, let's talk about the summary. If you have a professional summary at the top, you can weave the relocation in naturally. Something like: 'Results-driven marketing manager with 8 years of experience in B2B campaigns. Relocating to Austin and seeking a role where I can leverage my expertise in content strategy and analytics.' Luna: That reads as confident. It's not apologetic. Lucas: Right. And one more thing — if you've moved multiple times, like you're a military spouse or you've followed a tech hub wave, you might need to address that pattern. You don't want a recruiter to think you'll leave in two years. Luna: So what do you do for serial relocators? Lucas: You can use a functional or hybrid resume format that de-emphasizes the timeline. Group your experience by skill area rather than chronological order. That way, the moves don't jump off the page. And in the cover letter, you address it head-on: 'My career has taken me to three cities in five years due to my spouse's military service. I am now settled in Denver and committed to building a long-term career here.' Luna: I like that. It gives a reason and a commitment. But what about the applicant tracking system? Some ATS software might still filter you out if the location on your resume doesn't match the job's location field. Lucas: Great point. Many ATS systems have a location field that you fill out separately when you apply. That's actually more important than what's on your resume doc. So make sure you put the target city in that field. And on LinkedIn, change your location to the new city a few weeks before you start applying. That signals to recruiters that you're serious. Luna: LinkedIn location settings are key. I know people who got interviews simply because they changed their profile to the target city. Lucas: Exactly. Now, let's go back to our chicago to austin marketing manager. Her resume summary says 'Relocating to Austin.' Her cover letter explains the spouse's job transfer. She's applied to 10 companies. A recruiter calls her for a phone screen. What's the first question they ask? Luna: 'So, when are you moving?' Lucas: Right. And she should have a specific answer: 'We close on our house August 15th. I'll be fully moved in by September 1st.' That shows she's planned it out. If she's vague — 'sometime this fall' — the recruiter gets nervous. Luna: So the takeaway is: be specific, be upfront in the cover letter, and claim the new city in your header. But one more question — what if you're not moving for a clear reason like a spouse's job? What if you just want to live there? Lucas: That's valid too. You can say, 'I'm relocating to Portland to be closer to family' or 'for a lifestyle change.' The key is to frame it as a deliberate, positive choice. Never say 'I'm trying to get out of my current city.' That sounds reactive. Instead, 'I'm drawn to the tech community in Portland and am making a planned move to be part of it.' Luna: That's a good pivot. It turns a potential risk into a story of intentional career growth. Lucas: Exactly. And if you've gotten value from episodes like this — whether it's thinking through a career move or rewriting your resume — I want to mention something. A couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. You can support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, if you've gotten something out of them. It helps us stay ad-free and focused on the content you actually need. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. And we appreciate everyone who's chipped in. Lucas: Alright, back to relocations. Another common scenario: you're relocating without a job offer yet, but you're already in the new city. That's actually easier. You can list the new city as your current location, because it is. No need to explain. Luna: But what if you're still in the old city but you've already moved mentally? Some people put both locations like 'Chicago | Austin'. Lucas: I'd avoid that. It's confusing. Pick one. If you haven't moved yet, use the target city and explain in the cover letter. If you've moved, use the new city. Simple. Luna: Makes sense. And what about the remote work angle? More companies are open to remote, but some still want you in a specific region. Lucas: If the job is remote-friendly but prefers a certain time zone, you can say 'Eastern Time Zone' instead of a specific city. That broadens your appeal. But if the job ad says 'must be in Dallas', then you need to put Dallas in your header or you won't get past the ATS. Luna: So the resume header is strategic. It's not just where you are, it's where you want to be considered. Lucas: Exactly. And one final tip: if you have a local address in the target city — even a temporary one like a friend's place or a short-term rental — use it. That can get you past filters. But be honest if asked. You don't want to say you live at an address where you're just crashing for a week. Luna: Good point. So bottom line: be strategic, be honest, and use the cover letter to tell your story. Lucas: Right. Relocation doesn't have to be a red flag. It can show adaptability, planning, and commitment — if you handle it right.