Table of Contents
Are you planning to relocate to a new city to chase your dream job? Or are you open to moving to a different region if the right opportunity arises? Whatever your reason for relocation is, securing a job overseas is undeniably a huge challenge. One typical issue non-local job seekers encounter is that employers have a distinct bias against long-distance candidates. Nonetheless, there are effective ways to get them to consider you regardless of where you currently live.
In cases like these, you must take extra care of your career documents to gain a competitive advantage against local job seekers. And you must start with a persuasive relocation cover letter. Writing one is similar to creating a general cover letter, following the same structure and format. However, there are some additional helpful tips we would like to share in this article to make your relocation cover letter more convincing.
1) Include an appropriate address
Including a physical address in your cover letter far away from the job, the location might be seen as a red flag by employers. Hence, we recommend using an address that matches your target location. Keep in mind that you don’t need to include a specific address. Using a city and country combination will suffice. This can help you demonstrate your genuine intention and commitment to relocate to the given place.
Alternatively, you can also use your current address. In this case, explain your willingness to move permanently. This way, employers can see how far you’re willing to go for the sake of the job, creating a positive impression. In addition, this will reassure them that you’re in for the long term, increasing your chances of being considered for the role.
2) Explain why you are moving
It is a normal practice for employers to be cautious when dealing with candidates from outside their geographic locations. To convince them that considering you for the job is the right decision, you must provide concrete, honest reasons that motivated you to relocate. Are you moving to be closer to family? Is it because of your partner’s work? Or is it because it has always been your dream to move to that particular area?
While all the reasons mentioned above may be true and valid, they are not strong or convincing enough to influence the hiring decision. So instead of focusing on your personal reason or interest, we suggest communicating your professional interest in that particular geography. For instance, you can say that their country has a better job market or a stronger economy. Then, explain why the position is an integral part of your move or emphasize how you can succeed in the new location with your experience and skill set.
Here’s an example:
Although I enjoy living and working in Singapore, Canada’s unmatched opportunity for fintech product growth captured my interest. This has led to my decision to relocate to Canada within the next 2 months to pursue my genuine passion for fintech, so the timing of this job opening is perfect.
3) Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role
It will not be easy to place yourself above all locally available candidates who can do the same job. Because the truth is, why would an employer hire someone from another area when a person with the same skill set is available right at home? However, did you know that enthusiasm is as important as your experience, qualifications, expertise, and other credentials? Hence, showcasing this in your cover letter can go a long way to gaining an edge and distinguishing yourself from the competition.
According to LinkedIn, research showed that 4 out of 10 employers reject a candidate if they do not show enthusiasm on their application. Thus, it is imperative to convey what excites you about the position in this new location. You can do this by showing that you understand the job requirements. Highlight your skills, and qualifications, as well as the value you offer that matches the company’s needs. This way, you can be seen as a viable candidate who’s genuinely committed to working for them.
4) Highlight your relevant experience and qualifications
Employers are always eager to hire the best talent, whether locally or from abroad. To persuade them that you are the best candidate, your cover letter should focus firmly on your capability to do the job. This can be done by talking about your experience related to the critical requirements of the position they are looking for. Then, highlight what you have accomplished using quantitative results. To sell yourself better, remember to include only the most recent, notable, and relevant ones that will make them choose you regardless of your location.
If you have any international experience, either in your target country or other ones, make sure to include this in your cover letter. Then, specify your familiarity with local business etiquette and level of language proficiency. This can help you demonstrate your adaptability, enabling employers to know that you will fit and function productively in a new language and cultural environment.
5) Demonstrate your knowledge of the company
Apart from your experience and skills, employers also want to know how passionate you are about their company. So before writing your cover letter, take some time to learn more about their mission, values, culture, and products/services. Additionally, gain a deeper understanding of their challenges and recent successes to better convey why the company appeals to you.
Once you’ve done your research, describe what makes you excited about the company, the position, and the industry. You can also mention some knowledge about the location or geography and its perspectives for your long-term career goals. To make it more convincing, focus on how their goals align with yours or explain that you share the same values. This allows you to show that you can not only do the job well but can also fit in with their team and bring a positive attitude to the company. Let’s see an example below of how you can do this in practice.
Reading about XYZ Corporation, I was impressed by how you have grown from a small warehouse in Ottawa into one of the world’s leading providers of fintech products with consistent customer satisfaction ratings of more than 90%. I would love to be part of a company that resonates with my passion for providing the best technology to improve the delivery of financial services. I am thrilled at the prospect of leveraging my product management expertise to help you deliver added value to your significant client base.
Moving to a new place can be exhausting, even more so because you need to find and secure a job there. Furthermore, it may be challenging to convince employers that hiring you will be nearly as easy as any local candidate. However, this shouldn’t be the case. To make your relocation and job search a smooth process, we suggest following the tips we’ve shared in this article. If you need further support, we are here to help.
