Archive for March, 2010

Move First, Apply Later

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

It is the age-old question: What came first?  The chicken or the egg? You can’t move to the Bow Valley without a job offer, but no one will offer you a job until you live in the Bow Valley.  Some employers won’t even call an applicant with an out-of-town address or phone number.  Ever wonder why?

Employers understand that you dream of moving to the mountains.  We all moved here with the same dream.  There are very few people that are actually born and raised in this area.  Here are a few of the reasons it is unlikely to get a job offer prior to moving to the Bow Valley:

  1. There are already people living here who need jobs.  They know what it takes to live here, have a place to live, and have local references.
  2. If you manage to get hired, the employer then has to wait until you get your life packed up and moved here.
  3. There is an affordable housing shortage here.  Even if you manage to get packed up in a prompt and timely manner, you will very well arrive and not have anywhere to live.  Which leads to another interesting question: Can you afford to live here?
  4. People dream about living here, and then get cold feet once they are hired.  This leaves the employer having wasted a great deal of time and effort interviewing, only to have the applicant not show up.  The icing on the cake is that people rarely take responsibility for this decision, so the employer doesn’t find out until you don’t show up on your 1st day of work.  They spend time worrying that something terrible has happened, then realize they have been duped and have to start the interview process all over again.

For these reasons, there are very few reputable employers that will hire an employee based solely on a telephone interview.  If you are applying for an upper level or specialized position, an employer may begin with a telephone interview and then pay your travel expenses to come for the in-person interview.  If you are applying for an entry-level position, you will have to pay your own travel costs.  The better jobs in town are usually not advertised on the national Job Board (www.jobbank.gc.ca).

If you are serious about making the Bow Valley your new home, you should consider moving first and applying later.  Or at the very least, using a local address on your application.  Remember to budget for at least 1 month of expenses.  Even if you find a job on the day you arrive, most employers will have a 2-4 week delay before you receive your first check.  If you are lucky enough to have found available housing quickly, you will need to pay the Damage Deposit and 1st month of rent.  All of these expenses will add up very quickly.

If you are committed to living in the Bow Valley, we would love to have you!  It truly is as beautiful here as you see in the pictures.

Posted in Employment, For Tenants | Comments Off

Moving Tips: Part #1

Monday, March 1st, 2010

So, you’ve decided to move!  Before you even start looking for your new place, here are some thoughts to get you on your way!

  • Purge. There is no time like the present to get rid of unused items.  The more clutter you can reduce, the less you need to move.  Plain and simple.  If you come across items that you haven’t touched since your last move, those definitely need to find a new home.  Weed out your clothing collection. Shred old documents that you no longer require.  If you are disposing of anything that is still useful (just not to you), consider posting it on FreeCycle.org, or donate it to the Victory Thrift Store (3 Industrial Place, Canmore).
  • Get Stocked Up. It’s amazing how many boxes it actually takes to move!  It’s good to get a selection of different sizes.  Small boxes should be used to pack heavy items (books, dishes), while larger boxes can be used to pack light, bulky items (clothes, shoes, linens).  Visit the liquor store to get wine boxes.  They have strong bases so you don’t have to worry about the bottom breaking open when packing heavy and precious items. Also get some good packing tape and a few markers for labelling boxes.  Ask local retailers if they have extra bubble wrap from incoming shipments. They’ll be happy if you will take it away.
  • Get Organized. On the outside of each box, write a number and the name of the room it will go in your new place (ie bathroom, guest bedroom, shed).  Get a spiral-bound notebook and make it your moving bible.  In your new notebook, write down the box number and the contents. This means you can start packing early, and if you need to find something either before or after you move you will know exactly in which box to look.
  • Start Packing. Seasonal and seldom used items should be the first to be packed.  Knick knacks should be next. Leave out a few books and movies for your last few weeks, but pack the rest up. Make yourself a travel toiletry to cover you for the last remaining days, and pack up al the other bathroom stuff.  By the last week before your big move, only the items that you need for exactly one week of living should be left to pack. If you packed one box each day in the month prior to your move, you can concentrate on moving (and not packing) in the last few days.
  • Use Your Luggage. Pull out every duffle bag and piece of luggage you own.  They are great for packing clothes — go figure!  You might even want to borrow some luggage, particularly if it comes on wheels.
  • Reserve a Rental Truck. As soon as you know the date of your move, reserve the truck.  Think about how many people need to move out on the last day of the month!  There certainly aren’t enough trucks to go around, and you don’t want to be the one left on the street corner next to your pile of well packed boxes.
Well that should be enought o get you started.  Stay tuned for Moving Tips Part #2.

Posted in For Tenants | Comments Off