BostonWorks - Jobs, Events, and Information from The Boston Globe

Approximately two years ago I was laid off from a large financial institution in New York City where I was employed as a securities trader. This was a job I loved. I found another position, but I don't feel like it is the right fit for me. My desire is to move to Boston where I feel there are more opportunities. Unfortunately, I have found that it is tough to crack the Boston job market. Should I make the move then start my search once I get settled in the Boston area, or are there ways of looking for new positions?

Leaving your job, and making the move without new employment, is a risk only you can decide to take. If you decide not to take the plunge, a long-distance job search presents challenges, but all can be overcome. College seniors, graduate students, and relocating spouses do it all the time and with persistence you can, too. Many people believe it is easier to find a job when you have one, but finding the time to make this happen can be a challenge, and using your vacation time to network or interview instead of lowering your handicap may not make you happy in the short run, but it will have a longer-term payoff.

Both New York City and Boston are competitive markets and filled with opportunity for those interested in financial services. You have targeted Boston based on the potential opportunities it presents. If there are other reasons to target Boston, that is terrific. But if it is for the "geographic cure" of unemployment or underemployment, make extra sure you know what you are hoping to find.

You have been able to find two opportunities in New York. One you loved; one not so much. Have you figured out what is different about each of your jobs? Evaluate the duties and organizations so that as you begin your search you can be as specific as possible about what you want. With that done, and providing you have a solid resume, it's time to start developing a list of potential employers, and the people who can help. Start with your college or university to help connect you with alumni from your field who are in the Boston area. This is also a good time to make connections with contingency search firms in Boston. Finding a firm with offices in both Boston and New York may make the transition even easier. Finally, make sure all your former colleagues, friends, and family members are aware of your search.

Once you have started making connections, you need to remove some of the roadblocks of seeking long-distance employment. Unless you are in a senior executive role, or in a highly desirable niche, most employers do not want to incur travel expenses for you to interview, pay to relocate you, or assume a risk about how happy you'll be if you've never lived in your target city before. So, let's eliminate those obstacles for them.

In the wonderful world of cellular technology, you can have a phone number associated with any area code you desire. Suddenly "617" makes you seem much more familiar and closer to those prospective Boston employers. Do you have a friend willing to "share" a mailing address? Your resume may get more attention with both addresses - one current, and one "pending," which shows your intention of moving to Boston.

Conducting a long-distance job search often requires more time and money than securing a position in your current city. However, often a change of scenery and pace can be the impetus needed to jump-start a new career and life.

I have just returned to the workforce after a two-year leave of absence for military service. Now that I am back, I am not sure how to reflect this time on my resume. I was employed by a large telecom company and carried on their payroll while I was away but I was let go when I returned. Should I list my dates of employment on my resume as through January 2005 since I was still a paid employee there? Or should I have my most recent job listed as ending in January 2003 and then list the two years of military service? I am a systems administrator so a two-year gap in my resume will hurt me; however, I don't want to be dishonest with a prospective employer. I am proud of my military service but I am not sure if it would be advantageous to list it on my resume. What should I do?

Welcome back, and thank you for serving our country. The issue of military service and employment presents many organizational challenges, and human resources staff are still reviewing the intricacies of leaves of absence for active duty.

A good resume has multiple headings, which may help explain your situation for the resume screener. Your goal is to make it easy for the reader to see what you have to offer, understand where you have been and for how long, and to recognize the commitments you have honored.

Your resume should not have a gap. It should show that you were at "Telecom Company ABC" until you were let go, which sounds like January or February 2005. Your position description should include your title and all your responsibilities. At the end of that job description, on a new line, I would list National Guard, your rank, and the statement, "Active Duty, January 2003 January 2005."

You should also include a military section on your resume. In a chronological format, this usually follows your education section. Here is where you would include additional information regarding your most recent duty, location, your rank and role, and the history of your service.

What should an employee expect from a manager when requesting a raise? My salary is substantially below-market. In the past 6 months, I approached my manager with a request for an adjustment. I did a thorough review of my responsibilities and matched those responsibilities to salary data in several different surveys. Even though I received a good performance review, and a slight cost of living increase, I did not receive a market adjustment. My manager never closed the loop with me on why he did not adjust my salary. As a result, I am searching for another job. Can you please advise what I should expect in the future in terms of management communication when requesting a raise? Shouldn't managers clearly communicate their reasons to employees when declining an adjustment request?

Communication between an employee and manager regarding any topic needs to be clear, and both parties involved need to make that happen.

Organizations have different policies, challenges, and goals when it comes to the compensation of employees. Though most employees don't know it, many companies have selected where they want to be ranked in terms of their competition when it comes to paying employees. They may have chosen to be a top payer, midlevel, or at the bottom. All industries pay differently: some companies pay smaller salaries and large bonuses; some offer 100 percent commission; some offer great benefits and average salaries. Most people want big salaries, big bonuses, lots of benefits, and no risk. Unfortunately, that's not reality.

There are some very good things going on at your job, though it may not seem so based on the communication about the adjustment. You received a good performance review, and a slight cost of living adjustment. Your manager seems to be saying your performance is good. However, there may be many other reasons why you weren't offered what you call a market adjustment; perhaps the company's data differ from your research, or the company is not doing well financially. If you can approach your manager from this positive point with a question about the market value of your position, you may get the answer and the action you are looking for.

If you do decide to open the discussion again, the next step is to present this information in a formal conversation, and in writing, so that the competitive data can be discussed, and seen as valid or not. Typically the mode of communication initiated by a manager or employee is the same communication offered in response. This isn't the time for a casual "I need a raise, I'm underpaid" conversation sandwiched in between meetings, or you are apt to get "Yeah, me too!" in response.

Got a question for the Job Doc? Tell us what hurts and we'll try and find the remedy for your career woes, every Sunday in the BostonWorks section of the Sunday Globe. E-mail your questions to or mail to Job Doc, The Boston Globe, PO Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107-2378. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.