When we start looking for work – or hopefully continue our careers – we’re often looking "close to home."  If we’re targeting specific companies, we probably already know where they’re located and where they have branches – and may ignore other companies that aren’t where we want to be.

Or, more likely, where we think they are.

One of the strangest things I run into in job searches is that where a
company is (ie it’s headquarters and/or major branches) may not be
where the jobs you want are.  It seems obvious that, indeed, companies
have many offices, branches, and facilities – but it’s also something
too easily forgotten.

Only about half my career have I actually worked anywhere near the
actual headquarters of the company I worked in.  When I’ve done job
searches, I’d find jobs far from a company’s headquarters, and at times
ones that even didn’t have a specific location – telecommuting and
travel-intensive jobs.

This is something to keep in mind in your job search on several levels:

• Just because a company you want to work for – or a client you want to
  work for – isn’t near you or where you’d like you live, you may be able
  to still work for them.
• If you’re searching for jobs at a particular company, search based on
  the job itself – not the location – unless you have specific locations
  in mind.  You don’t want to limit yourself.
• If you’re at a company but want to move somewhere else, see if there
  are any jobs in preferred locations – you may even get a chance for
  some new opportunities.  If you’re concerned about layoffs, it may help
  save your job – but remember you could end up stuck somewhere new and
  get laid off anyway, so be careful.

One more thing to bring up that deserves it’s own paragraph – when you
work for a company, ask yourself if you’d want to work where their
headquarters is (or their headquarters in your company).  I say this
because companies will go through times of consolidating work, and I
find even if it costs more, they’ll usually consolidate at
headquarters.  You may also find that promotions or opportunities you
get can lead you to headquarters as well.

So when you’re doing those job searches, or already working, keep
location in mind.  It may reveal new opportunities – and head off
unpleasant occurrences.

- Steve