What is TechValleyConnect?

TechValleyConnect is a consortium of PhD-hiring employers in the Capital Region with the focus of providing relocation resources for new and recent hires and their families. The organizations belonging to the consortium will commit to informational interviews for ‘accompanying spouses’ of hired PhDs. This will serve as a valuable recruitment as well as a retention tool.

How can this resource be beneficial to my family?

Moving into a new area, can be stressful and time consuming for professionals with attending to all the minute details involved with relocation. TechValleyConnect is designed to eliminate a good portion of that stress by providing a coordinator who can address each family’s specific relocation needs. From swimming lessons to special needs resources for children to finding a veterinarian, realtor, bank, health food store, doctor, dentist and local gymnasium for adults, our coordinator is on-call to make this transition as smooth and efficient as possible.

How will this resource work?

During the interview process and even before the actual onsite interview, each organization will have a point person who will contact our TechValleyConnect coordinator to exchange the candidate’s contact information and schedule a half-hour session to meet with them during their visit. Our coordinator will, provide the candidate with a customized interview to ascertain specific needs of the family during the relocation process. During this interview, if the candidate has requested information on available postings for a partner, informational interviews will be set up with area employers.

What is an ‘informational interview’?

An informational interview guarantees a face to face with a senior level managerial person in the specific field of the applicant. Although the interview does not guarantee a position, it offers valuable elements from advice regarding the local landscape of this particular field of study, projecting when there may be openings, possible referrals to those in the field who may be able to further assist with job search, invaluable networking and the all important face to face which becomes a powerful tool in the effort to making in-roads in a new area.

How will the customized interview be different from the information provided on the website?

The interview is a confidential exchange offering the candidate and their family an opportunity to ask questions which they may find uncomfortable or inappropriate in a professional setting. For example, if there is a child with special needs or a medical condition, they may want to make sure there are appropriate medical facilities available. The website, however is equally as valuable. It will provide access to each core partners foreseeable postings for the upcoming year. With advance knowledge that there may be an available job for a spouse in their field, in the near future the original hire may find their offer more desirable.

If the PhD hired has a partner/spouse who is NOT a PhD, will this resource be effective landing an networking interview?

Yes. TechValleyConnect will have recruiters in place to along with our own network through the local Chamber and Center for Economic Growth to put out a search and ascertain similar interviews. Although not guaranteed, every effort will be made to find the appropriate professionals to connect the partner with.

Are there any specific accommodations made for international hires?

Yes. There are relocation professionals with whom TechValleyConnect have aligned themselves to handle the specific details needed to address both cultural and language issues to make a smooth transition. These professionals are proficient at transitioning internationals; from banking documents to driver’s licenses, their expertise will eliminate what can be a very time consuming process for people entering a new country.

Will there be follow-up after the initial move to the region?

Yes. Our TechValleyConnect coordinator will check in with the family at 3-, 6- and 9-month intervals and will make themselves available for any questions during the first year after the initial hire.

How will the TechValleyConnect coordinator be most effective?

By setting up visits with local real estate firms familiar with the relocation process, TechValleyConnect will eliminate much of the running around many experience when moving to a new area. Visits to schools can be arranged as well as elder care facilities and other resources for children. Providing a ‘go-to’ person puts a very time consuming process into the efficient hands of someone who has access to all the answers. For PhDs, whose time is at a premium, TechValleyConnect can be just ‘what the doctor ordered!’