Think about your existing network (community groups, trade associations, past colleagues, etc) and ask them who they know in your new city – not who they know that is relevant to your search – just who they know in general.

Your question implies that you have resigned yourself to not developing these key networking connections in your new city, or at least to not having them in time for your job search. On the contrary, I would spend as much time developing your new network as you do pursuing the other leads of your job search. Then your network and search can progress in tandem and support each other.

Think about your existing network (community groups, trade associations, past colleagues, etc) and ask them who they know in your new city – not who they know that is relevant to your search – just who they know in general. Look up alumni who have settled in this city. Research LinkedIn and Facebook members in your new city. Join chats and read blogs based out of your new city to get acculturated quickly.

Simultaneously, launch a traditional job search to identify the major employers there that are in your desired industry and functional areas. Canvas the most active trade associations, either specific to your desired industry and functional area or most active for business in general (chamber of commerce, small business association, etc). Subscribe to the city paper, even before you move to see what ads are posted. Search the online job boards (e.g. Vault, Monster) for jobs in the new city and surrounding areas. Once you have some target companies identified, you can canvas your newfound network and get introduced to people who work at your target companies or have worked there. As you can see, don’t just assume that because you are new, you can’t become an insider quickly and get introduced to those inside connections.