Looking to relocate ... easiest and painless ways of making the transition smooth

[LuckyTaxi]

Like most ppl in my field we've been hit with a drought for the last 4-5 years. I'm currently a network admin and I currently make $31k. I've been in Philly all my life and I've seen close to everything the city has to offer. I've visited california, minnesota, ny, boston and florida. I love Long Beach and Orlando, but I'm sure anyone who lives in those two areas have grown to dispies their area. Just like ppl say they wanna move up to Philly I tell them not to. Anyways, my fiance and I would rather much do this now while we're still young rather than wait til we're a little older.

I'm 24 and she's 21. It'll take me 5+ years to make $40k so my current job isnt worth keeping. However, considering many ppl would die to be in my shoes, I should be happy that I have a job. But, it seems we both need a change of scenery. her cousin recently moved to OH with his family. Had to relocate and asked if we wanted to go over. He could get her a job, but I would rather have a job in the IT field, which would be tough considering the thousands of ppl who are currently looking for one.

Anyways, I'll get to the point. It's a no-brainer that you would want to find a job before you move over. Or I could just do "temp" work until I find something suitable. "Temp" meaning something outside of IT since I'm pretty sure her cousin could hook us up with jobs doing whatever it is he's doing, which BTW pays somewhere between $14-$17 an hour (about the same I make now).

If i apply for a job online, if i get called for an interview, that's going to be one costly interview. The trip over there and then the interview, which doesnt even guarantee me getting the job. I'm not sure as to how I want to approach this whole thing. Has anyone relocated or consider relocating?

Sorry for the long post, but it's been eating me up inside.

 

[Ameesh]

move to southern california, its the best!

i agree philly sucks, sorry you had to live there soo long.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
move to southern california, its the best!

i agree philly sucks, sorry you had to live there soo long.

cali is super nice, but then I would be competing with millions of ppl!
maybe IT isnt all what it used to be, but I can't see myself doing anything else.

Her cousin moved because his job relocated and he's loving it. His car insurance dropped from $141/month to $61/month!!!!!

 

[mugs]

How about relocating to the D.C./Northern Virginia area? There's tons of tech jobs down there, and an interview is within driving distance.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: mugs
How about relocating to the D.C./Northern Virginia area? There's tons of tech jobs down there, and an interview is within driving distance.

thought about that, but I'm looking for a change in the weather. When it's hot I wished it were cooler. You can put on layers of clothing when it's cold but when it's hot you cant be walking around naked!!!
Of course OH has the same weather has Philly and FL/CA will be hot compared to philly. I can't win, but at the same time, I think I will based my options on where our relatives are. We can stay over while interviews take place. She has a very nice uncle who lives in Silver Springs Maryland. Beautiful place, so Maryland isn't out of the question.

 

[darkshadow1]

i've lived in both philly and southern california (san diego) and must say that philly summers are by far worse...that humidity makes it feel like it's 30 degrees warmer than it actually is. it gets hot here during the summer too, but at least it's dry and bearable.

 

[dderidex]

Well, we just moved FROM OH - grew up there, didn't like it.

Central Oregon is nice - it's *extremely* dry (high desert) - we get 220+ days of sun a year (as in, no clouds in the sky). The temperature is moderate, though - high 90s in the summer is about all the higher it gets, and humidity is ridiculously low, so it never feels really hot. Weird thing is, being high desert, at night, it gets COLD. A 90 degree day will drop to 50 or so at night.

Within a 20min drive of the Mt. Bachelor ski resorts (ski season is Sept - May), within a 20min drive of the Oregon 'badlands', the Deschutes river runs through town, so within 0, 5, 10 minute drivers of various whitewater rafting areas, etc.

Ideal place to live!

Oh, but there are no IT jobs. As in, NONE. ZERO. ZIP. NADA. I'm still working for the company back east I came from (telecommuting).

Unless your employer is willing to let you work remotely (mine did)....you pretty much NEED to find a job first.

Does your fiancee work? (If not....wtf not?) My wife transferred with her company out here - retail jobs tend to let you do that. Indeed, if you are a very good employee that boosts sales of whatever store you are in (my wife), then they are *happy* to move you to other areas of the country - some companies will even pay your moving expenses.

As far as you in the IT field, though....better find the job first. What we were planning (and gladly, didn't have to do) was to have the wife transfer out and move out here first. Then, I'd keep looking for IT jobs out here (using her now-local address - a local address is VERY important in finding remote jobs!) while still living and working back east. I'd move out when I found a job.

Like I said, it's a good thing that we didn't have to do that, as you are looking at 6 months seperated easily.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: dderidex
Well, we just moved FROM OH - grew up there, didn't like it.

To each his own. I've met ppl who moved to Philly and I told them they made a big mistake. I'm sure wherever it is I go, if i do, ppl will tell me it's not their ideal place to live.

What you mentioned is a very nice place to live, but i dont know if my fiance can handle it. She loves the big city, but I'm sick and tired of it. I wouldnt mind moving outside of Philly, but houses/apts are too freaking high.

Does your fiancee work? (If not....wtf not?) My wife transferred with her company out here - retail jobs tend to let you do that. Indeed, if you are a very good employee that boosts sales of whatever store you are in (my wife), then they are *happy* to move you to other areas of the country - some companies will even pay your moving expenses.

Fiance works, but she never went to college and doesnt stand a chance of getting any other job w/o help from someone on the insider. It's a long story so I really dont want to talk about it. If we go to Ohio (they live in Akron), her cousin can get her a job at his place. Not my ideal job, but it should suit someone who has no experience.

As for me, I work for a private school. The turnover rate is high and ppl leave left and right without the board saying "We need you here, what can we do to make you stay." So, loyalty isn't common at my place. I can't transfer, so for me I'll be looking for a fresh start.

As far as you in the IT field, though....better find the job first.

SIGH - thousands of unemployed IT folks I would have to compete with. But yes you are correct.
This is a HUGE decision and I wont rush into things. I could always use her cousin's address in OH if that's where I choose to go.

I remember when I was younger, I looked up to my cousin who was in his mid twenties at the time. He told me two things.

The first is that I will probably change career once or twice in my life because no one really is set out to do one thing. It might be true for some and not for others. I can't see myself doing something besides IT, but who knows.

The second is, if I wanted to move out of Philly, I better start young. He left Philly after graduating college and is now in Denver. His friends all left right after college, that way they can work at odd jobs making some money while looking for their ideal job. Maybe I should've done this and maybe I should do it now.