IT Jobs in Alaska (Anchorage, Kenai: condo, how much, house)

[habanero]

Hey everyone. Long-time reader, first-time poster.

I'm interested in moving to AK, particularly the SE. I have been in IT for about 10 years and would like to stay in this field.

After having read quite a bit about SE AK, Wrangell and Juneau look the best to me. All I really require is a modest house/condo and high speed internet/ satellite TV. Wrangell looks to be too small to have any real IT jobs, but the community looks quite nice.

I'm a single parent, so my child will be moving up with me. I like the fact that she will grow up free, have clean air, and learn to be more of a thinker and independent than lower 48 kids. She looks forward to making snowmen.

Any ideas on IT/computer jobs? I've looked at the state job boards, but they don't have that much IT stuff. I like the stability of govt. or school jobs, but am willing to look at anything where I can make a decent wage with benefits.

[mal_flisk]

State IT is performed with a group called Enterprise Technoligy Services. Still state employees, I belive. Check with a guy in Juneau by the name of Richard Porria. Possible he may know of a job(s) with the state IT people. Don't have his phone number, but he works in IT at the state office building on Willoughby in Juneau.

[habanero]

mal_flisk,

Thanks for the info.

[rotorhead]

I know its not exactly SE, but the hospital in Soldotna was looking for an IT director or something like that about a week ago. It was advertised in the Anchorage Daily News, they have a good website thats still free.

[Rance]

Here's Soldotna, which happens to be very nice in my book:
City of Soldotna Online
Visit Soldotna~Alaska's Kenai River City

And the local hospital link:
CPGH Home

[DannyL]

For the SE Alaska area, you need to try AEG Staffing Services. Check their web site. That may be your only chance. You're a new-comer, and not a "native", but after your first winter you'll be good to go.
I'm in the IT field also, so please trust me on this.

[habanero]

Thanks everyone for their input; I appreciate it very much.

DannyL, I've noticed that the state is hiring for IT as well. I could find no mention of these jobs being for Alaska residents only. They probably hire from outside, as most states do. Does AEG staffing place with the state/city governement or just commerical. Why do you place such emphasis on them? Are they the only game in town/have the IT market cornered? Give me an idea of the IT landscape up there. I'm primarily a systems administrator with alot of experience with Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. I have specialized in network security (firewalls, security consulting) the last few years. Right now, though, I'm doing primarily systems administration and some other stuff.

What I'm really looking for is to work for the city/state/school systems. Better security, better hours, and better benefits.

If I'm way off base above, please let me know. I'll definately check into AEG staffing if I have no chance with the government sector. I noticed that Alaska mentions IT security quite a bit on their Enterprise Technology website. I've been involved with IT security for several years now, and it's one of the things I'm quite versed in. I'm hoping the state sees this on my resume and decides to bring me in for an interview.

Let me know guys what you think. I look forward to any answers I get, especially the corrections for any faulty thinking about the hiring system up there.


Rance, I started looking at just SE, but reading about how much you praise the Kenai area, I'm starting to look at not only the web sites you posted, but some others as well. what kinda worries me is those great little towns eventually getting overrun with too many people.

I'll take a look at IT-related jobs in the Kenai area as well. I'm a single dad who needs decent schools and a good church community. I'll be needing a smallish house with highspeed Internet and good TV.

Does Alaska get good satellite TV channels connections like the lower 48, or are you guys primarily cable since the weather gets so harsh there and trashes the satellite signals?

[habanero]

DannyL,

If things are that bad, what keeps you? What with your degrees and experience, you could do better in Anchorage or even in the lower 48.

Juneau must offer something besides your job to make it that attractive a place to live.

The more I look, the more and more I think Rance and some of the others may be onto something with the Kenai Peninsula or the Valley being the place to make a stand. Being on the highway seems to be making more sense the more I read about it. I like the remoteness of Alaska, but if Juneau plays the stupid GOB network as much as you say it does, then perhaps being on the highway and able to drive to other towns may be a better option for me. I just won't live in Anchorage. Too big.

[Rance]

It'll be years before we are over run. We've got many schools and churches. It's nice. Some like it here and some don't. I love it on the Peninsula.
I can't tell much of anything about the valley, except it's north of Anchorage!

[DannyL]

Obviously you caught my post before I deleted it. i posted a response to you, but after reading it again, saw it showed a negative picture (honest, but negative) of Juneau.
Juneau is the capital (for now at least), and is very political. High paying professional jobs are here. But you got to deal with the "system".
I live in Alaska because I love the state. But I don't plan on staying in Juneau.
For me to be any more honest would probably get me banned. Alaska has it's issues, get ready for a real "culture shock".
But it's still the best place in America to live.