Blue collar jobs in Charleston? (North Charleston, Union: credit, hotels, transfer)

[euroscope]

Hello, my name is Jim. I would really appreciate it if anyone could help me with my questions. I am thinking of moving to Charleston from the Philadelphia area and the absolute decision maker for me is my ability to get a certain type of job. I'm 32, I don't have a degree and I have spent too much time working for a small food store without benefits. I feel like my only out (because of no degree and a lame resume) is to get my foot in the door with a strong company and work my way up. I want to work in the electrical or cable/internet industry (or maybe HVAC). Philadelphia is loaded with these types of blue collar jobs with large/strong companies for entry level positions but I simply don't want to live here anymore. I've had options to work as an electrician for Amtrak and the IBEW electrician's union or to install cable with Comcast. At 32 I can't afford to start a new career path with a small mom and pop business, I need good benefits, ongoing company training, promotions, etc. Do a lot of these jobs exist in Charleston or are they few and far between. How good would my chances be on landing an entry level position in a strong blue collar company in Charleston? To give an example, in Phila. my friend pretty much guaranteed me a job with Amtrak because they had to hire so many people (no experience needed), but the same job in Harrisburg had ONE opening and you obviously had to bring an impressive resume to the table. Also, are there any good unions in Charleston (such as IBEW in Phila.)? Thanks for everyone's help. I always had a huge desire to live in southern hospitality, it would be such a high to be surrounded by nice people all the time!

[DJShymansky]

Charleston.net and SCIway.net would have tons of job postings and employers to contact about positions being offered. As to specifics, I really couldn't give you any. A pull of the top twenty employers in the North Charleston area should help: (courtesy of North Charleston, SC: Existing Businesses)


Existing Businesses

Listed below are the top 20 employers in the North Charleston area:

1. Charleston Air Force Base
102 East Hill Blvd
North Charleston SC 29404-5004
843-963-5608

2. Charleston County
4045 Bridge View Dr
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-958-4700

3. Robert Bosch Corp. - Automotive Group
8101 Dorchester Rd
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-760-7000

4. Trident Medical Center (Trident Health System)
9330 Medical Plaza Drive
North Charleston, SC 29406
843-797-7000

5. US Postal Service
7075 Cross County Rd
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-760-5400

6. OSI
4275 Bridge View Dr
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-308-7400

7. Meadwestvaco Corp. - Kraft Division
5600 Virginia Ave
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-745-3000

8. City Of North Charleston
4900 Lacross Rd.
North Charleston, SC 29406
843-554-5700

9. Verizon Wireless
2401 Mall Dr
North Charleston, SC 29406
843-529-6438

10. American LaFrance
8500 Palmetto Pkwy
North Charleston, SC 29456
843-821-1800

11. Detyens Shipyards, Inc.
1670 Drydock Ave, Ste 200, Bldg 236
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-308-8000

12. Trident Public Health District (SCDHEC)
4050 Bridgeview Drive, Perimeter Center, Ste 600
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-746-3800

13. Scientific Research Corporation (SRC)
3860 Faber Place Dr, Ste 100
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-747-8766

14. CSC (Computer Sciences Corp)
4975 Lacross Rd
North Charleston, SC 29406
843-745-0055

15. Intercontinental Hotels
5101 Ashley Phosphate Rd, Ste 160
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-760-5904

16. Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc.
4500 Leeds Ave, Ste 101
North Charleston, SC 29405
843-745-1233

17. Cullum Mechanical Construction
3325 Pacific Ave.
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-554-6645

18. South Carolina Federal Credit Union
2175 Credit Union Lane
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-569-5133

19. Milcom Systems Corporation
3185 Industry Dr.
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-767-1442

It should at least be a nice place to start looking. Good luck!

[euroscope]

That is good information for me. Thanks a lot!

[DJShymansky]

Happy to help. Hopefully something will pan out.