Sure all of these sites are lovely and it's a relatively nice place to live. However, the job market is terrible (Charlotte: real estate, co-op)

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by BrianH1970

So says the poster with 1100 rep points backing her up.

I've never twisted anyones arm to move here, LOL. But I guess I have helped quite a few when they have decided they wanted to come

[DawnW]

Well, I think you hit the nail on the head by saying that you couldn't find a job with the same pay here.

DH nor I can make here what we made in Los Angeles.....so you have to figure out what you can live comfortably on here and adjust your expectations OR move back and get your old job back.

Dawn

Originally Posted by Karmar

Totally agree with CarolinaB. and this is my experience. I came here a year ago without a job only my savings... because I "knew" that with my 10 years experience, Federal background, Secret Clearance and been Bilingual would be the perfect opportunity to grow professionally. Well guess what? I couldn't find a job with the same pay I had before. It took me 3 months to find something that I didn't even have experience doing, but the pay was reasonable. 7 months after that I made it back to the Federal sector and I am happy where I am right now.

It is what it is!...the job market is slow, you have to be aggressive and use all your tools. I spent countless hours every day, shooting resumes left and right.I also did an experiment and change my married "hispanic" last name to my single spaniard last name and guess ?? people started to call me (just a few). I am not saying that everybody in Charlotte, NC is "judgemental" but it is my experience.

We are a growing city and Raleight too.. that has a lot of people coming in to have a better future. Never give up and keep trying!!!!

Karen

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by nanvas

Sure all of these sites are lovely and it's a relatively nice place to live. However, the job market is terrible. I relocated alone without a job and I feel it's a big mistake. Being alone something can happen to me out here and it's dangerous. I took a big risk on my life and I don't recommend this to no one. At least in NY I knew people and here I know no one. True NY is not much safer but if I don't find a job the propety where I live said I am outta here and let's hope I don't end up homeless. It's difficult to take jobs just to make ends meet. It's not a good way of life. There is nothing wrong with earning a good living. So if you know of anyone who plans to move without a job. Tell them forget it no matter how much mone they have to at least have a good support structure and family.

Really how is this any different that quiting your current job without first having your next job lined up in the same town? The fact you moved just adds to your expenses thus making finding your next job before hand more important.

[nanvas]

Thanks all of you. As someone here said. I may have had it better than I thought in NY and you are right. I got a part time spot at Banana Republic and I have a one week temp spot at a small law firm. I am an admin. and "no I didn't set my hopes too high" much less standards. I have worked for fortune 500 firms throughout my admin. career. I interviewed last week for a small law firm but didn't get the job. I have been here three weeks and next week I should be busier I hope. I lost a lot coming here such as; friends who are upset because I moved and more so without a job. I had a job in NY at a bank last year and quit after one week because I felt I would not hit it off with the supervisor bad move on my part. Just didn't like it. Then I had temp spot spots and my rent was getting paid. So therefore it was foolish of me to run here thinking it will all be wonderful. However, I am establishing good contacts. LPL Financial I have a good rapport with the recruiter and I apply for jobs and she submits my resume to the dept., but I don't get selected. Then there is BBandT I did well interview wise in Raleigh with them and they liked me very much but the hiring mgr. was one month into the position and met no one. The recruiter said he was loosing good applicants and thinks he would need to start the hiring process all over again. Therefore, when I moved her transferred my paperwork down here to a recruiter who I happen to run into at a job fair and gave me a requisition number so I can apply for a position she was recruiting for. I did what she asked of me so let's hope I hear soon. Maybe she will meet me or the dept., will. The recruiter in Raleigh spoke good of me and he offered to help. He said whenever you apply for a job please be sure to send him the requisition number and he would in turn all the recruiter handling it. Bank of America freeze and all has a need for a Personal Banker in my neighborhood. I made friends or lack of a better word with someone who works at a branch and I took in a cover letter and resume to the manager and she forwarded to personnel. They should be calling for an interview. I have also sent my resume to numerous places. I heard on TV last night that Charlotte's unemployment rate is at it's all time highest. So there is a lot of contradiction and no state is "recession proof" firms are putting positions on hold. I hope to get into a large firm that has an office in NYC. So that i can eventually return. My friends from NY all told me don't run away because of problems in employment. I have one friend who was unemployed for a long many years ago and he was homeless for a while until he became a fireman. Today he is close to retirement and survived 9/11. Today he is still a good friend and very concerned about my situation and said if something happens he will come to the rescue and take me back home. I don't know if the will hold up to his promise but it's the thought that counts. I sit at this computer day and night and I applied to a ton of retail stores until banana republic made me a part time offer just the other day. I get 50% off on regular priced items and 30% off on sale items, gap, and old navy included. So that's good from that perspective and if I move perhaps I can transfer with it and continue from there. However, one thing at a time. I have to work long and hard before that happens. There is no place like home. It's where the heart is. I have no family they have passed away. None here none in NY but it feels like family to me. I have friends that I call to hear their voice and makes me feel good.

[SunnyKayak]

My hope is for you.
Sounds like you had or have a game plan so that is very cool.
I know in your field especially in North Carolina that tends to hire people that they know.
Im sure you will break some doors open eventually.

I use to work for Gap Inc. and I know how that employee discount can help alot.
(Just avoid the sales and the outlets lol) Least for now you can stock up on work clothes and essentials til that big door opens for you.
Tip buy there off season items when they go in off season like Denim in June or July and Winter stuff after New Years day. The stores around here are trying to put in their Spring line during that time.

I hope you will have an optimistic open minded approach to North Carolina.
I know it not home that you are use to but it is a new beginning.
Try to not focus on the negative of the area and only the positive of the area you came from but balance them both out if it is worth it to stay or move back.

Sounds like you already started networking so there is hope in that area.

God bless your friend.

[fp1978]

Originally Posted by nanvas

Sure all of these sites are lovely and it's a relatively nice place to live. However, the job market is terrible. I relocated alone without a job and I feel it's a big mistake. Being alone something can happen to me out here and it's dangerous. I took a big risk on my life and I don't recommend this to no one. At least in NY I knew people and here I know no one. True NY is not much safer but if I don't find a job the propety where I live said I am outta here and let's hope I don't end up homeless. It's difficult to take jobs just to make ends meet. It's not a good way of life. There is nothing wrong with earning a good living. So if you know of anyone who plans to move without a job. Tell them forget it no matter how much mone they have to at least have a good support structure and family.

Oh boy, do I know how you feel!

I absolutely love Charlotte. I have a townhouse there and think that the city, as a whole, is terrific. Great weather, easy to get around, and definitely not that much traffic (compared to other big cities). I lived there for two years and in that time work at two different jobs that offered absolutely no chance for advancement and were soul sucking experiences to boot (call center doormat in the finance industry). I finally got to the point that I had to choose between staying in a townhouse that I simply love in a city that I really enjoy while working in a job that was driving me towards insanity, or leaving and taking a job offer in the DC area that has plenty of room for advancement while living in an apartment that is smaller and costs more money. I took the new job and got out of town.

Now that I am in the DC area (have been here for 6 months) I am making alot more money, have already gotten a pretty good raise, and am working on my master's degree. Hopefully when I finish my degree I will be able to find a good job back in Charlotte so that I can move back, but unfortunately I am not counting on it.

[vinebrook]

I sincerely sympathise with navas plight at relocating and finding a job. I too do not have family or friends since my move to NC but I do not regret my move. I did have a job when I moved here. It is a job that I settle for until I could get the job I want. The job pays very little and has had me without a place to live on some days, but I do not regret taking the "risk." We often encourage people to take risk in life, but then when things do not work out we then make judgements about what they should or should not have done. Navas never shared why she had to make such a move w/o employment, therefore, I have no judgement to make. I do state that I hope and pray you the best in your decision as to what you will do next (your plan B).

[vindaloo]

Saying that the job market is terrible is like saying that the theaters on Broadway are terrible if you couldn't get in. There are 50,000 people moving into the area annually. It doesn't mean the job market is terrible, it means that the ratio of people moving here without jobs vs the number of jobs available on the market is overwhelming. Do the math.

[fp1978]

Originally Posted by vindaloo

Saying that the job market is terrible is like saying that the theaters on Broadway are terrible if you couldn't get in. There are 50,000 people moving into the area annually. It doesn't mean the job market is terrible, it means that the ratio of people moving here without jobs vs the number of jobs available on the market is overwhelming. Do the math.

Yeah, that is the definition of a tight job market. In other words, the job market is not good for those looking for work.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by fp1978

Yeah, that is the definition of a tight job market. In other words, the job market is not good for those looking for work.

I guess you might say that if you are a native or have been living in Charlotte for a while, you would not feel that the job market is bad as you would be secure in a position and would probably still enjoy the same promotion opportunities as at any time in the past. The turn over in jobs hasn't changed, the number of people competing for the jobs is much higher. Redundancy isn't the problem, overpopulation is. But you did use the appropriate term, "tight". It is tight but not "bad" as someone used as a description before. As you know, one's profession, experience, skills, resumes, etc. are factors that are critically important in getting in the door. It is very competitiive out there, and the best will survive.