Gastonia-Charlotte Jobs (house, job market, construction)

[donnag1108]

Hi All,
I was born in raised in Gastonia and after 20+ years in Florida I have had enough. We have secured a home and are moving back the 1st of November. My main question is jobs. We do not require huge salaries but I would like to know is it as bad as I have been reading here? My husband is in construction management and I am an admin. Will we really not be able to find employment somewhere in the general area? We have been trying for the last year and both of us have been told by employers we will be happy to talk to you once you live here. Seems that we could not get a house without jobs and could not get jobs with a being local but we did get lucky and were able to get the house part taken care of. It is just myself and my husband.

Thanks for any info. This is a done deal for us but I would really like to know from those living there now truly if it is that bad job wise??

Thanks!!

[austinsmom]

I work for a GC in Charlotte and I have to tell you that if you aren't willing to move with the jobs, you will have a hard time getting a job here. Very few companies hire PM's who don't want to move. There are many companies you can try though. Some are doing better than others so you need to do your research. Just know that b/c the home base is in Charlotte, that's not always where the work is.

[donnag1108]

Thanks so much for that info. Very helpful!

[kittyskid]

You asked for the 2 cents....sooooo...We moved up here 18 months ago WITHOUT the job 1st...BIG, HUGE, HORRIBLE mistake! My husband has construction/heavy equipment experience + CDL. I've been disabled since 1999 and get $900/mo Social Security. He's been busting his tail trying to find construction work. Now we're considering moving to Canada even though we're both Carolinians! I pray that things work out for you all...We are holding on til the bitter end..praying for work (based on his experience) here in Charlotte.

[LoveBoating]

We arrived here last Oct and I'm still looking for a job! It took my wife three months to get a good paying job here, and once she did, had to fly to Michigan three times (earlier this year) for training. There are jobs here, but not many in my area and they always seem to ask for a Bachelors Degree and/or Certification. Don't have either, so I just keep looking. We may end up moving out of the area and out of the State early next year so we can find a city where we BOTH can have a job.
It is darn near impossible to look for a job in one State/city while living in another State/city!

[LoveBoating]

There was a comment made about "visiting" a place before moving to it. Our response: Not everyone has the money and/or time to visit a city before moving there! Sometimes people just have to take a risk and move or they could keep questioning themselves about a certain area and not move and continue being unhappy where they are currently living.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

There was a comment made about "visiting" a place before moving to it. Our response: Not everyone has the money and/or time to visit a city before moving there! Sometimes people just have to take a risk and move or they could keep questioning themselves about a certain area and not move and continue being unhappy where they are currently living.

I'm sure you would admit now though, given your experience, that moving without a job lined up is very risky? Not everyone can afford to take that kind of risk. Jobs are getting harder to come by here all the time. Our market is very tight and not just because of the economy, but also because SO MANY people are moving here that there is a lot of competition for the jobs that do exist. Hope the OP takes that into consideration!

[LoveBoating]

You're absolutely RIGHT about taking a risk when it comes to moving! However, it was just the wife and I when we moved. People are always telling others in CD how they should have a job lined up before moving to a new area......just how often does that happen????? Employers generally don't want to interview, let alone hire, people who live in another State. Most of the time, the only way that happens is if a person is applying for a CEO, CFO, President or other Executive type position. When that happens, a company generally advertises the open position all across the U.S.. When we moved to Colorado from So Calif, it took my wife less than a month to get a good accounting job (she has a Bachelors Degree). It took me 10 months to find a job I wanted. Here it took her a little longer (but the Degree came in handy again).
It is true that some "families" should not take the risk of moving without a job lined up, but "lining up a job" is the major problem!! Any solutions?

[gizmobizmo]

Like those prospective employers told you, you will have better luck once you are actually here. Most employers don't consider out of towners unless it's for a BIG $$$ job and they can relocate you.
There are plenty of naysayers who will tell you that there are no jobs here, but take that with a grain of salt.

First of all, the unemployment rate is up nation-wide so jobs are at a premium everywhere. Many experienced professionals with college degrees are now "pounding the pavement" right along side the non-degreed.
Second, certain types of jobs can be "regional" so a person will have better luck in certain areas over other areas. If somebody is a professional "widget" maker, they need to look in an area that has a higher than average concentration of "widget" making companies.
Third, people need to be prepared to make changes if they can't find a job in their field of choice within a reasonable amount of time. You may have to work in a job you can get for a while just to pay the bills while you look for something more desirable.

Administration jobs and construction jobs are not regional so I'd say you two have just as good a chance as the next person in a tough job market.
As long as you are persistant, sooner or later something will come your way.

[donnag1108]

Thanks so much for all the great replies! We are going to go for it and we do have family in the area so I think we will be fine. Neither of us has any problem at all taking what we can get as far as jobs go until things improve. We just want a more laid back, less complicated life then we have here and since I was born and raised there it is like coming home. Thanks again!