Young adults in Chattanooga (Knoxville, Huntsville: insurance, how much, house)

[southernraised]

Hi, I know this thread isn't as busy as some, but everyone seems to be very nice and helpful, so I am hoping somebody can give me some information. Let me give you a little background info: I'm a recent college graduate (B.S. Human Development Family Studies-I had thought about a career in counseling), and I am going to be working on my MBA online through the University of North Alabama. In the meantime, I'm looking for a change in scenery because I've lived my whole life in Alabama, yet Chattanooga is not very far, just a couple of hours, from where I live now, and I don't want to be too far from family.

I'm 23 and I would be looking for entry-level positions in business, marketing, retail, or hospitality. However, I am open to almost anything. What is the job market like in Chattanooga? What are the main industries? Is there a social scene for young singles? I realize it's not as big or "booming" as Nashville, or Atlanta, or bigger cities like that, but I would like to at least be able to meet and socialize with other young adults. Is there affordable housing (cheap) in decent areas? Obviously, I'm just starting out and probably won't make a whole lot, but I still want to live in a safe area.

Thank you

[aad2h]

Hi, I know this thread isn't as busy as some, but everyone seems to be very nice and helpful, so I am hoping somebody can give me some information. Let me give you a little background info: I'm a recent college graduate (B.S. Human Development Family Studies-I had thought about a career in counseling), and I am going to be working on my MBA online through the University of North Alabama. In the meantime, I'm looking for a change in scenery because I've lived my whole life in Alabama, yet Chattanooga is not very far, just a couple of hours, from where I live now, and I don't want to be too far from family.

I'm 23 and I would be looking for entry-level positions in business, marketing, retail, or hospitality. However, I am open to almost anything. What is the job market like in Chattanooga? What are the main industries? Is there a social scene for young singles? I realize it's not as big or "booming" as Nashville, or Atlanta, or bigger cities like that, but I would like to at least be able to meet and socialize with other young adults. Is there affordable housing (cheap) in decent areas? Obviously, I'm just starting out and probably won't make a whole lot, but I still want to live in a safe area.

Thank you

I am not sure how much help I can give, but I am 24, graduated from college in December 2006 and just moved to Chattanooga in December of 2007 for a job after working in the town in which I went to college for a year. I work in Health Promotion and am actually looking to go back to grad school in the near future for counseling or social work. My parents are only 2 hours away from me as well- in Birmingham, which is one of the reasons I chose to move here.

With all that being said...I like Chattanooga- I think it is a beautiful city with a lot of great things happening as far as growth and livability. Cost of living is pretty affordable here, I have found, and people are generally friendly. I am sure that you would enjoy the low cost of living and close proximity to family, and other cities (Atlanta, Nashville, Huntsville, Birmingham, Knoxville all within a couple hours) as I have. However, I am not really sure how much you will enjoy it on the young adults scene. There is a young professionals association that I have just found out about and may look into, but I have noticed and heard from natives that many people who are from here or who go to UTC leave after graduation to cities with more job opportunities. I don't know a whole lot about the job market here, but at the church I go to I often here many people who have trouble finding work or jobs that pay well here. They may not be looking in the right places, and like I said I am new here so I don't have a lot of insight, but it does seem that this is not the greatest place for job growth and advancement for a young professional.

I think the main industries may be tourism (aquarium, imax, etc) and insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Unum here- but I'd need more info on this one to make a definite statement. Hamilton Place mall is quoted as the biggest mall in the state, so I am sure you can find entry level retail work there. Not sure about the area enough to give you any ideas on marketing and business. You could try looking for entry level administrative work at the college here or the many others in town- Chatt State, Southern Adventist, Covenant College.

I have enjoyed my time here, but I am looking to make this a stepping stone and move on pretty quickly because of the lack of young professional networks here and my doubts about upward mobility in the job market. The town is very family oriented, and I feel our age group is sort of left out in that there are mainly either college students or families. There are LOTS of outdoor things to do here, so if you enjoy that, you will definitely find lots to do and meet tons of people!

Chattanooga has its pros and cons, with any city, and what doesn't work for someone may be perfect for someone else! I hope this helped some- good luck!

[sunnygt]

Hi! My husband and I just moved up this way (we work in Dalton) just a few months back. Our company has also recruited a few of our Atlanta friends. We are right in the same boat with everyone here thus far, in that we do not really know anyone and are trying to meet people our own age here in Chattanooga. We are really enjoying it here thus far, as we are from atlanta originally and the traffic and big city life was starting to become enough.

Seems like there needs to be some organization of the young adults, some kind of meeting group?

[Jon F Moss]

there's a group in town called YPAC. Young Professional Adults that you may be interested. Check them out at ypac NOW

If anyone's interested in a congregation of 20-something year olds...check out Starbucks/Sheraton Read House this Saturday night at 7pm. Friend of ours will be serving up some acoustic treats on his guitar.

[PepeDog]

ok i can help on the night life aspect. I recently turned 21, and there are plenty of great bars to go to. Chattanooga Billiards club is really fun. On sunday and tuesday they have $2 pint beers. awesome. also Fox and the hound has $2 pints on tuesday and its always packed. Wednesday is ALWAYS midtown. They have dollar beers and its always crowded. Thursday till saturday is usually t bones, which is a hole in the wall bar by the football stadium on main st. Also top of the dock (off access rd) is REALLLY fun. its on the water, obviously, and its part inside and part outside. also they have corn hole, which is awesome. as for clubs, electric cowboy was voted best place in chattanooga to dance. they play great music.
hope this helped!

[Jon F Moss]

Originally Posted by PepeDog

ok i can help on the night life aspect. I recently turned 21, and there are plenty of great bars to go to. Chattanooga Billiards club is really fun. On sunday and tuesday they have $2 pint beers. awesome. also Fox and the hound has $2 pints on tuesday and its always packed. Wednesday is ALWAYS midtown. They have dollar beers and its always crowded. Thursday till saturday is usually t bones, which is a hole in the wall bar by the football stadium on main st. Also top of the dock (off access rd) is REALLLY fun. its on the water, obviously, and its part inside and part outside. also they have corn hole, which is awesome. as for clubs, electric cowboy was voted best place in chattanooga to dance. they play great music.
hope this helped!

glad you chimed in....some of us are home tucked away by 9pm most nights. There seems to be an active nightlife with live music and shows for the adventurous.

Hopefully there is more to being young, single and fabulous here in Chattanooga than dollar beers and jello shots.

Back to the OP, as for the forum here not being as active...it could be that we're outside being active in our vibrant city rather than parked in front of our computers all day. Except for me of course

[x_doug_x]

A little late to be posting, but I recently moved here from Florida aproximately 6 months ago or so. The weekends when i'm not working I like to go to Electric Cowboy which was also mentioned in this thread. The Drink is ok too. I have yet to travel downtown and see what it was like. but i'm 23 and that's pretty much where i go. the fox and the hound as stated is ok, and some of the bars around here are ok too.