If you are just out of school and wanting to move to Colorado, read this first . . . (Denver: relocating)

[jazzlover]

It's getting close to graduation time, and the number of posts from young people just itching to move to Colorado is on the rise again. Herewith is some advice from a Colorado native who has spent a lot of years in Colorado--many of those as a employer. I hope the moderator makes a "sticky" out of this. A few things you should know:

1. Don't expect to be alone. There are many, many young people who have your same dream--being in or close to the mountains, enjoying great skiing, etc., etc. That means two things. First, competition for jobs is going to be keen; and second, that wages offered for those jobs are likely to be less than other places. One of the reasons living expenses in Colorado may seem lower than some other places is because the prevailing wages are often lower, too.

2. Minimum wage jobs are unlikely to pay you enough to afford to live here. Many people say, "Well, I'll move to Colorado and get any job I can find until I can find something better." Nice concept, maybe, but expect to be going financially backwards during the "minimum wage" period, which--given the weakening economy--may linger for you quite awhile. Also, if you are applying for many types of "entry-level" jobs, expect to be competing with aliens--legal or otherwise--who may be willing to accept less pay than you or be able to live in more austere living conditions than you may wish to tolerate (i.e., six or more people living in a 1BR condo, for example). This is ESPECIALLY true in the resort areas.

3. The "good old boy" network is alive and well in Colorado. Despite the tremendous growth in Colorado in the last 10-20 years, it is still a relatively small state in population. Many of the state's employers are small businesses with quite a network of communication. In many cases, especially in the smaller areas, there is often an unspoken bias toward hiring that "local boy or girl." This may be less true in the metro areas, but it may not be easy to "get in the door" as a non-local even there. It may seem unfair or downright wrong, but that is the way it is.

4. Moving to Colorado without a job in hand may be done frequently, but it probably isn't very wise. An investment in time for job acquisition in Colorado before relocating is a very good idea. This may not have seemed so necessary a few years ago, but the national economy and jobs outlook has soured considerably in the last few months, and Colorado will not be immuned from this.

5. Don't expect things to be easy. Far too many of today's young job seekers expect to land a great job right off--at a good salary--and immediately start climbing the ladder in the organization. That is not the way things generally work--and they are very unlikely to work that way in the next few years. The economic paradigm has shifted all across the US--and, again, Colorado will not be immuned to this.

Is it possible to get a job in Colorado? Yes. Is it possible to make a decent life here? Yes. But it is not easy, and it is usually an unsuccessful pursuit for those who are not emotionally, scholastically, and financially prepared to reach for that goal.

[vegaspilgrim]

Very good points, jazzlover. Although are the people who want to move to a ski town and work minimum wage jobs recent college graduates... or is it more like young people with no degree who just want to ski?

Originally Posted by jazzlover

The "good old boy" network is alive and well in Colorado. Despite the tremendous growth in Colorado in the last 10-20 years, it is still a relatively small state in population. Many of the state's employers are small businesses with quite a network of communication. In many cases, especially in the smaller areas, there is often an unspoken bias toward hiring that "local boy or girl." This may be less true in the metro areas, but it may not be easy to "get in the door" as a non-local even there. It may seem unfair or downright wrong, but that is the way it is.

What about someone who was born and raised in Colorado, moved away to go to various schools and wants to come back? Are they considered a "local," or are they now "outsiders" tied to their most recent address? I'll be graduating from Arizona State this May, and then I'm going straight into a one-year MS in Accounting program at USC (located right in the heart of your favorite city, jazzlover! ). When I graduate from there, am I going to be considered "one of them"? Or can I still call myself a Coloradan?

[ryanek9freak]

Precisley why I have waited until almost 30 to make the move. I knew that I had to gain experience somewhere else, until I had enough of it to get a good paying job right off the bat in colorado. Which is exactly what I have done. I just got offered a really excellent job paying almost $60K a year. But it took me 10 years to get there

[WestCoDude]

Exactly. Failure to realize this is why so many people move to Colorado, spend a few years going into debt, ski like crazy..and then moving back to California or wherever it is they came from. Sorry people--if you're looking for Shangri-La, you might want to actually try Shangri-La. This is just Colorado.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Very good points, jazzlover. Although are the people who want to move to a ski town and work minimum wage jobs recent college graduates... or is it more like young people with no degree who just want to ski?


What about someone who was born and raised in Colorado, moved away to go to various schools and wants to come back? Are they considered a "local," or are they now "outsiders" tied to their most recent address? I'll be graduating from Arizona State this May, and then I'm going straight into a one-year MS in Accounting program at USC (located right in the heart of your favorite city, jazzlover! ). When I graduate from there, am I going to be considered "one of them"? Or can I still call myself a Coloradan?

Yes, vegas, you can remain a Coloradan. I consider myself a Pennsylvanian. . and a Coloradan. I agree with most of JL's post, esp. points 1,2 and 5. It's always a lot of hard work. I do not claim to have a crystal ball to predict the economy, but you never know what may happen, for better or for worse!

[rgb123]

thanks Jazzlover...good points.....I was hoping to get more specific thoughts on the other thread (moving to Denver without a job) what are your thoughts on a 31 year old with a masters and 5 years of highly specialized experience? I've always been pretty good at getting a job from a distance -- but Colorado seems especially hard. Are you saying to keep trying that route and if it does not work -- think very long and hard before making a move with no job... or just dont do it?

Any tips on how to get the job from a distance? And yeah....I have noticed the jobs in my field to have a lower salary there.....

[rgb123]

ps -- I actually have not tried to get a lot of jobs in Colorado yet from a distance -- the thing I have noticed is this -- I have been recruited simply based on my resume from a lot of places, mostly California. I have never gotten a call or request from Colorado. That to me was a signal. I have seen a few jobs posted to the national sites I refer to, that are in Colorado -- but I have been put off from applying for whatever reason (lower salary, job description is overly specific to exclude most people in the field or almost accusatory, it says local candidates only etc.)

[formercalifornian]

In my experience, connections or a transfer are the best way to land a job in Colorado.

[delta07]

I guess I was just lucky, growing up in Colorado. I went to school at CSU and never had a problem getting a job right after college. It wasn't the highest paying job, but it allowed me to do what I love, and it was more money than I had ever made before.

I think it really depends on what field you are going into. My husband, who is a nurse, never had a problem getting a job either. Maybe we were just lucky, but I like to think our employeers needed us!

[fombyjambox]

Ahhhhh, another (not so) thinly veiled 'stay the hell out of MY state' rant from Jazzlover. You sir, are very well versed in all things colorado and in so many cases you post VERY good and informative information for everyone. Am I the only one, however, that has yet to see a post from you that is actually nice and welcoming to anyone thinking of moving to YOUR fine state? I mean, it is YOURS, isn't it??? (And no, I'm not from California)