Time to move to NWA? (Fayetteville, Springdale: sales, real estate market, insurance)

[Kansas Gal]

Hi! I'm looking to get out of Kansas with a move anywhere. My family has always traveled to Rogers for quick getaways throughout the year. NWA has a place in my heart so why not move there?
I'm a 22 year old single female with some college education. I've been working in insurance for four years on both the sales and administrative/service side. What's the job market like in Fayetteville? Is it geared towards technology, medical, etc? I'm not opposed to a job transition by any means, just thought it'd be good to know before taking a serious jump and moving on.
Thanks!!

[Sam I Am]

Big business is geared toward education (U of A), Walmart, Tyson, JB Hunt. There are a number of large-ish and rural hospitals - there's everything you would expect to find in a metro area of about 500,000 people. Although Wiki isn't always the best source of info, this may give you some broad ideas about the area:

Fayetteville

Walmart is, of course, probably the largest employer in the commercial market - and while you stand as good a chance as any of being hired, the competition may be stiff unless you have a sterling track record or a well needed talent/occupation. Here's a link to some of their employment, and I'm sure the others are online as well:

Bentonville jobs at Walmart

Good luck in your search - I think you would love the NWA area, particularly the F'ville area, for your age - if you have any aspirations of furthering your education, you could kill two birds with one stone!

[OurGreatEscape]

My recommendation--check out employment possibilities before you even consider packing up and moving. Tyson and Walmart both have online job listings/application process. Get your resume polished up and start mailing it out.

You've been in insurance? In Fayetteville there are tons of insurance agencies. Send a cover letter and resume.

Whatever you do, don't move and then look for a job...unless you're a huge risk taker

[nmnita]

I agree with both the posters, check into jobs before you move. At least get a feel. I will give you an example or the situration right now. The economy is good but don't expect a huge salary. Our granddauther, who is in her mid 20s and has a degree from U of A has recently gone back into the job market. I won't go into details but she has experience in office management, is very bright and interviews well. After applying for several jobs she got hired as a helper (don't know her title) at a home for disturbed people. Her salary, $8 an hour. I will add, it didn't work out for her. She went back into the market about a week ago, yes, she got a job as an office manager and is very excited. The starting salary, $10 an hour. This is to show you what you will be up against. You can find work, without too much trouble but the salaries are going to be low. Other than that, I think you will like living here, especially when you have visited in the past and know what the community is like.

Nita

[OurGreatEscape]

A local antiques shop in F'ville recently posted a job opening. 40 people applied for the job!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by OldScribe2012

Economically, it's a bad time to relocate...unless you're moving to China!

I happen to disagree with you, depending on the situation it can be a good time as well as a bad time to re-locate. Yes, we all know the employment situation has been better but people are moving and yes, they are getting jobs. We are even seeing the real estate market improve and AR is one of the states that has not suffered from job losses as much as many places. Does this mean, people are getting jobs immediately or can demand a certain salary? No, but it can work. For the person with the right qualifications and the right attitude jobs are out there.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I happen to disagree with you, depending on the situation it can be a good time as well as a bad time to re-locate. Yes, we all know the employment situation has been better but people are moving and yes, they are getting jobs. We are even seeing the real estate market improve and AR is one of the states that has not suffered from job losses as much as many places. Does this mean, people are getting jobs immediately or can demand a certain salary? No, but it can work. For the person with the right qualifications and the right attitude jobs are out there.

Nita

Just an encouraging follow up: property sales prices have increasted about 8% in the past year and we saw several "help wanted" signs yesterday. both Home Depot and Lowes are hiring for starters. Our local grocery store is also hiring, in fact a few at our church just got hired. So, yes, there are jobs out there I know some of the medical offices are hiring office help as well.

[catwoman1]

Originally Posted by Kansas Gal

Hi! I'm looking to get out of Kansas with a move anywhere. My family has always traveled to Rogers for quick getaways throughout the year. NWA has a place in my heart so why not move there?
I'm a 22 year old single female with some college education. I've been working in insurance for four years on both the sales and administrative/service side. What's the job market like in Fayetteville? Is it geared towards technology, medical, etc? I'm not opposed to a job transition by any means, just thought it'd be good to know before taking a serious jump and moving on.
Thanks!!

I lived in Rogers for about 5 years and live in Bella Vista now. I was born and raised in Kansas City but consider Arkansas my home as I've lived here for 25 years. I am in the construction industry and it has picked up alot since five years ago when the business dropped like a rock. You can always go to an agency. There are a couple that make alot of placements for Walmart in the home office.

[Tuck479]

They recently said on the news that home building permits issued for this year are back in the range of when the boom was....and by the hammering from new construction I hear every morning when I wake up I can attest. In my neighborhood they are building new homes everywhere.