Fort Collins, No Decent Paying Jobs???

[ryanek9freak]

I've been sayin it for years people: Learn a skill that you can do with your own 2 hands, and you'll always be ok. You know what? I went to a technical school, to get my diploma in automotive technology about 10 years ago. I worked my way up through alot of low paying jobs, and now I'm an ASE certified master tech, and let me tell you, there is no shortage of dealships in Ft. Collins that would love to hire me, and a select few will actually pay my relocation expenses, and all to the tune of about $50-$60K a year. It seems to me that more and more these days, 4 year degrees aren't worth a damn anymore, unless you're in the Information technology field, in which case you'll be rolling in it.

[rgb123]

eh. I have a masters in a techie field....just saw an awesome job opening in Fort Collins....so long as I am willing to take a $15,000 to $25,000 paycut, and no job security (only funded for 6 months, but 'hopefully' more). They do require a master's....

So, yeah it sounds great, 'cept that I already think I am underpaid. I've thought maybe it will get my foot in the door there, so at least I would have a local address to apply for other jobs....but ......

[tfox]

Originally Posted by rgb123

eh. I have a masters in a techie field....just saw an awesome job opening in Fort Collins....so long as I am willing to take a $15,000 to $25,000 paycut, and no job security (only funded for 6 months, but 'hopefully' more). They do require a master's....

So, yeah it sounds great, 'cept that I already think I am underpaid. I've thought maybe it will get my foot in the door there, so at least I would have a local address to apply for other jobs....but ......

Well, if you're being underpaid, maybe it's a good thing that it only lasts 6 months. It gives you some a bit of time during which you can try to find a better job.

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by tfox

Well, if you're being underpaid, maybe it's a good thing that it only lasts 6 months. It gives you some a bit of time during which you can try to find a better job.

True, 'cept its harder to negotiate a salary if you take a job that pays really low. I've been advised by many trusted sources to be vary careful about salary history. It would not be a really good idea to take a paycut and then expect in 6 months to go above where I was before the paycut.

of course...I still consider it!

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by Katiana

You, too, need to go look outside of Ft. Collins. The extra time you spend driving and the extra money you spend on gas could probably be recouped and then some.

Seems like all the high-paying jobs I hear of lately are in the high-tech field, I'm sure they'd require other professions in those big industries as well such as reception, IT, management, etc. but they are mainly located along Lafayette, Broomie area and growing along that Denver to Boulder strip of HWY36 and it's too far to commute for FOCO residents. Maybe you can try searching there for employment and housing, there's reasonable rent, maybe not as nice as FOCO, more of suburbia but it's worth it if you are making a living. A lot of people relocate to Colorado not realizing yes housing might be a lil cheaper than elsewhere but when you start paying mortgage and make less than where you were before, it doesn't cut it in the end cuz you really won't get the time to get to the beautiful outdoors.

[_Charles_]

Colorado has suburban Chicago's cost of living and Mississippi's wages. This includes Fort Collins.

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by rgb123

True, 'cept its harder to negotiate a salary if you take a job that pays really low. I've been advised by many trusted sources to be vary careful about salary history.

However, you can negotiate better life/work balance. For example, I took a pay cut 5 years ago to go to a firm that really wanted to hire me. Since they couldn't go any higher on the salary, they gave me the 1st and last Friday of every month as paid days off. The guy I did my internship for took a pay cut but instead 32 hrs/wk is his full-time weekly schedule. If I hadn't worked for him, it would have never occurred to me to negotiate a lighter schedule in lieu of $.

[HazeltheNut]

Someone is saying what I have been thinking for the last ten years. I am native to southern Colorado, but I have lived in the Fort Collins area for ten years. I am fortunate to have a decent paying job, but job security is questionable.

I thought that after working as a professional in the biotech industry that someday I would be able to purchase a modest, older home. Not a chance in Fort Collins! I have perfect credit and a decent income, but I could not afford to live in Fort Collins, unless I bought a house that was stripped on the inside, or was condemned (no joke). Now I realize that others might think that $250K for 900 sq. ft. is affordable, but I simply don't want to be house poor. Prices have improved since with the recent housing market fallout, but jobs still pay $9-10/hour with no benefits.

I recently started looking for a job again, but even with six years of experience in my field, I am having no luck. I noticed that entry level jobs are often asking for a masters or several years of experience. My boyfriend recently took a job that was -$20K less than the supervisor position he had. It was all that he could find.

I do believe that the high level of people with a minimum of a four-year degree, coupled with cheap college labor, and high cost of living is making it hard to want to stay here. Other parts of Colorado are more affordable, but are often rural and have limited jobs.

In short, my advice is to secure a job (any job) before coming here. You can always keep looking, but it is a little scary out there.