Anyone know the nitty-gritty on Hunstville job market? (Huntsville, Madison: how much, house)

[zenjenn]

Specifically for engineers, electrical engineers with defense industry work.

I've done my homework, and that's it, we're done. We want the hell out of California... NOW! Aside from my husband being at a sinking ship of a company, we have been treading water financially throwing all our money at our crappy house and high California taxes. Now that I know there's something better, I think I'll cry if my husband can't find a job in Hunstville.

He got his resume out to two recruiters today, and a promising call with a company that says "we'll probably call you for an interview". Probably! I can't stand it. I thrash at night with strange dreams about Alabama.

That sounds neurotic, but I am someone who likes knowing what's going on so I can start planning and doing - get the house on the market, start packing, etc. My husband is the same way.. it sounds so promising that we're almost tempted to just put the house up immediately and get out now and conduct a job search from Huntsville. Not smart I know.. but things are really miserable at his work, and we have a preschooler, I'd like to see about enrolling her in a program for the fall so that she can make some friends (or maybe in Alabama you don't need a 'program' for your children to see other children?! Maybe they actually live on your street?)

Some people are California dreamin' - well we're Alabama dreamin'!

Can the dream become real? I've been taught that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And Hunstville is starting to sound too good to be true and it's making me ansy and nervous! Are there REALLY that many jobs there for engineers? And is it only big company engineers with specified skills or lots for engineers in small research companies, the kind that get their hands in six different pots? He only has a Bachelor's degree, and in physics not engineering, but 10 years experience and an excellent and diverse skill set, and he's skating easily with 4.0 in over a year at graduate school. The jobs are there. Right? RIGHT?!

[Keeper]

This is from the huntsville times site.. There are listings for engineers.. You can also check Redstone Arsenal for jobs. Just remember the pay will probably be less than CA since the cost of living is less.
al.com

and this is a link to the Alabama state employment
https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada/

[zenjenn]

Thanks Keeper! We have also been checking the big websites but we're at a mid-career job here and a lot of what's listed is entry level.

And actually, no, they don't pay less - they pay the same or maybe 5-10% less. That is the truly eye-opening part for us. I guess if they want to attract good engineers they've found they have to offer something competitive.

[VMH2507]

If I were looking I would go directly to the large employers websites to look for their employment listings. I know that a couple of years back the word was that Raytheon and Lockheed Martin each had 100's of job openings in Huntsville. I also know that Adtran is a major employer. The Huntsville Times also periodically sponsors a job fair. My thinking is that they are needing mid level as well as entry level. If your husband is ex-military or has a security clearance he will be golden. As in any job search, if he knows someone or can cultivate a referral that is the best way. I moved to Huntsville from Houston a while back and my job search was not going anywhere until I was able to get someone on the "inside" here to put in a good word for me. Unfortunately, I think that is pretty universally true no matter where you are looking.

[rnc76]

Huntsville Chamber of Commerce (great resource for private sector jobs)
Huntsville Alabama USA (broken link)

List of all the companies in Cummings Research Park and the largest employers
Huntsville Alabama USA - Companies in CRP - Alphabetical List
Huntsville Alabama USA - Companies in CRP - Major Employers

Search here for jobs at the Army Redstone Research Arsenal
USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site

NASA
NASA - NASA Jobs

Also, apply online at Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Jacobs-Sverdrup, United Space Alliance, Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, BAE, Teledyne Brown... All the big ones require that your resume and job application be submitted online before anything can happen. I think you just have to be patient, it takes a few months to find a new job (especially if you are looking for the right job) unless you have an "in" at a company, even in a great job market.

There are lots of big companies and small companies here, I don't think the pay is all that different. Almost all do defense related work other than IT companies like Adtran.

[Southlander]

Jenn, I can't remember from your others posts if you had ever visited Alabama before. You might want to spend a little time here on vacation with a serious look. I could be a HUGE culture shock. You don't want to pull up stakes, move and discover you hate it.

[zenjenn]

Yes, my husband has security clearance. He's been working 10 years and 8 of those have been on projects for the army or air force.

Oh don't worry, we definitely plan on visiting before making such a major decision for absolute sure. But when we do make the trip, we'd rather it be with some interviews lined up for him.

I am curious what culture shock are you referring too Southlander? Let me tell you what I'm expecting and you can tell me if I'm right or wrong:

I'm expecting Huntsville to be more conservative than California, but not so much that a politically moderate person like me would feel at odds unless they went further out of the Hunstville area. I expect that I'll probably have to live without my favorite meatless corndogs and vegetable protein sausages I buy at the corner grocery store here in California. I expect that if I care to recycle, I may have to actually sort my own trash rather than have my city do it for me. I expect that I'll have to buy winter clothes. I expect that I can maybe express a mildly conservative opinion without being socially ostracized. My husband expects that he won't randomly have employees quit his team because they because they are consciencous objectors to engineering something for the military. (It's happened - really!)

I expect that on one hand, it'll be way weirder to be a Jew there, but on the other hand, I'll have fewer people thinking I am an ignoramus for believing in, and praying to, God. I think maybe people will be friendly and chat - in the neighborhood, at the store, etc, and not just rush around and ignore the other humans.

I also expect to have to arm myself with a can of raid and wear socks to bed until I learn not to be paranoid about southern cockroaches. I may also have to buy a year's supply of Clairtin while I adjust to the local flora, and I apologize in advance for complaining about the humidity at some point.

Am I doing ok? What did I miss?

And thanks everyone for all the great links. Some of these look much more promising than monster or dice.

P.S. I voted for Bush in the last election. Whew. There, I said it. I have literally not admitted this to anyone here in my "real life" except my husband. Don't tell anyone here, not even my mother. I'll get yelled at. Do I think he's the greatest president ever? No. Do I think Kerry would have been better? No. Thus the "politically moderate" thing I have going on! *grin*

I realized zenjenn sounds like a hippie chick internet handle. It was actually a nickname given to me by my California friends, who note how I am always calm and rarely volatile or angry about the same things they get volatile and angry about. Honestly some of the time, it's just because I don't agree with them, but I keep it to myself. My liking of earthy home deccour and clothing probably throws them off.

[VMH2507]

Whew... as I was reading your description you sound alot like me politically. Believe it or not I am probably the most conservative of my friends here in Huntsville and the most liberal of my family none of whom live in AL. Don't let people scare you! It sounds like your description is right on for what you will find in Huntsville (except the roach part - I have rarely seen those). When my out-of state relatives visited, they were charmed by the fact that the lady checking us out at the Fresh Market, struck up a conversation about how much she liked her new job. I also agree with you about waiting until your husband has an interview, but do definitely come for a visit before you commit. Oh, and the vegetable protein sausages can be found at Costco I believe. Publix is also an excellent grocery chain and I understand they will special order stuff for you.

[rnc76]

I think you've got it pretty much. The biggest mistake that people make when coming here is expecting that Huntsville will have everything you had where you used to live. Huntsville is a medium sized city in the south, did they really expect it to have all the cultural offerings and ethnic restaurants of DC, Silicon Valley, Boston? I can't stand people complaining about what Huntsville doesn't have, because Huntsville has a lot for a city of its size in my opinion and it is improving every year.

Between Publix, Costco, Fresh Market, Garden Cove, South Huntsville Farmer's Market and Madison County Farmer's Market, you'll probably find most of the health and ethnic foods you have there. Also, check out Jamo's Middle Eastern Grocery, European Market, several Asian markets, Hispanic markets for more ethnic groceries.

Huntsville will be different. You will miss some of what California had to offer, but hopefully you will appreciate the things that Huntsville offers.

Southern cockroaches are often referred to as palmetto bugs. They are bigger than regular cockroaches and they can fly. They generally live outside unless water gets scarce, then they will come into homes.

[zenjenn]

Oh yes, the flying cockroaches. I think I've seen them when visiting family in Florida! I think I can be ok if they mostly stay outside.. it's when the critters get inside my house that I freak out.

Actually one of the things that made my husband realize how much money we're wasting here, is that we don't take advantage of the things other people love about California. We never, ever engage in the Los Angeles "Night life", and I *drag* myself to the beach once a year for the sake of the kids experiencing the beach (I find it such a pain to drive through the traffic, find parking, sit on the overcrowded beach, etc.) While I do love culture etc, I'm virtually never willing to spend the time and money to go into Los Angeles and see the "premiere" stuff - if I go, it's to the local dinner theater and the local ballet company (and it sounds like you have the arts in Huntsville too.)

There will undoubtedly be things I miss about California, but honestly I'm more concerned about things like missing my synagogue, friends, and parents than I am about missing sushi. And most of our parents, though, are very supportive of the idea of us leaving. They will miss us, but they also see us struggling (and failing) to give their grandchildren the same kind of life they were able to give us 30 years ago. I'd have no problem staying in California if the population and economy were the same as 30 years ago.

Actually if we move and end up liking it, my mother-in-law will probably follow, so that she can not only be near grandkids, finally afford to retire!