Move from NJ to Bethlehem as a recent college graduate? (Pittsburgh: buying a house, job market)

[GiantRutgersfan]

I am a year or two out of college, and would consider anything paying $35,000+ for a job (not picky on the field, within reason).

I want to live somewhere within a couple hours of North Jersey where my family is, and also have lower housing costs. Bethlehem seems to be a fit on paper.

What do I need to know about the area? Will I be able to find a solid job in Bethlehem if I am a smart, capable, hard working young man who has graduated college?

[toobusytoday]

As a parent of two college grads, my suggestion is to find the job wherever you can and then look for a place to live. People that have years of job experience are not finding jobs. This area is no better then others when it comes to the job market and since there are six colleges in the Valley, not counting a branch campus of PSU and the two Community Colleges, you can guess that there are quite a few (thousand) college grads also looking for work.

While the housing is lower here then it is in most parts of NJ, so are the salaries. The people that move here because of the lower cost of housing often try to keep their higher salaried jobs out of the area. All of this is JMHO, and I welcome other posters to put in their 2 cents.

[Pennsport]

Hit a major city Bro. That's by far the best move you can make for your career. In my opinion your priorities at this point your life should be:
1. Find best possible job that will enable you to learn and develop professionally
2. Be fiscally smart and save as much as possible
3. Enjoy life - you're only in your early 20s for a short time
4. Try as many new things as possible and generally adopt a "go for it" attitude. You've got little to lose and you're not tied down to anything now

Good luck.

[thelazyone]

Depending on what field you will be getting into, $35,000 might not be a possibility.

[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by thelazyone

Depending on what field you will be getting into, $35,000 might not be a possibility.

For real? That would be a disappointment if it is the case.

As for the suggestion to move to a major city, I am not interested. I want to stay within 2-4 hours of my family in Jersey, and I would not like to live in NYC, Philly, Hartford, Boston, Albany or Baltimore. I have done the big city thing, and I am not interested. Lived in Hartford CT for a couple of years and it is not me.

It has more or less come down to either New Castle county Delaware or this area of PA.

My goal is to start my own business. However, I do not want to take a big gamble on this. I envision myself working for someone else for 10 years or so, buying a house, getting married, getting some savings, paying off my mortgage, and when I am free and clear of all of that, opening up my own business.

[toobusytoday]

Back to my suggestion - Look for a job in Wilmington or Allentown and move wherever you find the job. In this economy, it just doesn't make sense to move and then look for a job.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

In this economy, it just doesn't make sense to move and then look for a job.

Sometimes you can get lucky, though. I did just that when I moved spontaneously from Northern Virginia to Pittsburgh and found myself employed full-time within two weeks. I turned down an office job for my current job but am also now seeking another job to supplement my income.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Sometimes you can get lucky, though. I did just that when I moved spontaneously from Northern Virginia to Pittsburgh and found myself employed full-time within two weeks. I turned down an office job for my current job but am also now seeking another job to supplement my income.

Most people cannot afford to live on $10 an hour. Most people need a job that pays more and has benefits. Most people want one job well paying job, not two low paying jobs without benefits. Also, many people are looking for professional jobs and those are considerably more difficult to get, particularly in areas where unemployment tops 10%.
Toobusytoday is right, it makes no sense to move and then look for a job. Get the job first.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

I am a year or two out of college, and would consider anything paying $35,000+ for a job (not picky on the field, within reason).

I want to live somewhere within a couple hours of North Jersey where my family is, and also have lower housing costs. Bethlehem seems to be a fit on paper.

What do I need to know about the area? Will I be able to find a solid job in Bethlehem if I am a smart, capable, hard working young man who has graduated college?

What field? Most new graduates do not start at $35,000, unless you have a specific skill such as teaching, accounting or engineering. What was your major and what kind of job are you looking for?

[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by Denton56

What field? Most new graduates do not start at $35,000, unless you have a specific skill such as teaching, accounting or engineering. What was your major and what kind of job are you looking for?

I was an economics major. I graduated August 2009. I was looking for jobs for a couple months, nothing happened.

Long story short, I accepted a job at a warehouse for a small business. The company has 9 people working for it. 6 people work in the office, and 3 in the warehouse. A couple months after I arrived, the warehouse manager quit and I got his job.

I have one full time worker and one part time worker that I am "the boss" of...

The point of this story is that I do have some experience, and if I accepted a job that paid $35,000 it would be a slight pay decrease. If a good opportunity presented itself, I would accept, but I can not afford to go lower then 30k. And I only want to go that low if it is a good fit.

If I could get into a warehouse in a management position of some kind, I would consider it, but I want to get into something where I will be able to advance my career and work my way up.