IBM in Monroe (New Orleans, Shreveport, Natchitoches: insurance, contractor, casinos)

[snikt1]

I have an offer to come to Monroe to work for the new IBM center there from out of the area. What I've seen about the area isn't encouraging. Seems this area is going to be a tough sell for a highly-educated IT person to come and work. It's a great opportunity, just wish it was somewhere a bit less isolated.

[annie_himself]

I wouldn't advise. Monroe is..ehhh.

[annie_himself]

Upgrade? If you come from rural India maybe.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by snikt1

I have an offer to come to Monroe to work for the new IBM center there from out of the area. What I've seen about the area isn't encouraging. Seems this area is going to be a tough sell for a highly-educated IT person to come and work. It's a great opportunity, just wish it was somewhere a bit less isolated.

It's the armpit of Louisiana. That being said, housing is extremely cheap and property taxes are way low. It would be a good time for you to live the high life and store away tremendous amounts of money. I assume you'd be a contractor at IBM for CenturyLink. Good job if you can get it.

Do it for a few years, build your resume, while here try Cajun food, visit Natchitoches, the casinos in Shreveport, and do indeed make the trip to New Orleans.

[Chance and Change]

If the income is good, not many places in the South are very isolated in total. Only a reasonable drive from some larger metro's.
One might find that diminished traffic, open spaces and less clutter of what is within can be a relief, especially if one has lived in a large mega metro environment.

Unless one likes the population concentration of major cities, then it may be a change up to living in a smaller city. Though it may be easier to be and become involed within the political system of a smaller city and interact with the city officials for interest and concerns.

Just depends upon what the individual interest are.

[g3140517]

Monroe is cool and hip because the "happy, happy, happy" Robertsons live there. You can take up a new hobby, duck hunting.

[snikt1]

I've lived all over. From very small towns to large cities. The small towns have been no more than 90 minutes from a city. Monroe is 4 hours away from Dallas or New Orleans. I don't consider Shreveport to be a destination.

The IBM salary isn't that great. It's an entry level position. Maybe above average for the area but about in line with what I'm used too. I probably would just live here a year or two to gain experience and then move on, even though moving across country (yet again) is not something I want to do.

[Beardown91737]

This is how tech companies get H1B visas approved. They offer positions at below market rates and then don't get applicants. If they go to smaller communities where the local pay is lower, experienced workers who live in metros would actually like more money instead of less. Having demonstrated no applicants, they declare a tech worker shortage and can import labor.

[BeenThereDunThat]

I'd try to shoot for a job in Dallas as many high-tech companies are relocating there. Raytheon is moving from Irvine, CA to N. Dallas, Toyota is moving there, State Farm Insurance is building a huge campus off G. Bush Tollway. If you have the tech skills, you'll be in demand. You'll get better pay and even with the higher cost of living, it'll be a good move.

[BigPoppa1130]

I've lived here for 7 years and my wife and I really enjoy Monroe. We have met some of the best people and found it to be a friendly home-town environment. Like any place you can find what you're looking for, but I enjoy the midtown area and the nearness of everything I need. The downtown area is developing. We have found it to be a very pleasant place.