Desperately need a job (Detroit, Grand Rapids: credit, student loans, relocate)

[happytwenty]

My husband and I relocated to Lansing from Seattle this past August. I'm in school and he is a former engineer with a rather impressive resume. Despite his best efforts, he can't find ANYTHING. Not just in the vain sense that he can't find anything that pays well, or anything in his profession--I mean he literally cannot find a single place that's hiring. Not an engineering firm, not McDonald's, not the city. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or ideas at all? ANYTHING anyone has to offer would be greatly appreciated. At this point we'll do almost anything...

[M TYPE X]

Seattle? To Lansing? WHY? For school?

[cbmsu01]

Lansing is kind of a small market, so I would recommend being willing to commute and looking for jobs in places such as Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, the northwest Detroit suburbs, etc., as well as looking in the area. Michigan is obviously not in the best economic situation, but since you're going to be here anyway that's what I'd suggest.

[tuebor]

Anything? Hmm... Does he have office skills or a willingness to do physical labor? Try a temp agency. Can he teach? Maybe he could do some adjunct work at Lansing Community College, although that will require a master's degree in most subjects. If he doesn't have a grad or professional degree, does he want one? Maybe now's the time. Look into a program at MSU or UM that pays a stipend, or one that will be lucrative enough in the future to justify living off of student loans for the time being. Got a vehicle? He could try delivering pizzas or flowers or something. Can he get a chauffeur's license? Maybe he could drive a limo or a taxi. Does he have mechanical skills? Maybe he could be a building superintendent. Does he have Web design skills or technical writing ability? Maybe he could do some free-lance work or start a home-based business.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by happytwenty

My husband and I relocated to Lansing from Seattle this past August. I'm in school and he is a former engineer with a rather impressive resume. Despite his best efforts, he can't find ANYTHING. Not just in the vain sense that he can't find anything that pays well, or anything in his profession--I mean he literally cannot find a single place that's hiring. Not an engineering firm, not McDonald's, not the city. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or ideas at all? ANYTHING anyone has to offer would be greatly appreciated. At this point we'll do almost anything...

Has he checked at Manpower?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by happytwenty

My husband and I relocated to Lansing from Seattle this past August. I'm in school and he is a former engineer with a rather impressive resume. Despite his best efforts, he can't find ANYTHING. Not just in the vain sense that he can't find anything that pays well, or anything in his profession--I mean he literally cannot find a single place that's hiring. Not an engineering firm, not McDonald's, not the city. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or ideas at all? ANYTHING anyone has to offer would be greatly appreciated. At this point we'll do almost anything...

What kind of engineer? How much experience? Where are you going to school?

If you don't want to post it publicly, shoot me a Direct Message (DM).

[Sparrow_temp]

Not sure exactly what your situation is but if you haven't purchased a house -- my best advice would be to move out of Lansing. I'd check for jobs in Grand Rapids and I'll probably be following that same advice myself. I've had luck finding contract jobs in the Lansing area but nothing permanent. Lansing just isn't large enough to give engineers many job opportunities. Unfortunately for myself, I own a house in Holt so it's going to be harder to move but I'll probably be doing it. If I didn't have the house, I'd move right out of the state.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by magellan

What kind of engineer? How much experience? Where are you going to school?

If you don't want to post it publicly, shoot me a Direct Message (DM).

Quoting myself.

The reason why I ask happytwenty is because I noticed that you said you are going to law school in another post. If you're going to Cooley Law, they now have a fully accredited campus in Grand Rapids. Doing a quick search on indeed.com turns up quite a few engineering positions in GR (but that depends on what kind of engineer your husband is):

All engineer jobs in Grand Rapids, MI | Indeed.com

[happytwenty]

Nooo! Not Cooley law ;-) MSU law. I'm on scholarship so I'm kinda stuck in the area. He's more than happy to drive for a job though (at this point it doesn't even have to be an engineering job either!) He's an HVAC/CAD guy...with 7-8 years experience. I really appreciate all the help/ideas by the way guys. Thanks so much!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by happytwenty

Nooo! Not Cooley law ;-) MSU law. I'm on scholarship so I'm kinda stuck in the area. He's more than happy to drive for a job though (at this point it doesn't even have to be an engineering job either!) He's an HVAC/CAD guy...with 7-8 years experience. I really appreciate all the help/ideas by the way guys. Thanks so much!

Yeah, he may want to consider commuting then, as others mentioned. There are a lot of people who travel to and from Lansing to GR every day. Or they buy or rent in places like Portland between the two.

(sorry, forgot about MSU law school)

That indeed.com site is one of the best because it compiles job listings from all the major jobs boards like monster, careermatrix, etc. so that you don't have to search them all individually.