[trudawg]

I'm 31 years old, have twin 8y.o boys,
Graduated college in 1999, went to work in the telecom/IT field doing contractor work for Ma Bell, waiting patiently for an opening in Ameritech/SBC/Now ATT&T.
Hiring freeze lasted about 7 years, during that time I worked contract job after contract job doing everything from intalling cable, to replacing computer networks all-around the country. Just never could catch a break, with a permanant long-term positon. I consistantly earned around 35-45k a year doing contract work w/ my experience and education, but still struggled with bills, mortgage etc. Then the New AT&T finally called me in for a test and interview for a newly created premise technician position!! I thought YESS finally a break. Boy was I in for a surprise......The new position was contract for 2 years, and not apart of the union (CWA) so they could bypass the wage requirments @ a whopping $13/hr. I wouldn't even be able to get by on that! So I declined, and after being layed off my last contract position. I'd had enough. I would always get monster job postings emailed to me from both MI and AZ since I'd worked briefly out there, and enjoyed it I wanted to stay abreast of any good openings out there. After consistantly getting like 2 jobs here and there from MI (1 usually being the Navy, and the other sales) and like 30-40 job openings from AZ, I decided to apply to a few Phoenix, AZ jobs. I got call backs almost instantly. I lined up 3 interviews flew out there along with my sister who had an interview as a RN at an AZ hospital.
I was offered a position on the spot w/ a Major Utility company (comparable to DTE, or ConEd). Even negotiated my salary for quite a bit higher than advertised.
Packed up and left, My wife drove down with me with 3 interviews lined up when she got here, got two job offers, then flew back, and got things in order.
Long story short, we rented out our Ypsilanti, MI home, and are renting a house here in AZ. We both miss our family and friends dearly, I would do anything to have the job I have now in MI. Although I couldn't stand the winters and the majority grey skies, I'd like to be close to my family. I simply had no choice!
This is my story, and sure they're are many like it. I hope things turn around, and I still have my house in MI just in case, but I just can't forsee it in the near future. Sure they're are contract jobs available, but I can't stand not knowing if I'll have a job next year or not!
Would like to hear your story as well......both successful and unsuccessful!

[baystater]

Moderator cut: orphaned As and outsider to Michigan (originally from Massachusetts but "stuck" living in New Jersey for the moment.) All the stories on this board whether good or bad are giving me information about the general "feelings" of the people of Michigan. And to me that data. Granted it subjective data. But so is the university of Michigan's consumer confidence report it. That report is that compiles what people "feel" about the economy. But walll streeters in NY. use that report to help then make stock picks. It used as data to help make decisions.
So just like the consumers confidence report, I've been reading this board and slowly compiling information from the stories and other question and trying to piece together a "view" of what the people,culture,the economic situation, etc. in Michigan is like. And my view will help me decide whether and what part of Michigan I may wish to visit on vacation or maybe whether and/or where I may wish to invest in real estate in Michigan and so forth.
Also I personally like some of the more emotional questions (not necessarily an individual's stories.) like "Do you miss home?", "What make your state great?", etc. When I first join this forum I just wanted to ask a couple of factual questions. But soon I found that I had a chance to connect with people from my home state (which I miss a lot.) and share not only information but by feelings about a wide variety of subjects on think going on there.

Moderator cut: off topic - personal

[khfar]

Actually, I don't think stories and personal experiences, etc. need to be reported. Because from what I've seen, this forum is not ONLY for data. In fact, the headline at the top of the screen reads "Relocation, moving, local city discussions".

Moderator cut: personal - off topic

[trudawg]

well the reason for posting "my Sappy story" was to explain the circumstances surrounding my decision. Many people complain about michigan bashers, and people who have nothing but negative things to say. I'm trying to give you some history, and background surrounding my relocation. As I stated I would love to have stayed in MI, but certain circumstances prevented that. Now you have an example of what those circumstances are. I hope this info can be useful to someone. Maybe there is somone in the telecom field who understands my point. Like I said I'd like to hear successful stories as well.
Tell us what you do
Tell us where you work
Give us some insight and background info
Who's hiring
Moderator cut: personal - off topic