Employment opportunities for women in W. North Dakota? (Fargo, Bismarck: apartments, rent)

[annagurl333]

Hello everyone!

I've read many forums and new articles talking about an economic boom going on in West North Dakota, and how jobs, depending on what you want to do of course, are plentiful. However, they all discuss jobs that are usually desired by men, such as truck drivers, oil rigs, and such. In cities such as Dickinson, Williston, and Minot, does this same principle exist for women in your opinion? So many stories claim that if your a hard-working male, finding a job will not be super hard. Is this true for hard-working women as well? Specifically in the fields of administration, human resources, and social work?

I ask because I recently graduated with a bachelors of psych. and wish to move somewhere cold, completely opposite of what I am used to here in Florida. You can think I'm crazy, but I seek the cold, the outdoors, friendly positive people, and a chance to make a living for myself in a new and different environment. Many people move south to get warm...I want to move north to stop melting.

In your opinion, would it be likely for a female with a college education, and limited career-specific work experience, to find a job their as well? Or is the bulk of the work more physical/driving related jobs that don't quite fit what I am looking for? Oil companies must need administration and human resources officers, right? I am sorry in advance if I sound ignorant or naive. I just really want to learn more about North Dakota. I absolutely wouldn't move unless I had a job lined up and after I had visited. My plan was to start sending out my resume and apply to job openings I qualified for. Then hopefully I would have a few interviews, and would then schedule them within a few days of each other, and fly up there and visit for myself. Does this sound crazy? If so, would you have any better, wiser advice?

Also, I was looking up the price for flights in and out of North Dakota and was shocked! Do they always run abnormally high? I flew to Boston for $250 roundtrip this January, and everything for Minot was ranging around $800? Maybe this is a reality I will have to get used to? Or do you have any suggestions for cheaper flights? I can get to Minneapolis or Chicago reasonably, the hard part is getting to ND from there reasonably cheap as well!

Thank you in advance for all your responses. I look forward to hearing more about ND and your perspectives and stories.

[ManyStates]

I've seen alot of postings for human resource and lots of office jobs that women work at some are making $22 starting with three weeks vacation already. I suggest that you check out Allegiant airlines they are a very low cost airline that flys out to Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck. Good luck finding a hotel, mostly all of the places are booked.

[FranklinCole]

If you can fly into Minneapolis for relatively cheap, you may want to consider catching the Amtrack at the Midway Station that's about five miles from the airport. The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to either Portland or Seattle, straight through the oil patch, with stops in Minot, Stanley, and Williston. Good luck!

[flyingcat2k]

I know there was another frequent poster on this board who routinely complained about the utter lack of paying psych jobs in ND. Also, my understanding is that a BS in psych is worthless outside of a Corp. HR environment and even then it is marginal vs. other degrees. A MS is required to start down the road to being a professional councilor. Most HR work for the larger drilling outfits is in HQ which are not in Williston. Local trucking and roustabout work will have one or two HR people and they will likely be locals.

Unless you are interested in a position that is turning wrenches in the oil field or driving truck, you likely won't make enought money to pay the 2K+/mo rent in the oil areas. Eastern ND may be more to your liking but wages are much lower as well as a lower cost of living. Do not move to ND without a place to live, even in the eastern half. Apartments are rare in the western half and have the aforementioned very high rents. I suppose the Eastern half has available space taken up by the flood victims from Minot and Bismarck.

[ashleyforachange]

Look at experiencend. Its a relocation program for north Dakota. I've been in contact with them.

[wondertrev]

Minot airfare is outrageous. Better of flying out of Billings. We save several hundred dollars at Xmas flying out of Devils Lake ( why does Devils Lake have an airport? Conrad/Dorgan pork). Amtrack from Minneapolis sounds good, but they don't depart MsP until 11 pm.

[rhonda43]

Anyone know if they have good stores to shop in the oil country in North Dakota, I like to shop or do you have to buy everything off the Internet?? Thanks Rhonda

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by rhonda43

Anyone know if they have good stores to shop in the oil country in North Dakota, I like to shop or do you have to buy everything off the Internet?? Thanks Rhonda

There are thousands of place to shop. It would be better if you asked for specifics of what you are looking for. People can answer up if there is that type of product and where.

[fixall man]

united airlines is flying in/out of williston,nd now,they connect at denver and minneapolis,just get your tickets 2-3 weeks ahead of time,I fly round trip from williston to washington d.c.-tickets ange in price from 500-750.00