Moving to Raleigh Area, NC from NH..how's the area in terms of job and growth (Durham: environment)

[rwadhwa603]

I am software Engg..planning on moving to raleigh NC. I want to know hows Raleigh in terms of job growth in IT. Also how's the housing market..and cost of living..I like NH in terms of that it doesnot have state income taxes and sales tax..but winter sucks..and housing is too high

[I'minformed2]

just curious....where in NH are you moving from?

[ducter]

Originally Posted by rwadhwa603

I am software Engg..planning on moving to raleigh NC. I want to know hows Raleigh in terms of job growth in IT. Also how's the housing market..and cost of living..I like NH in terms of that it doesnot have state income taxes and sales tax..but winter sucks..and housing is too high

dont know anything about NH but the job growth here is not all that special. The cost of living and housing and nice people is mostly what brings people here. I am in IT and dont see a "pot of gold" here like some might say.

[mebro]

Moved here 14 years ago from southern NH. I have been in the employment business 22 years and the Triangle has had it's ups and downs job wise. IT is warm and cold but about to get hotter. You can't beat the overall qualityof life here. Winters are much more friendly. It's worth the risk

[rwadhwa603]

Thanks! I am moving from Merrimack, New Hampshire...through internet research HollySprings looks promising in terms of growth and housing, however hearing bad things about commute to RTP. I will appreicate your intake on this..

[Bull City Rising]

Originally Posted by rwadhwa603

Thanks! I am moving from Merrimack, New Hampshire...through internet research HollySprings looks promising in terms of growth and housing, however hearing bad things about commute to RTP. I will appreicate your intake on this..

You'd find Holly Springs very similar to Merrimack. My wife grew up in Milford... hated the small town life, moved to Cambridge/Boston and loved it, so we're downtown Durhamites. :-) But if Merrimack is your kind of place, Holly Springs has an eerily similar vibe. Apex, too.

I don't do the commute from HS so others can speak to it, but I'd _assume_ that until I-540 gets built down that way as a toll road in a few years, it'll be harsh.

[amsm196]

But i thought Forbes rated Raleigh as the best place to live for employment?

[Bull City Rising]

Originally Posted by amsm196

But i thought Forbes rated Raleigh as the best place to live for employment?

Everyone has their own experience with things like jobs. Personally, I was very lucky -- had a job opening that paralleled my previous employment, and had a connection between two senior leaders in my old and new organizations that led to a phone screen one day after my resume arrived, a fly-down two weeks later and a job offer three days after that.

In the end, did the great job market in the Triangle help? Yes, it did... but so did having a connection. That generally matters more than anything. Cold calling/cold resume drops/Monster.com drops don't work very well by comparison. Plus, some people have up-to-date skills, others don't... it goes on and on.

Compared to other places I've lived, excepting the insane dot-com boomtime, the environment for jobs here in IT is the best I've seen. I have not lived in Austin or S.F., where I would imagine one might have similar or better experiences.

[rwadhwa603]

thanks!! Do you what is the decent salary to have a decent life in NC. Do you have any idea what are hourly rates for contractual Software Engg .NET