Any leads on who to contact for IT Project Management jobs in Roanoke? (Virginia Beach: salary, live)

[lovesMountains]

I know Roanoke is not a large city, but surely there have got to be a few jobs around for an experienced IT project manager? Can anyone give me the name of a local recruiter to contact? PLEASE??

[mccamp]

Google S.R. Clarke. They're an executive recruiting firm in Blacksburg. Good luck!

[seanpecor]

Hey LM, have you emailed Stuart Mease? He can get you in touch with a bunch of decision makers. He's pretty well connected in the Roanoke area.

Sean

[lovesMountains]

Thank you both so much - will try them each. We are on the verge of having to accept a job in either Virginia Beach or Syracuse, NY and I am just panicked - I want to be in southwestern Virginia!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

Hey LM, have you emailed Stuart Mease? He can get you in touch with a bunch of decision makers. He's pretty well connected in the Roanoke area.

Sean

Well, after checking with my husband he submitted to them months ago - and never any luck

I am getting so depressed - I don't want to have to go to Virginia Beach (our current option). You know me Sean, I'm all about southWEST Virginia.

If you hear of anything would you be so kind as to message me? My husband has his degree in computer science and is a certified PMP - has years of experience in project managment. Thanks - and enjoy the view of those lovely mountains for me, okay?

[mccamp]

Have you tried looking in Blacksburg? There are couple of companies who are always advertising for job seekers. MailTrust is one, I believe. Can't for the life of me remember the other.

Cory Donovan at the NewVa Regions Technology Council may also know of openings. Google the organization. I know that they always want to hook skilled people up with jobs. He knows the inside track pretty well. Cory is the executive director, I think.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by mccamp

Have you tried looking in Blacksburg? There are couple of companies who are always advertising for job seekers. MailTrust is one, I believe. Can't for the life of me remember the other.

Cory Donovan at the NewVa Regions Technology Council may also know of openings. Google the organization. I know that they always want to hook skilled people up with jobs. He knows the inside track pretty well. Cory is the executive director, I think.

THANKS!! Will try to find Cory. And get my husband to get in touch with MailTrust Hanging onto hope here folks!

[headnsouth]

My experience has been that Virginia in general, and Roanoke in particular, are very small-business friendly. Roanoke doesn't have the large corporate base that would support relocation packages, or even interviewing nonlocals. That's not because it's a closed mindset, but simply because there are fewer jobs than jobseekers right now, and anyone who is hiring can find someone qualified right here. I think that's the case in many cities right now, actually. It's not a jobseeker's market.

But if your husband has ever wanted to start his own business, this is a great time to do it (depending on the business). I came to Roanoke without a job but with a business plan. It's worked out nicely so far. This was after several years of trying the same thing in Syracuse (I sent you a PM about that!) without success. If things are slow in Roanoke right now, it's because of the larger, global recession. It's not permanent, but if you want to move here in this economic climate, you might want to consider something entrepreneurial. Or take the VA Beach job and bide your time for a little bit. At least you'll be in Virginia!

[mccamp]

I want to second what Headnsouth said. This is an awful time to be looking for a job. If companies aren't hurting, they certainly aren't thinking about expanding. Contract work is abundant. The work still has to get done, and companies don't have the employees to make it happen.

Good luck. And I hope you can keep your spirits up. I've been where you are and it ain't pretty. But I did get through it. Everything worked out in the end and my life is better for it.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by headnsouth

My experience has been that Virginia in general, and Roanoke in particular, are very small-business friendly. Roanoke doesn't have the large corporate base that would support relocation packages, or even interviewing nonlocals. That's not because it's a closed mindset, but simply because there are fewer jobs than jobseekers right now, and anyone who is hiring can find someone qualified right here. I think that's the case in many cities right now, actually. It's not a jobseeker's market.

But if your husband has ever wanted to start his own business, this is a great time to do it (depending on the business). I came to Roanoke without a job but with a business plan. It's worked out nicely so far. This was after several years of trying the same thing in Syracuse (I sent you a PM about that!) without success. If things are slow in Roanoke right now, it's because of the larger, global recession. It's not permanent, but if you want to move here in this economic climate, you might want to consider something entrepreneurial. Or take the VA Beach job and bide your time for a little bit. At least you'll be in Virginia!

Agree and understand about Roanoke not having a large corporate base - was just hoping there would be one or two projects in need of his IT skills Roanoke's size and lack of a mega corporate world is one of the things I love about it actually.

We would definitely relocate ourselves AND take less of a salary just to get in the general area. We own property on the Blue Ridge - where my heart actually lives , and I'd be so happy just to get there.

Interesting you mention going the entrepreneurial route - during his period of umemployment my husband has grown his little side business of computer repair and help with computer needs. He's just afraid going to a new city with no contacts he'd struggle to get business the first couple of years and we'd starve, lol. Here his business is growing rapidly just by word of mouth - he started with friends at church and they recommended him to other friends, who recommended him to other friends. We aren't getting rich at all, but it's helping pay the bills!