Regarding Jobs: Is it just me? (Springfield, West Plains: live in, safe, moving to)

[wktully]

Originally Posted by tambre

That's perfect...a job lined up, and a place to live. You are truly blessed! If I may be noisy, what does it cost to rent a U-Haul? Do you pay just for rental time, or for mileage? Good luck with the house hunting, and keep us informed if you find something.

We are renting a Uhaul from Massachusetts (out by Cape Cod) and returning it to Alton, IL (just outside STL) - the cost is $475 (17' truck) plus gas & 1300 free miles (we figure the final cost to be around $900). What we found was that once you cross the mighty Mississippi the cost for the Uhaul more than doubles!! $1200!! So, we'll drive from our house to Missouri, drop our stuff and return the Uhaul back to STL. The extra miles we will have to pay for and gas is nowhere close to the cost of renting and dropping off in MO!! Crazy!! Good ideas to check Penske and the others though - will have to do that.

[Lake Junkie]

Originally Posted by wktully

We are renting a Uhaul from Massachusetts (out by Cape Cod) and returning it to Alton, IL (just outside STL) - the cost is $475 (17' truck) plus gas & 1300 free miles (we figure the final cost to be around $900). What we found was that once you cross the mighty Mississippi the cost for the Uhaul more than doubles!! $1200!! So, we'll drive from our house to Missouri, drop our stuff and return the Uhaul back to STL. The extra miles we will have to pay for and gas is nowhere close to the cost of renting and dropping off in MO!! Crazy!! Good ideas to check Penske and the others though - will have to do that.

From what I have heard, the costs depend on whether anyone is moving OUT of your drop off point. They have to get the trucks back to where they are needed, so if you're moving INTO an area that nobody is moving OUT OF, it's more expensive because they have to pay drivers to move the trucks otherwise!

[ern036]

I am looking to move out to West Plains, MO and in order to do so I would like to have a job. Other than the usual job sites which I have applied to over and over again, does anybody have a contact or any other advice as to other strategies? Thanks,

Erin

[8 SNAKE]

Originally Posted by Lake Junkie

From what I have heard, the costs depend on whether anyone is moving OUT of your drop off point. They have to get the trucks back to where they are needed, so if you're moving INTO an area that nobody is moving OUT OF, it's more expensive because they have to pay drivers to move the trucks otherwise!

Compare the costs of taking a U-Haul into and out of Florida.

[wktully]

Originally Posted by Lake Junkie

From what I have heard, the costs depend on whether anyone is moving OUT of your drop off point. They have to get the trucks back to where they are needed, so if you're moving INTO an area that nobody is moving OUT OF, it's more expensive because they have to pay drivers to move the trucks otherwise!

I guess that makes sense. I checked prices with Penske, Budget and ABF and they were all over $1k just for the rental and no gas! The ABF price was great for a terminal to terminal quote but door to door they were a few hundred dollars higher. I'd go ABF but then I'd have to fork over a plane flight for hubby only further adding to the cost. Looks like it's Uhaul!

We now have 2 homes lined up to look at tomorrow - both earth contact homes - one in Warrensburg and the other in Holden - crossing fingers and toes one of them works out

[LynnKK]

Well, that settles it for me. Was seriously thinking about following our best friends and moving to Kimberling City. But, since I would need to work, this is a clear indication that we should probably choose a different area.

[tambre]

Originally Posted by wktully

I guess that makes sense. I checked prices with Penske, Budget and ABF and they were all over $1k just for the rental and no gas! The ABF price was great for a terminal to terminal quote but door to door they were a few hundred dollars higher. I'd go ABF but then I'd have to fork over a plane flight for hubby only further adding to the cost. Looks like it's Uhaul!

We now have 2 homes lined up to look at tomorrow - both earth contact homes - one in Warrensburg and the other in Holden - crossing fingers and toes one of them works out

Hope you find a great new home! Let us know how it all works out! Thanks to everyone for all the great information about moving companies.

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by tambre

Some good info. on jobs on this website:

http://www.business4springfield.com/...ile/screen.pdf

What an awesome link, tambre! Thanks!

Originally Posted by FloridaGypsy

Reading this thread and wanted to join the census and taking a step out on faith as my family and I prepare to move up there and like so many that are heading that way, no job lined up. Besides how does one apply for a job in Missouri while living out of state like Florida???? Thankfully my spouse is employed with a job that allows us to move to another state and does not affect his work (if we stay in the trucking lanes).

With what I read on the internet and newspapers, hear on the news, the employment issue is not just in Missouri but it is everywhere and most definitely also here in Florida. Several businesses have stated in the newspaper down here that for one job listed in the paper they have received over 250 applicants. My reason for leaving FL is to try to find someplace where my family can survive easier in the hard times. I just would like to be able to make the dollar I earn go a little bit farther. In the eight years living in FL I have learned that if one desires to live in "paradise", one better have the money because it will cost.

My prayers are with all of us as we take that step of faith to go where we are lead.

I'm so glad you have that situation, Gypsy! Btw, you're on the right track...I think MO is a place where your family can survive easier in the hard times...and faith and prayer are necessary and welcome! Proceed! I'm sure many will thank you!

Originally Posted by tambre

I agree with you in theory, but disagree with you in terms of my experience and situation. So here goes... it is hard to interview from one thousand miles away!! You know how interviews go...if they like you, then you have to meet the decision-maker, who always seems to be out of town, so then you have to come back in a week...

And, remember, it's hard to find time -off from your current job to do that, not to mention the expense. It would probably cost me $500 to take a trip to Springfield (including flight, hotel and car rental) Also, as an hourly-salaried employee, if I don't work, I don't get paid! That includes no sick or vacation pay. But I do have summer off!

Maybe that's why people move, plan to depend on savings for awhile, and start looking for a job immediately upon arrival in a new place.

Now, some lucky folks have been transferred to the Springfield area, and that is the best situation to be in. Every day, I check the Springfield News Leader job section to see if there are any positions in my field, and my husbands' line of work. I have seen a few listings that were possibilities.

If anyone has any suggestions, they would be appreciated.

That was our situation, tambre. We couldn't afford to make trips here but since my husband planned on opening his own business here, it wouldn't really have helped, anyway. Praise God, he has been able to keep pretty busy so we've managed to get by.

Anyway, I did see a list of the employment agencies at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce that you might be interested in: Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce: Business A-Z

And here's a link to their Healthcare Staffing page:
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce: Business A-Z

Then again, if you just want to go thru their Membership Directory to get ideas of companies who might be hiring, check out their Category List:
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce: Business A-Z

Hope these help!

MrsG

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by familytoth

I've sifted through a few of the posts here as I am looking to relocate BACK to Missouri from Arizona. 2 things on either side of the fence. 1-you can't be stuck on yourself to a point that you think you are better than the job you are applying for because, let's face it, Missouri's hiring standards are a completely different ballpark to what they are out here. and 2-you should be confident in yourself and your abilities, but not to the point that you feel you deserve the job you are applying for. Whether you do or don't is irrelevant. Employers don't like it! I know, I am an employer and would not hire someone who thought my day should end and begin on their credentials. I do hire folks that are down to earth, hard working and confident in themselves and their abilities though. Maybe you should try a little less, "I'm special because..." and a little more "I am an asset TO YOU because...." Just an observation. I'm sure I'll be attacked like Snake, but the simply hard truth about interviews is whether or not your personality clicked with the employer. You can have experience and training out the whazoo, but if you expected the interviewer to be more interested in you than you were them, well, that's just not what midwest life is about.

While I disagree with your observation of the OP, I do agree with what you said about personality needing to click with the employer. It makes perfect sense that an employer would choose to work with someone compatible with him/her. Oh...and I don't mind that we disagree on the OP's tone. I learned my lesson with Snake so we're .

Originally Posted by 8 SNAKE

I am down here and said almost the exact same thing (and got much the same response back from you - in Chicago ). In both instances, you assume that we're attacking the OP when that's not the case.

Familytoth and I both picked up on a vibe in the original post. That vibe seemed to indicate that the OP felt that any prospective employer would be lucky to have him on the payroll. Neither of us questioned whether this would be true or not, because that doesn't matter (and we weren't there to see the interviews). What does matter is that a hiring manager (which both of us have experience doing) feels that a prospective candidate is a good fit with the organization. Skills can be taught a lot easier than attitudes can be changed.

Once again, I agree with your last comments, Snake, about a good fit and about a good attitude being critical. Now, skills are not all something that most employers have time to teach but I do agree in general with the statement. Years ago, I learned of a study in which Fortune 500 companies were asked if they had to choose between a candidate with good communication skills but no experience or a candidate with experience but poor communication skills. They overwhelmingly said they would choose the person with the communication skills. I'm sure a good attitude was "assumed" in the question.

[wktully]

Originally Posted by ern036

I am looking to move out to West Plains, MO and in order to do so I would like to have a job. Other than the usual job sites which I have applied to over and over again, does anybody have a contact or any other advice as to other strategies? Thanks,

Erin

In my experience most good jobs never make it to the newspaper - and places like Monster.com are very overused and net minimal real results. Careerbuilder.com is not too bad. Alot of jobs are either filled by word of mouth or via an employment agency. Word of mouth referral obviously speaks for itself. If a company is willing to spend the $$ to find an employee via an agency that tells me they value finding the right person - hiring expenses are not cheap with an agency. And let's face it, it also saves them a ton of time in sifting through resumes. I have always preferred going through an agency - they get to know you and what you want, they help prep you for interviews, handle the salary negotiation and basically get you in the door. It may even get you a temp job which can sometimes turn into a full time job. This is true for anything from a secretarial job to an executive level. Hiring while out of state does happen - however it's more likely if you go through an agency. Check the online Yellow Pages for employment recruiters - check their website and see if they have anything. It's best to send your resume in for a specific job rather than just sending it for their database.

Good luck!