No education... want to start over (Oak Ridge, Clinton: home, find a job, law school)

[gratif]

My dad and stepmom are 40. They live in a dying rust-belt town in Wisconsin that is only getting worse. I've started my life, my brother is a freshmen in highschool. They need out.

The combine for less than 50K a year. She's a transcriptionist, and he's selling carpeting. Both are computer illiterate. They've got 25k left on the house, which would sell for 100k.

They're attracted to tennessee, but don't even where to start looking.

[GrannyLois]

This forum and the general US forum are good places to start. A little vacation to Tennessee is another way to explore.

But sometimes people don't want to move and change their life. Lifelong roots are strong, often with good reason. Sounds like you might actually be the one wanting to move.

If they want to move and obtain new jobs, they both need to learn some computer skills. I entered the computer age in my early 40's - kicking and screaming all the way. So I know it's possible.

Good luck to all of you. Out of curiosity, where in WI are you from? I lived in WI for 30 years, in Mayville, Juneau, Madison, and Stoughton.

[Tek_Freek]

Your step mom needs to get some computer literacy. As a transcriptionist she can literally live anywhere in the world and work for someone anywhere in the world. That would be a good start to "getting out".

I have clients that do transcription work. One of them works for a doctor's office in the city where I live. She lives 1 1/2 hours north in a small town. She has two others working for her. They live in a small town halfway between the two.

All files are recorded on a digital recorder at the doctor's office, loaded into a program on a PC, uploaded from that program to a second one that then uploads the files (encrypted) to a server in Florida. The transcriptionists then download these files, type them in Word, add envelopes to the document, save them and upload them back to the server. The doctors office then downloads the doc files and prints them.

All this is done without any personal interaction.

I went to a log cabin out in the middle of nowhere (literally!) two years ago. No one else around for miles. Heat was generated by a pot belly stove. This woman made a good living doing transcription work for a big firm in Chicago. They even supplied the computer! They also paid for my visit to fix the problem with the computer.

Your step mom has a very saleable talent, but the ability to do it on a computer will really help.

BTW I'm currently in Iowa.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by gratif

My dad and stepmom are 40. They live in a dying rust-belt town in Wisconsin that is only getting worse. I've started my life, my brother is a freshmen in highschool. They need out.

The combine for less than 50K a year. She's a transcriptionist, and he's selling carpeting. Both are computer illiterate. They've got 25k left on the house, which would sell for 100k.

They're attracted to tennessee, but don't even where to start looking.

I agree with both previous posters. The key to getting out is for your mother (primarily) to get some computer skills first. I think she will have an awfully hard time finding a job in her field in another state, if she doesn't. But, since she doesn't have computer research skills, you will probably have to do some online research for her to find out where she could take classes. Try adult education at the local high school first. Those are usually inexpensive classes and most public high schools have computer labs, I think. They probably would teach Word and Excel. If the high school doesn't offer adult ed, maybe the high school or the local library or community college would have some suggestions. If she doesn't have a computer in the home (don't know if your brother has one), most public libraries have them.

I'm in the camp with the people who think people should find a job before they relocate out of state, especially if they are moving with school aged children. Particular type jobs that may be easy to get in a city/town in Wisconsin might be less easy to find in another state/city.

On the other hand, your brother might find it easier to find part time work after school or on weekends in Tennessee. The one thing I was very happy to see when I visited Oak Ridge, TN, Norris and Clinton was how many people of high school age I saw in "old days" typical teenager evening and weekend jobs (retail, fast food). Where I live now in MD, those type of establishments no longer employ local high school students but illegals. I think this is mostly because the high school kids where I live now are spoiled and lazy. Apparently, not true from what I saw in part of Tennessee.

[gratif]

Originally Posted by GrannyLois

Good luck to all of you. Out of curiosity, where in WI are you from? I lived in WI for 30 years, in Mayville, Juneau, Madison, and Stoughton.

I'm from Racine. I just got done with my undergraduate degree in Eau Claire.

Originally Posted by GrannyLois

Sounds like you might actually be the one wanting to move.

I'll be going to law school in the fall, I don't know where yet. Afterwards, I'm really considering Air Force or Navy JAG. So yeah, I want move.

But objectively, and admittedly as per them, Racine is dying. Check out the reviews on the Wisconsin forum for confirmation.

[Tek_Freek]

If your step mom is compute illiterate, how does she do the transcription work?

[daniellefort]

the problem with transcription work and especially working at home is being computer literate and being able to solve your computer problems on your own. She's better off trying to find a transcription job outside of the home that way if there's any problems, someone else will fix it for her. I've worked at home for 3 years as my own sub-contractor and it's great but the problem with finding other jobs to do at home, well most require 2 - 3 years experience, self starter and computer knowledge. And working at home isn't all it seems to be like most people think. Don't get me wrong i love what i do and being home with my daughter but i've trained 3 other people who just couldn't get themselves to sit and do the work. It's still an 8 hour job a day just you get to work in your PJ's and work any hour of the day.