IT jobs in McAllen, Tx (Houston, San Antonio: lawyers, job market, college)

[itgeek]

Hello everyone!

I'm moving to McAllen in the next few months and have been searching for an IT position. I have found a couple of leads, but the pickings are slim. I've heard from friends that you have to know someone to find a good job. Do any locals have any advice?

Thanks!

[Insomniac]

Good luck.

[TexasNick]

You're better off starting your own business--seriously. However, with the rate of growth there, you should be fine. The problem I had was that business was very different there. People had a different work ethic. The people with the money dont' part with it like they do here in San Antonio. The key to success down there? EDUCATE them. Then sell 'em.

[71night]

Yeah, Stay away! I too have a technical college degree and have worked at Compaq in Houston and also Dell in Austin mainly in manufacturing. You might have a chance, but best bring your MCSE, Novell, Cisco certs. Big company experience is looked down on down here. Best stay in the big cities.

[teatime]

Yikes, you're moving to McAllen without a job in hand?! I don't mean to scare you but that's rather risky! Do you know anyone there who can help you get a foot in the door? The unemployment rate there is nearly twice what it is in other parts of Texas and it can be tough to get a job there without contacts. Nepotism and "the compadre system" rule in the Valley unless they absolutely cannot find someone they know who is remotely qualified.

[LCC1968]

The good ole boy system and nepotism is not isolated to the Valley, my friend. Wake up and smell the back scratching.

[teatime]

Originally Posted by LCC1968

The good ole boy system and nepotism is not isolated to the Valley, my friend. Wake up and smell the back scratching.

I don't recall saying that it is only in the Valley. So, even without the nepotism factor, you think it is a good idea to move to an area that has much higher unemployment than the rest of the state (and lower wages) without a job in hand? To each his own, I guess!

[LCC1968]

Yes, to each his own. Have a nice day.

[EarlB]

I've been in I.T. in Texas for 23 years, have a bit of knowledge on the subject. I worked for 5 years in Corpus and even that market is not easy to get employed in.

The best markets anywhere near that portion of the state are San Antonio and Austin. They would be pretty decent though there are allways alot of layoffs in Austin (I hear Dell is laying off again). At any rate, one should be able to find a job in I.T. without too much trouble in San Antonio and Austin.

I'm in the D/FW area and the market here is definitely very good as far as I.T. careers. It wasn't that way 5 years ago but it is now.

I don't know if it is this way all over Texas now but certainly so in D/FW - with the end of the 2000 surge, the bust of the telecom sector, and the unemployement of so many experienced I.T. people due to the downturn - American students left the Computer Science departments in droves. Their spots were filled by Indian, Pakistani, and Nepalese students here on student visas. As a result, fully 90% or more of college graduates at least in this area in I.T. are from those countries. Many companies such as the one I work for have spent tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars on immigration lawyers, sponsorships, and running paperwork for employment, citizenship, and other types of visas. Since the upturn in the job market some employers (again such as mine) are now limiting candidates to only those that are citizens or have their greencard or fully unencumbered work visas.

I don't know if this dynamic has made its way as much to other areas of the Texas I.T. market (I'm sure it probably has in S/A, Austin, and Houston) but if it has a citizen or holder of a greencard or other fully empolyable status (not requiring sponsorship and attendant costs) will have a legup on the large number of candidates who do not.

Earl

[therewego]

I'll have to say good luck to you. I remember seeing something somewhere, it may have been Craigslist on a SA, Austin, or Houston board looking for someone to do IT in the Valley. Check it out. Down there, the way to get a job is pretty much whom you know or to whom you are related so you better make some friends quick.