[tpalagan]

My fiancé and I have an opportunity to move to VT from DC. I have a federal job lined up in Williston, VT, but my fiancé would need to find work. We love the VT area. I proposed to her in Shelbourne on a lake. Anyway, I want her to have the best chance to find an HR job in the region. I have heard Burlington does not have a good job market, but have read the White River Junction area (VT/NH) might be better. It is also w/in driving distance to Montpelier and Concord. For the locals, what are your opinions?

Anyone that might have a HR job connection please respond!! :-)

[Lilybeans]

That's a long ride every day.

[flu189]

I don't think the overall job market is all that hot in either region. Of course with specialized professional jobs if there are openings then you will compete. As far as commuting from Montpelier to either Williston (not too bad) and to the Upper Valley (not a pleasure in the winter) you had better seriously do the math on the costs involved. I work with several folks who commute the equivalent distances mentioned above and the $$$$ is substantial. Don't forget that our winter heating bills have also seen a dramatic rise so this along with gasoline and electricity needs to be factored into the monthly budget which all coupled together can now exceed well over a $1000.00 per month in the winter.

[rem31708]

The major employers in the Upper Valley (White River- Lebanon-Hanover) area are Dartmouth College, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and various small computer high tech companies on Etna Road in Lebanon. (Spectra, Hypertherm, Creare, etc) I have worked for all 3 groups over the past 12 years. It depends on her line of work.. she could look at their websites; most will have an HR contact right on the website. The pay is not super high here and cost of living is very high. Most of the schools are reasonably good here.

I would never in a million years commute. It's 90+ minutes each way (in good weather) from our home to Burlington and you have to think of gas. There is no public transport or train.

Good luck!

[GypsySoul22]

I live near WRJ and the job market isn't very good. If you like to clean houses or hotels, you can get a job I guess.
I guess the job market is as good as your job, right? That being said, it's a nice area here. Pretty. Lots of nice scenic places.

[wnsbuckley]

Burlington being the largest city in the largest county has much better oportunities for her. White River Jct is 100 miles away from Williston. Williston is growing and I imagine you are going to work for ICE in Williston. My wife works in St. Albans and we are trying to sell our house in Swanton, VT to transfer to the new office in Durham, NC. We have to be down there for July 1, 2008. Franklin County is a nice county to live in. Still close to Burlington only 40 miles away straight down the highway takes about 45 minutes and you don't have the higher taxes. She may be able to get a job in HR in St. Albans, VT. They have Mylan Pharmacuticals, Northwesthern Medical Center, INS, Eveready Battery Company just to name a few. These are larger companies with more than 400 employees. If I can be of any more help let me know. My brother works in the Williston Office as well and he is being transfered to DC. If you need any more help wnsbuckley@msn.com

[vter]

Check out sevendaysvt.com and look in their classified section. I just picked up the paper yesterday (it's a weekly) and I always like to peruse the job section just to see what's going on with companies in the area. I noticed a handful of HR jobs. The New England Culinary Institute for on is looking for an HR person, and a couple more companies in the Burlington area.
IMO Seven Days is the best place for job listings in the Burlington area.
Other growing companies to check out would be mywebgrocer.com (Colchester), and Earth Turbines and NRG in Hinesburg. I know they are currently hiring or have hired in the recent past.

[goatwoodward]

Remember to factor in the weather! I am also from the DC metropolitan area and was not prepared for 3 feet of snow in a day, ice storms, -30 windchill, and all the other mess that can come with a Vermont winter. Unlike NoVA, employers here still expect their staff in on time, even when it's snowing or icy out. Try to commute as little as possible, you may pay more for a house, but will make up the difference in gas, time, etc and will have a much better experience overall.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by goatwoodward

Remember to factor in the weather! I am also from the DC metropolitan area and was not prepared for 3 feet of snow in a day, ice storms, -30 windchill, and all the other mess that can come with a Vermont winter. Unlike NoVA, employers here still expect their staff in on time, even when it's snowing or icy out. Try to commute as little as possible, you may pay more for a house, but will make up the difference in gas, time, etc and will have a much better experience overall.

That's good advice. I commuted close to an hour for several years and it was rough after a few years. My wife commuted from Colchester(near Burlington) to DHMC(just over the line from White River) for two years. The commute took such a toll physically(exhausted after the long drive) and financially that she ended up renting a place down there while she was on her work stretch. After two years of this she took a job back in Burlington.