Needs for engineers in WV (Charleston, Huntington: fit in, low crime, construction)

[mezzogirl]

Hi West Virginians! I have read many posts on this forum about skilled workers finding jobs in plumbing, construction, etc, but I have found very little information about other jobs like banking, doctors, etc. We are dying to move out to the mountains. We have visited, taking all the back roads and talking to locals. We currently live in the city for job reasons, but are not "citified." Are there jobs for engineers in Charleston, Huntington, or Parkersburg? My husband designs roads and he worries that he would have to make a major career change to move to WV. We haven't found much on those mega job websites, but I wondered if it was more like the good-ole-boy-network word of mouth kinda thing.
A little about me- I live in Kennesaw, Ga, a suburb of Atlanta that prides itself on our one "mountain" (please don't die laughing). We are looking to start a farm but will need a salary from an engineering job for the first few years. Thanks, everyone in advance for your info!

[GottaHerdOn]

There is a huge shortage for engineers in WV! Especially in the Dept. of Highways. One survey found that 70% of all engineers in that dept. were eligible to retire within 5 years. So I'm sure they could use you! Sorry you only have one mountain.

WV is also designing and building some major roads. Not as fast as I would like but funding them seems to be the biggest problem. Some examples are Corridor H, Coalfields Expressway, Route 9, many city/town bypasses, etc

I don't think your husband would have to make a drastic change in his work. He may take a pay cut! But that is something you have to weigh to live in a place with a lower cost of living and living among the mountains.

[mezzogirl]

Pay cut is NO problem I am just eager to meet more of those salt of the earth people like I met this summer. I live in a very affluent culture that we don't fit in to. Sure, we can keep up with the Joneses but we have no desire to. We are tired of trying to raise our kids against the grain. I will certainly let him know the good news. He's a little freaked out about it, because he has a wonderful job here. We just feel like God is calling us to go somewhere else.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by mezzogirl

Pay cut is NO problem I am just eager to meet more of those salt of the earth people like I met this summer. I live in a very affluent culture that we don't fit in to. Sure, we can keep up with the Joneses but we have no desire to. We are tired of trying to raise our kids against the grain. I will certainly let him know the good news. He's a little freaked out about it, because he has a wonderful job here. We just feel like God is calling us to go somewhere else.

My son is a Civil Engineer who works in Boston. His firm does work on road design for shopping centers and housing developments and the like. I know that there is a lot of that kind of work going on in Martinsburg and in Morgantown. You might check with CE firms in those locations, as well as with the Division of Highways where they always need people with those skills. Also, he might find work in the Pittsburgh or Washington, DC areas and you could still live out your dreams in the West Virginia mountains.

[mezzogirl]

CTMountaineer,
Thanks for the advice. I guess I lean more towards the central and western side of Virginia, because the cities are not close to any mega-metro areas. I had family in Boston and DC area and visited several times. Those are "visiting" places for me, but not living places. I did not think to look into small private firms, since my husband works for the state and has for several years now. I will certainly check into that.
It must be fun to visit your son in Boston- that clam chowder is to die for.
Any comments good or bad about the Buckhannon area? We were there this summer and just thought it was adorable. It took two minutes to enter the vast rural area outside the main drag.

[vec101]

"central and western side of Virginia" - Fruedian slip perhaps? Did you mean West Virginia or Virginia?

There a lot of Engineering companies in the state - several of which do road work.

The coal companies are always looking for engineers. Son recently graduated with 2 engineering degrees from WVU - Civil and Mining. He had several serious offers from coal co. with great starting pay, etc. Even the year before he graduated, one company wanted him to come to work, keep going to school, they would pay his college. You would find a lot of people have such stories. Several kids graduated and went to work with a starting pay of $60,000 - $70,000. Don't know if that is considered good in your area, but it is here.

WV Highway Dept mentioned before is also a good place to check out.
Here is a website with a listing of engineering (and related) jobs for the state, as well as other jobs.
Current WV Job Announcements

Newspapers, etc would have listings for coal jobs, engineering firms, etc. but may also want to take a look at the websites of
http://www.wvcoal.com/
http://www.cawv.org/index.html
http://www.wvengineers.com/

May want to look at
Employment Service - Search for Work

[vec101]

Buckhannon is a very nice little town. Clean, low crime, friendly people, good schools, etc.
Convenient to I-79 and other locations including the mountains for skiing etc.
Not a lot of job opportunites in Bkn itself but a lot of people who live there work in Clarksburg, etc.
Will be glad to answer any other questions I can about Buckhannon. Used to live there, have family who still do.

An engineering company in Bkn that does a lot of road work is Stantec Inc. (was RD Zande/WV division but was recently bought out by Stantec). Stantec has 150 locations in the US and Bkn is one of them.
Stantec
Stantec - About Us

Another engineering co with a branch in Buckhannon is Chapman Technical. The HQ is in Charleston area (St. Albans). They do road work, etc.
Chapman Technical Group

Almost forgot: Michael Baker is an international engineering company with a branch in Charleston area. I don't see it on their website but I swear I have seen a MB office in Bkn right off Rt. 33 (if heading toward Elkins - forget the name of the road but sits between new and old Rt. 33). Perhaps it is not an office engineers work out of but more of a place they keep equipment, etc. If interested, would suggest contacting the Chas office.
http://www.mbakercorp.com/
http://www.mbakercorp.com/index.php?...174&Itemid=334

This site may also be helpful, but looks like you really have to look around and scroll down the page after a search to find job lisitings.
http://www.eetimescareers.com/JobSearch/WV/

[mezzogirl]

Oops. Definitely meant WEST Virginia. We are not concerned about getting a high paying job- just something reliable and steady. Thank you for all the input.
My heart is not sold to any particular town, but I found Buckhannon to be quaint and cozy. I don't want to be totally isolated, but I'm not interested in being by the mall and tons of restaurants. Been there and done that.
I also liked that Buckhannon had a college that really reached out to the community, but I would never have consider it a college town. I got a question for you though. Why are the land prices there so high? (well, compared to say, Spencer or one of those other little towns)

[vec101]

Not really sure why land prices are higher than say Spencer, etc. except that figure there is probably more demand since Bkn is the town that it is. Plus, there is more industry and business in Bkn than in many of the other smaller towns.

Also, after the FBI fingerprint plant went in at Clarksburg, demand for housing in Bkn went up. Even though it about 30 miles from the plant, a lot of new people coming in to work at the plant looked at Bkn for the town where they wanted to live.

[David Kennedy]

Severe shortage of Civil Engineers...Thrasher Engineering...Glen-Mark Holding...Triad...March-Westin are the really good ones up here...all are looking for people...