Help relocating to Eau Claire (Menomonie, Chippewa Falls: home, job market, to buy)

[PBC19]

Hi Everybody;

My husband and two toddlers and I hope to relocate from Seattle to the Eau Claire area before next spring. (I grew up in rural MN so I know what the weather will be like). After considering several nearby states and cities, I think Eau Claire looks beautiful and would be a good place to raise children. It also isn't too far from family and larger cities. We plan to check it out for ourselves this Sept. It seems like housing is much cheaper in Eau Claire. We are moving because the cost of living is too high here (cannot afford to buy a decent house), to be closer to family, and to be in a more conservative area for raising our kids....not to mention less traffic! We really love the Pacific NW but it's time for a change now that we have kids.

My question is: How can my husband increase his possibilities of finding a job there? He is a Civil Engineering CAD Tech with an A.A. degree. There just doesn't seem to be any jobs in that field on the internet. I suspect that in these smaller towns, like so many other places, it's all about "who ya know." It's hard to find work in an area when you currently live 1500 miles away. Any ideas??

Also, I am an RN so I doubt that finding a job for me would be too difficult. However we don't want to uproot our whole family and move there until my husband finds a job first.

Thanks so much for any feedback.

[wisconsinwoman]

I'd move back there in a heartbeat if I had a good job. For you, there's the Luther Midlefort - Mayo Health System to look at - a top notch organization for the most part. I wouldn't recommend moving there if your husband needs a job before he finds one. Eau Claire is a wonderful place to live (see my posts under the Moving to Eau Claire and Oconomowoc threads) but the job market is not very good.

[Cain]

I would agree. If you are dependent on his income, I wouldn't make the move.

That said, if you can do fine on income you could earn as an RN, and let him do the stay at home dad thing till he finds work, may be worth a shot as it will give him a chance to do job searching face to face.

RNs are in high demand in lots of areas. Nursing in general I guess.

[shannon2007]

Actually, I have see ads for CAD drafters quite often in the Leader Telegram. If you have been looking at the online version of the Telegram, they don't have as much there as the real paper that comes out on Sunday. I found that out when I was making the move here. Of course, RNs are needed everywhere and there are quite a few opportunities for them in town. However, I have also heard that there really isnt a "shortage" here because of nursing grads from CVTC and UWEC. (I am in the nursing program right now).

Since moving here, I have found that if not for the weather, Eau Claire would be the idyllic place to raise children. There is no crime, it is not too big/small, they have some of the best schools in the country, and there is a low cost of living. Plus you're not too far from Minneapolis but not too close!

Here is one job posting for a CAD drafter I noticed.
JobNet Jobs Detail=

[Alexis03]

try looking at Curt manufacturing, Hutchinson Technology in EC.

Also try looking at some of the nearby towns like Menomonie, Chippewa Falls...

[Cain]

Good luck on your possible move. If you swing by Festival of Foods tell the bakery manager hello for me and that Brett Farve Rocks! (He is a big Bears Fan