Moving to Alaska without a job lined up (Anchorage, Craig: rental, mortgage)

[blm650]

Hello. I am 25 and have about 30K in savings. I have no kids or any dependants. I had the opportunity to visit Alaska in November to interview with the Alaska Railroad. Unfortunately I wasn't selected. I fell in love with Alaska! It was the most beautiful place I've ever seen, and the people are incredibly friendly. I didn't want to go back home to New Jersey! I would like to move here, though I won't have a job lined up. I have savings, but that can go quickly with the high cost of living in Alaska. My family and friends are saying I would be very stupid if I do this. I sort of see their point, but NJ is so boring compared to Alaska. Do you think it's too risky to do this?

[AKStafford]

Single. No kids. Cash in hand. As you long as you are employable (have job skills, a go-getter, etc...) I'd say go for it. Could it be a dumb move? Sure. But isn't that what being young is all about? You aren't putting other people at risk in this case.
Cool Works can be a good resource for seasonal work. Alaska Jobs | CoolWorks.com
With Christmas coming, I've seen a lot of "Now Hiring" signs.

[riceme]

Risky? Sure, but I would still do it.

[Metlakatla]

I think it's risky, but it doesn't really have to be. Get a seasonal job lined up and take it from there. The link Stafford posted is an excellent one for people in your position. You can apply for those jobs online, and as long as your references check out and you aren't a complete loser, you'll get something. I'm pretty sure that place also has a forum where you can get advice on specific jobs and places.

[pittsflyer]

Do these seasonal jobs allow for enough free time to look for a real year round job? Also keep in mind that working a seasonal job where you live on site is not reality. If you live here full time the cost of living is out of sight, mostly due to housing. You can burn through 30k in about a year or 2 if you don't have a job.


I would look at craigs list and track the rental rates as I personally believe they are about to take a nose dive by mid next summer. Of course the reasons for the rental rates taking a nose dive may preclude you from getting a job that pays much over min wage. Oil and gas has been having mass lay offs and the state is about to follow, those are the only 2 employers in Alaska that really pay anything that I would want to live on. So you would be left with medical, retail, fishing, etc. I heard medical pays decent but I don't think they are going to be immune from what is going on it just might take a little longer to trickle down.


If you have a fed job in Alaska right now that's not uniformed service you are gold.

[AKStafford]

If you plan on living in the Valley, Three Bears is hiring: Career Opportunities | Three Bears
So is MTA: https://www.mtasolutions.com/about/m...p/job-openings
So is MEA: https://www.irecruit-us.com/index.ph...pg=initiallist
So is the MatSu Borough: Job Opportunity
First Student is ALWAYS looking for school bus drivers. They'll pay for your training.

And of course Craigslist has stuff: anchorage jobs - craigslist

[pittsflyer]

So its already starting lol. Actually MEA and MTA can be good jobs depending. Not sure about the Borough.

Originally Posted by AKStafford

If you plan on living in the Valley, Three Bears is hiring: Career Opportunities | Three Bears
So is MTA: https://www.mtasolutions.com/about/m...p/job-openings
So is MEA: https://www.irecruit-us.com/index.ph...pg=initiallist
So is the MatSu Borough: Job Opportunity
First Student is ALWAYS looking for school bus drivers. They'll pay for your training.

And of course Craigslist has stuff: anchorage jobs - craigslist

[MillerThyme]

Another option is Alaska Jobs | CoolWorks.com.

This is what I did back in 2004/05 - Got hired as security for Aramark and used that as a base to find a real job somewhere else. Some jobs are year round and pay very well. Housing is usually $200-400 a month, and includes breakfast / lunch.

Usually you want to start applying now so you can do phone interviews, and get all your logistics lined up. There some smaller companies that pay really well for the summer up there, but avoid Princess if you want to have weekends to explore the area and outlying communities.

I was hired in December 04 and flew up late March 05, and stayed Comfort Inn Ship Creek Anchorage for 3-days where me and my room mate met up. We got some supplies and then took the train.

Either way this is an excellent opportunity, and a smart way to travel. Gives you a job and roof over your head for 3-5 months while you look for something else, and this way you are not eating away at your savings.

Edit: Came up with only $2000 at age 21.

[Peester]

You are never going to be 25 and single and have no kids and have $30,000 all at the same time again.
What you probably will have is a spouse and kids and a mortgage and a car payment and a job that you can't quit. I had the opportunity to do something similar a long time ago and chickened out. What's the worst that could happen? New Jersey will always be there.

[Metlakatla]

I know plenty of people who've transitioned to living full time in AK from a seasonal job. You just gotta be smart about it. Sure, if you go to work out at Glacier Bay or another remote location, it's going to be tough to connect with a larger job market. Just being in the state, though, will give you an advantage.