Give me 10 reasons NOT to move to Bend (Green: buying a home, employment)

[nestvine]

I believe that is a myth. If anything I'd guess Bend has the reverse problem with too many over qualified applicants for each entry level job that is available.

This is most definitely not a myth for highly skilled tech jobs. I worked at local software company where it took them a long, long time to find someone who was willing to move here, ignoring the fact that they couldn't find anybody locally first. It is a major problem for Bend's tech scene. I would say the majority of tech people that I know have moved out of Bend for other opportunities in either Portland, San Francisco, or Seattle.

[BendLocal]

Originally Posted by nestvine

I worked at local software company where it took them a long, long time to find someone who was willing to move here, ignoring the fact that they couldn't find anybody locally first.

How long ago was that and what type of software development?

[nestvine]

It has been consistent over the four years I have lived here. This job was specifically Rails work.

[BendLocal]

OK, so you are talking about webdev. Even within that area of software dev Rails is fairly specialized and maybe not very interesting to many senior software engineers? I wonder if the difference is between junior and senior developers. It wouldn't surprise me to find that recruiting junior engineers to a small town like Bend is more challenging than recruiting senior guys.

[mrwibble]

Originally Posted by BendLocal

I believe that is a myth. If anything I'd guess Bend has the reverse problem with too many over qualified applicants for each entry level job that is available.

From my own experiences hiring, I've had no luck finding qualified people from the local workforce. I've always had to recruit from outside the area. Looking at the jobs postings from some of the larger employers in the area, I see vacancies posted last year still not filled.

[mrwibble]

Originally Posted by nestvine

This is most definitely not a myth for highly skilled tech jobs. I worked at local software company where it took them a long, long time to find someone who was willing to move here, ignoring the fact that they couldn't find anybody locally first.

To be fair, I've never had a problem finding people who are willing to move here.

[BendLocal]

Originally Posted by mrwibble

From my own experiences hiring, I've had no luck finding qualified people from the local workforce.

Industry and type of work?

[nevergreener]

Educated and experienced are two different things. In my business experience is essential and I can't find anyone. When I post ads I get responses from great people that I just risk hiring.

[redguard57]

Where I work it's the same - we have very few qualified local candidates. It's kind of a vicious cycle. There are no other options in the area for people with those qualifications, so they move to Portland, Seattle, Boise, somewhere. We've had applicants that worked temp or part-time for us for a year, then left. When the position turned full time, they applied again. We just hired someone like that who's been living in Salem for a few years.

Unless you're retired, wealthy, or your spouse has work, if you don't have a job here you can't stay. Odds are if you're a professional, there are only a handful of openings in central oregon and if you don't get one of them, you're done here.

[nestvine]

Originally Posted by redguard57

Where I work it's the same - we have very few qualified local candidates. It's kind of a vicious cycle. There are no other options in the area for people with those qualifications, so they move to Portland, Seattle, Boise, somewhere..

Exactly. This is why I am moving to Portland for a job.