IT Job Market in Chicago (bankruptcy, living in, moving to)

[greenleo]

I'm an application developer (Java) with 6+ years of experience, and I'm considering moving to Chicago in the next several months. How is the job market for someone with my background?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

[surlycue]

My SO got a job in IT security management here in Chicago while we were living in Florida. He had interviewed with Career Builder, ATT and a couple of smaller companies before finally getting a position where he is now. It was a grueling process, 7 months at least of constant leg work. If you are dedicated to moving to Chicago I would recommend saving up 6 months + of living expenses and then trying to find a job once you have a permanent address here. Definitely check up on CL, Monster and CB first to make sure there are openings though. The last thing you would want is to move here and then end up working as a custodian or waiter until the market corrects.

[Jesse69]

Well, 6 months ain't security enough! I've been unemployed for 37 weeks now!

Haven't you looked at Computerjobs.com? Says 993 Tech Jobs in Chicago! - But sometimes I think these numbers are "PADDED!"

[hamh]

well, I think the job market for software engineer in chicago is not bad at all, from time to time (even in 2009) I still get calls from recruiter asking me if I need a job ;-)

[emathias]

It really depends. Companies are being selective. If you have great experience you can still find work and even have negotiating power. If your experience is light either in breadth or depth, you'll run into problems.

I work for a small web company and we're still slowly hiring Java developers. It's slowed, but it hasn't stopped. I don't know of anywhere in the U.S. where any job market is "hot" (except maybe bankruptcy law), but I don't think Chicago is worse off than anywhere else. Like one of the other posters, I still get interest from recruiters every so often.

Experience with trading or brokerage business and needs is useful (but not absolutely essential) if you want to work downtown, because there are a lot of technology-driven trading firms in downtown Chicago. I also get the impression that there are a number of startups hiring downtown, partly because startups are at least partially sheltered from the immediate effects of overall economics since they're not supposed to be making money right away anyway. Of course working in both the financial industry and for startups can be torturous at times, but when times improve they should also be more lucrative than other types of companies.

[Tenzo]

I've always found Chicago a good place for tech jobs. You can get $80 - $100 an hour now. The economy is a little depressed.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Tenzo

I've always found Chicago a good place for tech jobs. You can get $80 - $100 an hour now. The economy is a little depressed.

Where are you getting these numbers? My SO has 10 years experience and is in the IT management field and doesn't make anywhere near that, not even half. The kind of IT pros that make that much are certainly not getting hired right now and are most like than not being let go because they are being grossly over paid.

[hamh]

Originally Posted by Tenzo

I've always found Chicago a good place for tech jobs. You can get $80 - $100 an hour now. The economy is a little depressed.

lol, I doubt where you find this numbers.

it would make more sense to transform it into 80K to 100K a year

[Tenzo]

yeah, OK guys.
Just trying to help

I get $86 / hr right now.
In Chicago I have gotten between $65 and $145. But that is hourly, corp. to corp. no bennies.
If you guys have different experiances, thats fine.
These are mine.

[Tenzo]

Of course that is for a contract assignment, not full pay.
Most assignments are 3 months to 6 months initially. So there is a higher rate.

As for $80 K or $40 and hour, I don't know of any company who is paying that little and getting talent.