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Old 01-03-2010, 07:04 AM
 
3 posts, read 6,027 times
Reputation: 10

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I would first like to explain a little about myself. I am 32, have a wife, a 4 year old son, and an above average job in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hate it here, it is miserable dang near year round. I have been all over the United States and am absolutely in love with Texas, especially the southwest. I am ready for the move, my wife is excited about it, and we want to be where we want to be before we start our son in school.
So, on that note, the scariest part of moving 1600 miles from everybody and everything I know is, how to support my family, i.e. finding work. I am a machinist by trade 16 years now, mostly manual equipment. I am also a pretty well rounded carpenter, painter, handyman kind of guy. I just need to know work is available when and if I get there.
Does anybody know much about the work availability in the El Paso, Texas area. Why we are on the subject I need a safe area as I said I have a family. And if anyone has any info on schools that would be great too. Well, any info that would help is welcome. But as I said employment is my main concern.
Thank you in advance for any info/advice.

Brian
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Old 01-03-2010, 07:34 AM
 
Location: Albuquerque
1,899 posts, read 3,506,894 times
Reputation: 1282
If you're expecting to get decent wages for any skill you have forget it. I had a friend when I lived in NM who was used to getting $16/hour in Mass. who was getting $7/hour for the same work. And this was back in the early 90s. Bottom line: unless you have a profession wages are going to be awful and you'll be miserable. I've seen it. GL.
ps: Look into places like Dallas and Houston.
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Old 01-03-2010, 07:56 AM
 
Location: Ruidoso, NM
1,643 posts, read 4,915,957 times
Reputation: 670
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Cabeza View Post
If you're expecting to get decent wages for any skill you have forget it.
I'll second that advice and add that even if the OP is HIGHLY skilled, he'd be competing in a job market that is full of people who are possibly not as highly skilled but who do the kind of work he mentions. Because of the close proximity to Mexico, the competition comes from people who sell their labor for whatever the market will bear and drive down wages for those who might have more experience and a higher level of job skills. El Paso is the very last place (along with other communities bordering Mexico) where a person with a secure job should be thinking of relocating to - IMHO!

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Old 01-03-2010, 08:08 AM
 
3 posts, read 6,027 times
Reputation: 10
Wow, yeah, I was kind of expecting this news, but was hoping for something positive. I know what ya mean about "cheap labor", there is plenty of it here. I grew up in the country and spent most of my school years working on farms and doing odd jobs. That is all but gone here, a truck load of foreign workers and a sixteen year old boy who wants a job is SOL. They are as well eating up most other work. What a shame. Well guess I will continue to research and see what I come up with. Thank you for your replies.
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Old 01-03-2010, 09:16 AM
 
47,525 posts, read 69,672,493 times
Reputation: 22474
Quote:
Originally Posted by elpasoonmymind View Post
I would first like to explain a little about myself. I am 32, have a wife, a 4 year old son, and an above average job in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hate it here, it is miserable dang near year round. I have been all over the United States and am absolutely in love with Texas, especially the southwest. I am ready for the move, my wife is excited about it, and we want to be where we want to be before we start our son in school.
So, on that note, the scariest part of moving 1600 miles from everybody and everything I know is, how to support my family, i.e. finding work. I am a machinist by trade 16 years now, mostly manual equipment. I am also a pretty well rounded carpenter, painter, handyman kind of guy. I just need to know work is available when and if I get there.
Does anybody know much about the work availability in the El Paso, Texas area. Why we are on the subject I need a safe area as I said I have a family. And if anyone has any info on schools that would be great too. Well, any info that would help is welcome. But as I said employment is my main concern.
Thank you in advance for any info/advice.

Brian
People from the Midwest tend to like it here a lot because of the weather. Unlike a lot of Texas the weather here is more suitable to Midwesterners. Anywhere you live is pretty good as far as safety, safety isn't really a problem as far as violence toward strangers.

They're building like crazy here, mostly because of Fort Bliss expansion, federal money is pouring into El Paso, housing developers are having a hay day here. New hotels and apartment buildings are going up all over.

The problem with your kind of work, El Paso is very big with illegals and those crossing the border on a daily basis more than happy to work for peanuts - more than happy to accept jobs with no benefits like health care so yes wages are a problem as are lack of jobs for anyone who competes with basically all of Mexico and Central America for jobs.

Also the factories here have mostly shut down, it was once actually fairly good for factory jobs, machinists, die makers but the big corporations found it cheaper to build their plants on the other side of the border or even cheaper to move them to China.

Still - you are in a position to go into business for yourself, the cost of living is cheaper as far as heating bills, electric bills and you can find okay housing for $500 a month or less if you look in the right places and don't mind that the neighbors all speak Spanish. The weather and the views of the mountain and desert, laid back living, make up for a lot I think.
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Old 01-04-2010, 05:28 AM
 
5,976 posts, read 15,264,045 times
Reputation: 6710
Default Nothing but bad news..

Quote:
Originally Posted by elpasoonmymind View Post
I would first like to explain a little about myself. I am 32, have a wife, a 4 year old son, and an above average job in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hate it here, it is miserable dang near year round. I have been all over the United States and am absolutely in love with Texas, especially the southwest. I am ready for the move, my wife is excited about it, and we want to be where we want to be before we start our son in school.
So, on that note, the scariest part of moving 1600 miles from everybody and everything I know is, how to support my family, i.e. finding work. I am a machinist by trade 16 years now, mostly manual equipment. I am also a pretty well rounded carpenter, painter, handyman kind of guy. I just need to know work is available when and if I get there.
Does anybody know much about the work availability in the El Paso, Texas area. Why we are on the subject I need a safe area as I said I have a family. And if anyone has any info on schools that would be great too. Well, any info that would help is welcome. But as I said employment is my main concern.
Thank you in advance for any info/advice.

Brian
There are many nice people out there, that is why there are only a few responses... it is better to say nothing, than to say anything bad! Just kidding of course..

As most already pointed out, and you agree, wages are a problem. If a prospective employer had the choice of paying you 15 dollars per hour, or paying 5 men 3 dollars an hour, well, you can see what would happen. Plus, in El Paso, most people have an uncle, brother, cousin, friend or whatever, that will help them with any type of repair, or improvements... that is just how El Paso is. People also want to pay the least amount for a service, but then are the loudest to complain and demand high standards as if they paid a fortune for the service to begin with.

Your best bet is to find employment with a big company with your trade, not be your own employer in El Paso.
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Old 01-06-2010, 01:51 PM
 
187 posts, read 481,416 times
Reputation: 108
Im pretty sure you'll be able to find a decent job in El Paso, especially if your a machinist. Try scoping the lower valley, Horizon, even up to Socorro Texas. Theres a pretty good chance with your trade that they'll start you off at 10.00/hr or even more.
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Old 01-08-2010, 05:32 AM
 
Location: Albuquerque
1,899 posts, read 3,506,894 times
Reputation: 1282
Quote:
Originally Posted by elpasoonmymind View Post
I would first like to explain a little about myself. I am 32, have a wife, a 4 year old son, and an above average job in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hate it here, it is miserable dang near year round. I have been all over the United States and am absolutely in love with Texas, especially the southwest. I am ready for the move, my wife is excited about it, and we want to be where we want to be before we start our son in school.
So, on that note, the scariest part of moving 1600 miles from everybody and everything I know is, how to support my family, i.e. finding work. I am a machinist by trade 16 years now, mostly manual equipment. I am also a pretty well rounded carpenter, painter, handyman kind of guy. I just need to know work is available when and if I get there.
Does anybody know much about the work availability in the El Paso, Texas area. Why we are on the subject I need a safe area as I said I have a family. And if anyone has any info on schools that would be great too. Well, any info that would help is welcome. But as I said employment is my main concern.
Thank you in advance for any info/advice.

Brian
Brian, on second thought, since you are skilled check out USAJOBS.com and search the government jobs at the military bases. They're always looking for skilled trades. I knew a man who was a tool & die maker who worked at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo. I lived there for years. You'd love it. GL.
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Old 01-08-2010, 02:01 PM
 
158 posts, read 471,527 times
Reputation: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Cabeza View Post
Brian, on second thought, since you are skilled check out USAJOBS.com and search the government jobs at the military bases. They're always looking for skilled trades. I knew a man who was a tool & die maker who worked at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo. I lived there for years. You'd love it. GL.
Thanks Rich! I was going to suggest this as well, you beat me to it

Alamagordo is a very nice town. It is small, but there are other towns closeby as well.

Also when you check out that site have a look and see if there are any openings at Fort Bliss, Cannon AFB, Kirtland AFB.

If you are looking for the SW, check out AZ too.

Good Luck---my oldest daughter lives in Cincinnati and came to visit us here---she fell in love with EP
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Old 01-12-2010, 11:56 AM
 
Location: Lone Star State
355 posts, read 1,115,281 times
Reputation: 407
Default Not too difficult

As previously mentioned try usajobs.gov to look for positions at Ft Bliss; I work there and can tell you the pay is quite exceptional compared to the average wage for an El Pasoan.

Also make sure to post your resume on careerbuilder/monster and keep them as updated as possible. Another site I used is workintexas.org...you can browse jobs without creating an account but cannot apply for them.

$33k-$41k should easily be attainable with your resume w/the right employer. Contractors/Sub-contractors are BIG here and if you're able to sign on with one that works for the city or Ft Bliss, then you'll easily make $25-$30 per hour.
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