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I'm having to move to Fargo, ND within the next month for personal reasons. Wondering if it's such a bad idea to move there without a job in place -- I'm only looking for $11 or $12 an hour full time, hopefully within the realm of office/clerical work (but I'm open to other things that are entry level as well, such as warehousing).
I've seen the unemployment rate is very low in Fargo and most of the rest of North Dakota...and then I see some positions I'd be interested in on temp agency websites. But, I've seen a few things about needing to know the right people or have the right last name in order to get a job in Fargo -- is this true?
A little about me: I am a 22 year old African American female from California. I'm very well spoken, outgoing, personable, and have 1.5 years of office/call center experience. I also have food service and grocery experience, about 2 years of that.
My impression from what I've read is that ND doesn't seem to be a discriminatory place (based on race) either, especially in the larger cities...but I still am a little worried about it, just don't know what to expect. I don't want that to hold me back from being able to get a job...I just want to know that I have a chance there in Fargo.
It all depends on the industry. K-12 teaching positions, upper level finance or business, or agriculture-related finance, yes, it's definitely who you know. In the service sector--call centers, data entry, manufacturing, and health care--I would say is more open to someone from outside the region.
Going out on a limb here--I wouldn't say hiring biases are necessarily about color of skin. I would say, however, that speech and language usage can be/have been used as sorting criteria in hiring--having the required "verbal and written communication proficiency." This can mean that the preference is given to those who sound like the hiring manager--midwestern & white.
It all depends on the industry. K-12 teaching positions, upper level finance or business, or agriculture-related finance, yes, it's definitely who you know. In the service sector--call centers, data entry, manufacturing, and health care--I would say is more open to someone from outside the region.
Going out on a limb here--I wouldn't say hiring biases are necessarily about color of skin. I would say, however, that speech and language usage can be/have been used as sorting criteria in hiring--having the required "verbal and written communication proficiency." This can mean that the preference is given to those who sound like the hiring manager--midwestern & white.
So basically, I shouldn't have a problem. Ok great...thanks so much!
I would say Fargo would be like any other Midwestern city it's size .... it is large enough metro area with all the colleges to have a more diverse workforce than you might otherwise think and the majority being Lutherans, which are typically pretty open to other races, cultures. But in some smaller fields, yes you will run into more who you know, but that isnt untypical in many fields, especially once you get your foot in the door. Midwest worth ethic is quite strong and its your work ethic and how you get along with others that will be far more important than the color of your skin or religion you have.
In the in demand fields, many employers are having trouble finding qualified candidates and as long as you show up, look presentable, do a good job, they could care less on the other issues.
The oil boom out west as created a vacuum where there is a large need of people to fill service type jobs, mechanics, you name it. The more white collar jobs are more stable and harder to get, but any time of call center, service job with retail, food, health care, they are desperate for help.
I know up here in Grand Forks, which is way less pop than the Fargo metro, there are hiring signs all over for any type of food service, retail, construction, office work, you name it. Just not enough people to fill positions. We have a west/north end new Walmart that wants to open (newly built) but cannot yet as they have trouble finding enough people. Pay in our region isnt as much as out west. Amazon.com has a customer service center in Grand Forks, and maybe a distribution center, and they are always looking for good people. Starting pay 11-12/hr with benefits. Digi-Key in Thief River Falls MN (smaller town) similarly a very much growing company looking for any one to fill many positions....pay starting 12-13/hr.
I would say Fargo would be like any other Midwestern city it's size .... it is large enough metro area with all the colleges to have a more diverse workforce than you might otherwise think and the majority being Lutherans, which are typically pretty open to other races, cultures. But in some smaller fields, yes you will run into more who you know, but that isnt untypical in many fields, especially once you get your foot in the door. Midwest worth ethic is quite strong and its your work ethic and how you get along with others that will be far more important than the color of your skin or religion you have.
In the in demand fields, many employers are having trouble finding qualified candidates and as long as you show up, look presentable, do a good job, they could care less on the other issues.
The oil boom out west as created a vacuum where there is a large need of people to fill service type jobs, mechanics, you name it. The more white collar jobs are more stable and harder to get, but any time of call center, service job with retail, food, health care, they are desperate for help.
I know up here in Grand Forks, which is way less pop than the Fargo metro, there are hiring signs all over for any type of food service, retail, construction, office work, you name it. Just not enough people to fill positions. We have a west/north end new Walmart that wants to open (newly built) but cannot yet as they have trouble finding enough people. Pay in our region isnt as much as out west. Amazon.com has a customer service center in Grand Forks, and maybe a distribution center, and they are always looking for good people. Starting pay 11-12/hr with benefits. Digi-Key in Thief River Falls MN (smaller town) similarly a very much growing company looking for any one to fill many positions....pay starting 12-13/hr.
So there are opportunities for sure....
Hi DaninEGF! I've read some of your posts on this forum and really appreciated your wisdom about the area.
Question -- for office type jobs that make $11 to $12 an hour...would you say Fargo or Grand Forks would be a better bet? What you just said makes it seem like Grand Forks has more employment available than Fargo does in office/clerical work.
Also...Craigslist/Indeed doesn't seem to have many job postings. Does anybody know where employers in Fargo/Grand Forks usually post their job vacancies online?
Hi DaninEGF! I've read some of your posts on this forum and really appreciated your wisdom about the area.
Question -- for office type jobs that make $11 to $12 an hour...would you say Fargo or Grand Forks would be a better bet? What you just said makes it seem like Grand Forks has more employment available than Fargo does in office/clerical work.
Also...Craigslist/Indeed doesn't seem to have many job postings. Does anybody know where employers in Fargo/Grand Forks usually post their job vacancies online?
Thanks a bunch
i would still say fargo area best due to higher pop....job services of north dakota is one place.....plus forum newspapers...fargo forum and grand forks herald have an employment section on their websites...i can give more info later ....grand forks is gtowing...but fargo has cheaper housing
It all depends on the industry. K-12 teaching positions, upper level finance or business, or agriculture-related finance, yes, it's definitely who you know. In the service sector--call centers, data entry, manufacturing, and health care--I would say is more open to someone from outside the region.
Going out on a limb here--I wouldn't say hiring biases are necessarily about color of skin. I would say, however, that speech and language usage can be/have been used as sorting criteria in hiring--having the required "verbal and written communication proficiency." This can mean that the preference is given to those who sound like the hiring manager--midwestern & white.
Or with a Minnesota accent and white (and what is more white than a Minnesota accent?) Seriously, I'd say that NW MN and E ND have the strongest variety of this accent anywhere. I don't think it would impact your hiring opportunities, though, and might even enhance them, particularly in social-minded companies where some form of affirmative action exists.
Hi DaninEGF! I've read some of your posts on this forum and really appreciated your wisdom about the area.
Question -- for office type jobs that make $11 to $12 an hour...would you say Fargo or Grand Forks would be a better bet? What you just said makes it seem like Grand Forks has more employment available than Fargo does in office/clerical work.
Also...Craigslist/Indeed doesn't seem to have many job postings. Does anybody know where employers in Fargo/Grand Forks usually post their job vacancies online?
Thanks a bunch
Fargo is a fair bit larger than Grand Forks.
As DaninEGF suggested, Thief River Falls, Minnesota might be an option with Digi-Key. They're all roughly in the same region.
Also, if you don't have a passport, make sure to get one, as Winnipeg, Manitoba is just up the road and provides plenty of urban weekend opportunities that don't exist much in North Dakota or that part of Minnesota.
Thanks so much for the info everyone. I believe I'm going to go with Fargo for now. I can always move after my lease is up.
Thanks a bunch
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