[rootzdread]

I'm a native Floridian and have over 4 years experience in IT. I live in Dade country and it's pretty difficult to find permanent well paying jobs in IT. What other city/area in FL is best for IT?

[annaegel]

I would say Jacksonville, then Tallahassee. I don't know if Miami would be another place. My hubby is an IT guy in Tampa. When he was laid off, he got offers for interviews in both Tallahassee and Jacksonville. He knows other IT people who found jobs in Jacksonville.

[rootzdread]

Originally Posted by annaegel

I would say Jacksonville, then Tallahassee. I don't know if Miami would be another place. My hubby is an IT guy in Tampa. When he was laid off, he got offers for interviews in both Tallahassee and Jacksonville. He knows other IT people who found jobs in Jacksonville.

I sure like the costs of houses in Talla and JAX but I feel Talla's job would only be government/university based and if you don't get in with them, it might be difficult to get a job. Here in Miami, I am offered contract jobs on a weekly basis, but these companies do not like to hire perm. I am looking for only perm opportunities. I don't want to leave FL but this is not the best state for IT.

[user8]

None, really. I would imagine the larger 3 (Miami, Jville, Tampa) are the best of the crop, but that's not saying much. That said, I see (and have applied to) a lot of IT positions available in Tampa but the problem is that there are a metric ton of applicants as well.

[rootzdread]

Originally Posted by user8

None, really. I would imagine the larger 3 (Miami, Jville, Tampa) are the best of the crop, but that's not saying much. That said, there are a lot of IT positions available in Tampa but the problem is that there are a metric ton of applicants as well.

I feel the same way about South FL. UGH. Should I just consider leaving the state for good? I have over 4 years experience in IT, have an Associates and Bachelors degree and only make 35K as a contractor without benefits. All I get offered is contract work like every week and no one wants to hire perm down here with some decent pay.

[annaegel]

Originally Posted by rootzdread

I feel the same way about South FL. UGH. Should I just consider leaving the state for good? I have over 4 years experience in IT, have an Associates and Bachelors degree and only make 35K as a contractor without benefits. All I get offered is contract work like every week and no one wants to hire perm down here with some decent pay.

Many recruiting companies allow you to buy into their group insurance. We did that until I found a full-time job. You pay a lot for it, but it was better than no insurance. Tallassee is mostly government contract jobs that pays terrible. There are full-time jobs in Tampa, but they are hard to find. My husband finally found a permanent job near the airport. They are likely to be hiring more IT people, I just don't know when exactly. It isn't a great place to work. Many people have quit. It is a new contract with a large company, so they are trying to work out the kinks.

If you are considering out of state, look into Atlanta, Raleigh, NC, Washington, DC or NYC area.

[FloridaKash]

I'm in the Tampa area and am in the IT field (Business Analyst/System Analyst/Project Manager) and have been looking for a job for 1.5 months. I work on it everyday, have had ton of recruiters contact me and submit apps as well. Still haven't landed a job yet. There seems to be quite a few jobs, along with lots of applicants. It's competitive.

[rootzdread]

Originally Posted by annaegel

Many recruiting companies allow you to buy into their group insurance. We did that until I found a full-time job. You pay a lot for it, but it was better than no insurance. Tallassee is mostly government contract jobs that pays terrible. There are full-time jobs in Tampa, but they are hard to find. My husband finally found a permanent job near the airport. They are likely to be hiring more IT people, I just don't know when exactly. It isn't a great place to work. Many people have quit. It is a new contract with a large company, so they are trying to work out the kinks.

If you are considering out of state, look into Atlanta, Raleigh, NC, Washington, DC or NYC area.

I know it's just really hard for a native Miamian to go and deal with the cold.

[user8]

Originally Posted by rootzdread

I feel the same way about South FL. UGH. Should I just consider leaving the state for good? I have over 4 years experience in IT, have an Associates and Bachelors degree and only make 35K as a contractor without benefits. All I get offered is contract work like every week and no one wants to hire perm down here with some decent pay.

Honestly? Yes, you should. Florida is NOT a place to nurture and grow a quality IT career. If you have a lot of experience and/or a high level security clearance, there are some pretty good opportunities but nothing on the scale of some of the other cities mentioned (especially the DC area). Meh. I left DC last year to escape the frantic pace and absurd cost. However, since these days people are getting pushed further and further out into the suburbs, there are a lot of opportunities way outside of the city and plenty of places to live that aren't an arm and a leg. Research the Dulles corridor in VA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulles...ology_Corridor

The following companies have headquarters or major regional offices located in the Dulles Technology Corridor:

• Accenture
• AgustaWestland
• Airbus
• AOL
• AT&T
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• BAE Systems
• Boeing[dubious – discuss]
• CA, Inc.
• Capgemini
• Cisco Systems
• Computer Sciences Corporation
• DynCorp
• EDS
• ExxonMobil
• Fairchild Dornier
• Getronics
• Juniper Networks
• IBM
• L-3 Communications
• Lockheed Martin
• Microsoft
• Network Solutions
• NeuStar
• Nissan Motors
• Nortel Networks
• Northrop Grumman
• Oracle Corporation
• Orbital Sciences
• Raytheon
• Rolls-Royce North America
• SAIC
• Siemens
• Sprint Nextel
• Symantec
• Tata Communications
• Time Warner Cable
• Unisys
• XO Communications
• VeriSign
• Verizon
• Volkswagen
• Carahsoft Technology Corp.
• Latista Technologies

Lots of defense contractors, private firms that are constantly expanding out that way. Plus it's a stone's throw from some really beautiful parts of the state (blue ridge mountains, etc.). I'm sort of debating trying to convince my wife that we should move back up that way to be near family. Screw DC, though. Too expensive and the transients are miserable husks.

[rootzdread]

Thanks user8, where did you move to BTW?