IT Jobs in FoCo? (Denver, Colorado Springs: 2015, apartment, tech jobs)

[Jse2015]

My family and I are looking to move to Colorado from NJ. Fort Collins is our first choice. We visited last year and love it there.

I've been applying to jobs through Craigslist and Career Builder, but so far I haven't had many responses.

My questions are: 1. How is the IT jobs market in Fort Collins? I'm a Consultant/Systems Admin with fourteen years of experience. Is it that hard to find IT work?
2. Are there any other sites you'd use for job listings? I don't see that many on CL and was wondering if another site was used more commonly there.

Thanks.

[StealthRabbit]

Remember that in coming to Ft Collins area, you have a bit of EXISTING competition in the 'installed' (resident base)

including:

1) about 10,000 laid off / under-employed EXCELLENT IT folks from HP, Intel, IBM, Kodak, Storage Tech, and quite a few other excellence 'heavy hitters' of IT sector with a presence / previous presence in the 'commutable' region.

2) Also many CSU students / faculty / employees who fell in love or grew roots with the area and not willing / able to leave.

That said, you should still find some excellent opportunities, and certainly a vibrant and engaging community of entreprenuers / SE contractors in IT. Just that the competition for 'posted' IT jobs in the area,
will be stiff.
I met some folks from Ft Collins enroute to Austin for 'new employee' training. They will be 'home-based' in NoCo as IT employees for Dell.

There have always been MANY high tech commuters from NoCo to Boulder / Niwot / Longmont / North (and South Denver) ...
I might suggest you consider Co Springs as an alternative, do to ample opportunities, similar QoLiving, and accessible to South Denver (where most of CO IT 'office based' workers are located). There are some GREAT companies and opportunities for IT in Co Springs (AND it is MUCH closer to CO recreation opportunities). A benefit for FoCo is the proximity to WY recreation. (my preference... I don't do crowds and stoplights and such).

If FoCo is your 'must-have' choice, I'd be banging on doors of places that NEED IT help, but are not advertising for help. There are MANY.

Do you have a 'niche'? (Hopefully not Systems / UX / LX, as there are TOP NOTCH folks in those fields 'sacking groceries' in FoCo). I know MANY who have been out of high tech jobs in NoCo for decades, and they are NOT leaving the area. (and they remain VERY competent / active in employment search).

[sweetpee40]

I my self want to move to colorado Ft Collins. but im a little worried about the jobs there. i am a certified nursing assistant, and im looking for a one bed room apartment because its just me. but i love the out doors that is why i wanted to move there to really start over. can someone give me some insite on what im looking foward to plz...

[MeeBo635]

Jse2015,
I'd monitor Dice.com for job listings in addition to Craigslist and Career Builder. Dice specializes in IT jobs, and is where I found my FTC IT job.
M.

[bluescreen73]

The IT market in Fort Collins is pretty scant compared to Denver/Boulder and Colorado Springs.

A good question to ask is what happens if you lose that job? There's a very real chance you could be long-term unemployed/underemployed or forced to make a really crappy commute to Denver for work.

[rya700]

Originally Posted by sweetpee40

I my self want to move to colorado Ft Collins. but im a little worried about the jobs there. i am a certified nursing assistant, and im looking for a one bed room apartment because its just me. but i love the out doors that is why i wanted to move there to really start over. can someone give me some insite on what im looking foward to plz...

Most LTC facilities are owned by Columbine health care systems. Not the most lucrative job but it is what I did when I first moved to FC and it looks like they have several openings for CNA's. http://www.columbinehealth.com/emplo..._open_list.pdf

If you want to work in PVH or Banner hospitals as a CNA there is alot of competion

[GARDENGAL60]

I agree with MeeBo635, Dice.com is a good site for I.T. Have you also tried Linked In and Simply Hired? I've been in I.T. for over 30 years and Dice is about the best. It also has a lot to do with which area you specialize in. I've been in midrange using RPG for the majority of my career.

[cal5101]

Hi. One other suggestion is to go to the websites of the various IT companies in Fort Collins and see if they have any openings. Most companies have a "Jobs/Careers" section on their sites. Or call them. That's how I got my job. I didn't go through any third party site.