[Daddys///M3]

Originally Posted by lasvegasnative30

For those wanting to move to las vegas, and looking for a job
let me give you a reality check!

1) Casinos - have to know somebody
2) College educated - Not needed in Sin City that involves in ENTERTAINMENT.
3) Recent College Grad - i.e. B.S. in Accounting - $14.00 per hour.
4) Having a college degree is even MORE COMPETITIVE to limited white-collar jobs. You are looking at approximately 3 years to get a cubicle job unless its marketing...
5) Most jobs - require pre-certification i.e. administrative jobs- need a notorized typing certification from Human Resources.
6) Jobs on the strip - Know somebody or be drop dead gorgious (hint- paris hilton look alike).

There are exceptions to your blanket statements. For example the education and medical industries are in desperate need of qualified individuals. Degrees in these fields will pay off in Vegas. Of course there is no demand for someone with a BS in Finance out here, or a software engineer.

As far as having to know somebody to get a casino job, if you are talking about management then that or a large amount of experience (which I'm sure would apply to any decent hotel in the country) would absolutely be required, although I would say that experience would be more important than being juiced in.

[kathy johnson]

I just turned down an interview in Pahrump because my husband wasn't willing to move to Pahrump. What takes you there? How did you find housing? What is the driving time to get across Vegas to Henderson?
Thanks for any information you send.

Thanks,kathy

P. S. College grads can get jobs teaching; CCSD is always recruiting.

[AA702]

Originally Posted by kathy johnson

I just turned down an interview in Pahrump because my husband wasn't willing to move to Pahrump. What takes you there? How did you find housing? What is the driving time to get across Vegas to Henderson?
Thanks for any information you send.

Thanks,kathy

P. S. College grads can get jobs teaching; CCSD is always recruiting.

I think people are looking for High Paying College grad jobs. I know there is always a need for teachers, but the pay is not 6 figures like most people would like to get.

[chi166]

Like other cities, a college degree doesn't guarantee a good paying job. I got a B.A. back in Chicago. I ended up working in a call center next to dropout single mom's for $10.00 per hr. Go into a trade and bypass the college experience. Paying back the student loans quite possibly (not always) put you further behind in the long run. The IBEW journeymen (5+ years exp) out here in Vegas make almost $33 an hour. The IBEW starts small in pay. By about two years you can reach the upper teens in wage.

If blue collar isn't your work. There maybe some disappointment at first out here. Some places look for residency stability. Job agencies fill by client need, not your qualifications. In the job fairs, you'll have a LOT of sales jobs available. It could be tougher if you do not like sales and physically can't work a blue collar job. You'll find a lot of the same places recruiting over and over in the paper. Avoid those places unless it's a stop gap position. The most important thing in life is the following three things...network, network and network. It's human nature to first fill a position from a recommendation of a good standing employee. This is an easy town to get to know people.

I got my latest job in a casino by networking.

[daveyjones978]

Honestly, chi66, you hit the nail on the head. It's all about networking. That's a given in any job in any market. I'm sorry, but i have to say that the original post here is kinda bulls**t. Having a college degree isn't going to automatically get your foot in the door. It used to, yes, but not so much anymore. But give me a break, it's not just in Las Vegas, it's EVERYWHERE.

Here in NY its absolutely impossible to find a decent job in my field, yes, they are there, but they either start out at 7 or 8 an hour, or they are internships which are not paid to start out with. I have friends with the same problems in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, everywhere.

It's a matter of how you go about it. Did you ever think that you could maybe start out at a smaller level and work up? Or maybe do something that isn't necesssarily directly related to your degree? Let me give you an example. I have a BA in Accounting and will soon have an MA in Public Administration. What have I been doing for the past year and a half? F&B Sales and Marketing/Promomtions for a Hotel. In a way, I'm still using both degrees, since you need to be business savvy and be able to deal with the public, and diversity, and HR, and org behavior, and all that other stuff grad school has taught me. And you know what? Yeah, it sucks. It's long hours (I just got off a 14 hour shift last night, and about to head back for another one tonight), but it works for now.

Sorry to ramble, and go o/t; but point being, to the OP I think he./she is so dead set on a certain type of job that they are not considering other options ... Honestly, it's not going to get you far in life.

And, all said and done, if you are THAT miserable in Vegas. Then get the f**k out!

[mdovell]

Just to chime in on a few things

1) college IS experience....who says so? the federal government. Granted it isn't the same amount of time but still. they count each year spent as 9 months. Much of the time employers might want someone with a degree basically to prove they could do something without jumping around...it shows committment...I've seen people that just start jobs for the training for a week and then quit to another job for a week. I had one guy as a boss that's probably on his fifth job now in the past year. A degree isn't 100% of landing a job but if workers don't have education then a business generally fails. HP was run by Carla Florina that was a medievel history major...not really educated and it fell down the tubes.

2) I'm not sure how rules are in other states but in mass it's require do have health insurance not just in the state but for school. If someone has gaps in employment that could signal loss of insurance which could to some indicate the chance of worse health. You also get immunized before you even attend school.

3) there's less people going to school coming up due to the effects of the credit meltdown. This might not appear in full effect until the fall but you are going to see less students that's without a doubt.

4) some might say that by default that college = debt but there's no shame in putting on a resume "copy of credit check availible upon request" more employers are checking these especially if you have a job that handles money or major assetts.

5) Watch for more restrictions for labor in general. I've already heard of plans in my state to raise say the high school dropout age and I won't be surprised if they just raise the working age to 18 if unemployment creeps up.

6) retirements are going to happen for baby boomers and the more remote the place is the more demand could be. Small towns and localities are going to be looking for replacements. It isn't like it can be totally outsourced. I won't say the exact places but I've seen some that start 65-85K. this is what happens sometimes if just one person has held the job for decades. Experience? no one could get experience but that person so that only leaves school.

about 25% of the country as a whole has a bachlors degree...and there's also potential in things overseas...I know one person teaching English in china...you don't even have to know Manderine...

[madtown]

I agree with mdovell, and I just want to add, if anyone thinks a college degree doesn't help in finding a job that offers good pay, you are out of your mind. I don't know the statistics, but I know they are out there in terms of how much more money college grads make than highschool grads with no college. There are positions available for people with bachelors degrees in every major city, and if you know how to find them, apply and conduct yourself professionally in an interview you have a fighting chance. I haven't even graduated yet, and have gone through 15 job interviews, been offered 10 jobs in cities such as Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chicago, Madison, and Las Vegas. I accepted the job in Las Vegas and will not get my 2 degrees until May 17th. Just because some of you may not have college degrees and have worked your way up, don't start bashing people that took their future into their own hands and went to college and got a degree no matter how much debt it took.

[Annyoakly]

Now, you all have some good points. And, now I am so glad I am networking with you because we all know that "it is not what you know, but who you know." But, AAPool Service, just want you to know that the job I just applied for in education is a six figure number (barely, but it is) and it not a principal or higher administrator. Oh, by the way, that is for a little under 10 months of work that can end as early as 3:30 P. M. and starting at a decent hour like about 7:30 A.M. Now, I may never get it because I don't know anyone there anymore; but, I didn't know anyone when I was offered teaching contracts in 1979 and last Mother's Day, 2007. Now about that education argument well presented by madtown, are you telling me that if there are two people up for one job and one has a degree and the other doesn't (is even one day short), that it doesn't matter? I don't think so. The degree proves a quality of tenacity or sticking to a goal, getting a job done. We have always taught students that finishing college proves that you can get up and go again and persevering is more important that how smart you are. There are many very smart people out there moving from job to job. Being able to negotiate staying with a job, getting through all the classes in college (even the required ones that are not "down your alley", staying the course and finisishing the job are skills employers are looking for in new employees. Now, providing you know someone or get an interview, perhaps you have examples you can share in the interview or first day on the job. I'd take a framer who had a degree over on who did not providing he could hold the hammer and use the saw right on the job the first day.

[psi2007]

I think the problem is that too many people have college degrees and don't know anything. Employers got tired of that. It used to be that a college degree meant something. It meant that the person holding it was well read, well traveled and well rounded in a variety of subjects. That is not the case now. Employers want to know that you actually know something and have some morals (at least enough to make you worth a good salary). Get known.

[psi2007]

Get on Craig's list and apply for everything you think you can handle. Call and get face to face (or voice to voice) contact. Join a jobhunters group at a local church or several. Those are good networks. Get some temp experience. Hotels need managers at all levels even shift managers for customer service. Customer service is always in need. Don't overlook doing the casino thing. It is, after all, what Las Vegas is known for. I hear you can become a dealer in a matter of months. One woman I met was a dealer (for the benefits) and a singer and a realtor. She got lots of real estate deals from her job as a dealer. Think multiple sources of income. I wish you luck and don't forget that prayers work too. I'm saying one for you right now!