to people who relocated to AZ (Phoenix, Glendale: real estate, apartment, homes)

[still_in_CT]

I have some questions regarding emplyment, to anyone who has relocated from anywhere to Phoeniz area.
Did you have a job setup before you decided to move? Or did you just pick up your stuff and move? In what industry do you work.
BTW, my wife, our daugher (19 months), and I want to move out there. I have sister there (they didn't have any jobs setup when they moved). We've been out there 5 or 6 times, in the hot months and the cooler months. But I'm a little nervous about moving out there without having a job first. I'm a manufacturing engineer in the aerospace industry, and my wife is a nurse (RN).
So I'm just curious how many people had marbles to just move without having a job first. Thanks.

[phoenixmike11]

I have done that before and its not easy going to a new city without a job. You might want to stay where you are now if you have a current job and move when the economy gets better or until you have a job lined up in a new city. honeywell has an aerospace division in phoenix but in general phoenix does not have a lot of high quality jobs unless you work in the real estate or medical industry.

[westcoastbabe]

As some of you probably know already, I joined the city-data forum even though I am not a residence of Phoenix. But because I am would like to relocate in the near future, I thought this would be a great way of networking. I currently work for a global company in which I thought it would be easy to tranfer,but it has not been "GRAVY". It has not been easy to score an interview, much less an offer since I am out of state. I apply regularly on job search boards such as CareerBuilder.com and Indeed.com, scours the classifieds in local newspapers and searches Google for the latest openings.

I've found it very difficult to make connections without living in town, though. I am very hesitant to book a trip to visit without any interviews lined up, and moving to Phoenix without a job isn't an option...(Not that crazy So, readers, any advice on finding a job from out of town? All comments are welcomed. Thanks and God Bless.

[Bondurant]

I'm moving to the Phoenix area with no job after the 4th. But I am single with no children and no debts. Plus I have around $8k saved up and I have potential job connections. I also have the luxury of family that will shack me up while I look for work and an apartment. Worst case scenario for me is having to suck it up and work fast food or retail.

You've a lot more on your plate to deal with. Look to see what kind of work is availiable in your field. If your wife is a good nurse I don't think she'd have trouble finding work anywhere.

Best of luck to you.

[smokemaster]

don't assume fast food and retail are still hiring. I haven't been able to get hired as a Substitute Teacher. They used to be desperate for Subs.

[apexin]

I cant speak for an RN, but my wife is a Physical Therapist with 15 years exp. working in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. We recently moved here with my job (transfer), so we never went without income and had a corporate relocation package to help with settling in. The plan was for my wife to take off the summer and be with the kids, but after she inquired with a few facilities in the area, she now has offers from several companies for work. She works PRN or as needed and is not interested in going back full time, but the jobs seem to be out there if you want them. She went into one facility to work on a Saturday and they call here daily asking for her to come back for more work during the week. One job wanted her to come to work after just seeing her resume and a short phone call.

I guess it just matters what industry you are in, but I would think an RN could find work quickly or even before she gets out here.

My wife needed to be certified in the state of AZ to work here and that took a couple of months and she had to take a test, so she got that all out of the way before we moved.

Good luck and the whole family loves it here, no regrets so far.

[raya22]

Originally Posted by still_in_CT

I have some questions regarding emplyment, to anyone who has relocated from anywhere to Phoeniz area.
Did you have a job setup before you decided to move? Or did you just pick up your stuff and move? In what industry do you work.
BTW, my wife, our daugher (19 months), and I want to move out there. I have sister there (they didn't have any jobs setup when they moved). We've been out there 5 or 6 times, in the hot months and the cooler months. But I'm a little nervous about moving out there without having a job first. I'm a manufacturing engineer in the aerospace industry, and my wife is a nurse (RN).
So I'm just curious how many people had marbles to just move without having a job first. Thanks.

I think to each their own. With your wife being an RN, she will not have a problem getting a job (I can give you a little information on this). I am not familiar with what you do, so i cannot give any advice on this.

I moved to Arizona without a job and found one fairly quickly. It may not have been what i wanted at the time, but it paid the bills until i had a chance to do more research and networking with people.

The key to making a jobless move was having a very strong inner sense that everything would work out. Its not for everyone but it can be done

We are leaving Arizona in a few months, on our last adventure (leaving for personal reasons) and i will be doing the same thing. Having said that...just do your research before you leave and you will know when/if to make your move

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

For many like my parants they are retired. They also sold a home that they owned in California. That home in California cost them $13,000 and they sold it for $338,000 in 2003. The home that they bought in Surprise cost them $132,000 and it is paid for.

My sister and her husband moved to Glendale in 2005 and bought a place without having a job. He was retired from the navy and they now both work for the University of Phoenix.

Another sister moved there and was able to get work in a medical office within a few weeks of getting there.

As far as being an RN it depends on the state that the RN is licensed in. California is accepted in any state. Not all states are accepted in other states. You will need to check. Saying that I know of many in California that moved to Arizona and found jobs when they got there or from visiting the many area hospitals web sites.

[carrob]

To the OP....

I do not currently reside in Phoenix, but am an RN, and know 5 nurses who reside in the Valley (as I lived there previously). They all have jobs and state that all their places of employment are currently hiring. I hope she at least has a Bachelor's Degree and a certification in her area of expertise...they would definitely help in this job market. Hopefully she has a few years of recent job experience...and she will have no problem.

In this economy, employers are obviously able to be more picky...and with everyone and their uncle trying to get into the nursing field (or other health care areas), it is more difficult for the new graduate or less educated. Also, if she works in areas like ICU, ER, or OR, she can also pick her own salary. Bottom line, even nurses are not in as much demand as in the past...too many in nursing school, fewer retiring, more working two jobs, people coming back from retirement or other fields, etc.

[smokemaster]

I think that is a very fair assessment. It is not the 60K per year right out of school, promised to many, but the demand is there for sure. Cutbacks are everywhere (except school district administration).