Is it so horrible? (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: transplants, how much, job market)

[clj2]

OK, I am in communications and recently lost my job in Raleigh, NC. Jobs in my field are VERY hard to find, especially in my field, but I have found something rather promising in Pittsburgh, nothing confirmed but it could be likely. I am from Greenville, SC originally.

First question: are southerners welcome?

Next....a lot of people (here in Raleigh) are from PA and talk about how bad it is and how much better NC is. Is it as bad as they say? What's wrong? PA is a beautiful state and Pittsburgh looks like a nice city.

Just wanting to check some things out just in case.

Thanks.

[Geeo]

Jobs in communications are very hard to find in all parts of the country. Take an exploratory trip to Pittsburgh to see if you like it. It's a much older city, which could be good or bad, depending on what you like. It looks more European than American in some parts. The older sections have great architecture, walkable neighborhoods, a large medical complex and a university section, and some funky areas that young people like to gravitate. The city boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, and you could be out doing something almost any night of the week if you like. It also has newer sub-urban areas that will be indistinguishable to you and look much like Raleigh with strip malls and acres of housing developments. Right now, the Pittsburgh economy is more stable than the rest of the country because we don't have booms and busts. The recession is slowing things down, of course, but we're not a basket case like South Florida, Nevada or Phoenix.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by clj2

First question: are southerners welcome?

Yes, we Yankees don't get into that Civil War thing.

Although you might have to subsitute yinz for ya'll.

Hey, anybody with a job and under the age of 50 is more than welcome in this town.

[clj2]

Thanks....we would visit if I do get a job offer. My field is actually radio/TV. You all have a beautiful city and I like everything I've seen so far. My wife is from KY and says she wants somewhere with snow...lol.

[RockLobster]

I have been working in the media bizz for ten years and have lived in markets in Colorado, South Florida and here in Pittsburgh. I rate Pittsburgh as a very solid city in which to live. Great value, solid neighborhoods, culture, sports, even the out door possibilities are pretty good.
On air tv / radio jobs are being cut back in Pittsburgh as they are in most markets. This is an era of industry wide cutbacks. Not to say that there won't be any new hires. WTAE for instance has been looking for an additional on air meteorologist for several months. But overall there are fewer on air jobs available.

[clj2]

Thanks, RockLobster. Actually the positions I am interested in currently are off-the air....been there, done that, I was "downsized" from on-air (radio) 5 years ago.

[MarqueseGilmore]

Originally Posted by clj2

OK, I am in communications and recently lost my job in Raleigh, NC. Jobs in my field are VERY hard to find, especially in my field, but I have found something rather promising in Pittsburgh, nothing confirmed but it could be likely. I am from Greenville, SC originally.

First question: are southerners welcome?

Next....a lot of people (here in Raleigh) are from PA and talk about how bad it is and how much better NC is. Is it as bad as they say? What's wrong? PA is a beautiful state and Pittsburgh looks like a nice city.

Just wanting to check some things out just in case.

Thanks.

To be honest with you,generally speaking,Pittsburghers are welcoming but they are also closed-minded and segregate themselves. People who lived in PGH all their lives generally only "inhabitat" with others who are from PGH. This is me generally speaking though!! Pittsburgh is super boring if your used to a big city feel....IMO. And the job market is booming ONLY if your in the medical field. Downtown closes SUPER EARLY!!

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by clj2

Next....a lot of people (here in Raleigh) are from PA and talk about how bad it is and how much better NC is. Is it as bad as they say?

What is "bad"? I love questions like that, I get them from customers all the time, like "what is good" or "what is the best".

What do they say is so "bad"?

[clj2]

Thanks again all.

Scottpriester, I'm always hearing the same from PA transplants, and same from NY, NJ, FL...how "rude", "horrible weather", "fast-paced", "expensive", being the typical. I'm not saying I think that, don't think I'm calling your state that, it's just what I hear around....then a few I've known move down to NC/SC and it's utopia, then after that wears off they start complaining about it and want to go back north or somewhere else. That's not the majority, but it certainly does happen. Guess it's just human nature.

[PeterRabbit]

It's fine to be happy with where you moved to but why cut-up where you've been in the same breath. Everyone would like to feel assured they've made the right decision and on down the road it doesn't always turn out that way.

You can't compare Pittsburgh with any other area in the state or anywhere else. The people here are friendly, not rude. Life isn't fast-paced which may be why others say we seem more like the Midwest. Nobody whose ever been here would say it's expensive. We're the only city that's been voted most livable twice and we've always been in the top 20 since the list began.

I don't blame anyone if they say the weather is horrible. We have a cold winter and hot, humid summer. Having only 56 days of sunshine a year is weatherman's propaganda. If there's one cloud in the sky it's considered overcast for the entire day regardless of how many hours the sun shines. It rains a lot but it isn't a slow agonizing drizzle like Seattle or other places. It rains hard and gets it over with. One of the most common things said about here is that it's so green.

If you go to Philadelphia or New York you get what you expect. If you come to Pittsburgh you get a surprise. It's a good one and one you'll never forget.