Is it hard to get employment in Richmond if you aren't from around there? (Roanoke: live)

[Spongedaddy]

I have heard a few people say they had trouble getting employment in Richmond because they weren't from the area. How true is that statement? I have heard it a few times, but I have also heard Richmond is now a mixed are. Some on this board have even said they don't consider it "true south" any longer.

Appreciate the opinions.

Thanks

[j1n]

hey spongedaddy,
we're going through the same thing with finding employment in Roanoke...trying from across state lines, and it hasn't been easy. I have a friend who lives in the area (but wasn't born in the area!) who is even having a tough time of it. I'm thinking you gotta be local...but in order to be local, you need the job...but in order to get the job, you gotta be local...etc, etc

[richmondpics]

There's a large corporate presence in Richmond, and through the end of the year, half of all companies are planning on hiring (despite an already low unemployment rate of around 2.8%). I don't see why it would be difficult to land a job in Richmond, native Richmonder or not, but it could depend on the industry.

[ClarkStreetKid]

When I first got here 20 years ago it was tough to get a job. My first job offer in the area was with a company that relocated a bunch of Long Islanders to Richmond. These days it's much different as most people that I work with are from somewhere else.

With that said, some employers may have a preference to give preference to someone local just because sometimes a person from outside the area may not be able to take the job after accepting it. I know of a few recent hires that either had to say that they couldn't take the job after all or left after a few months because they couldn't sell a home, a spouse didn't want to move or some other reason. Hiring a local cuts down on that, so I don't think it's against "outsiders" but more like trying to cut down on possible issues someone relocating may face.