welding jobs and affordable living in WA? (Moses Lake, Ephrata: apartments, rentals)

[tracielee212]

Our landlord has decided to stop renting and sell and has given us notice to move. We have limited time and resourses, but since we are having to rush a move anyway and we've been interested in Washington we are going to go for it and move from Missouri to there at the end of the month. Yikes! Anyway...any suggestions of a good area for a welder with a family of 5? We are starting out with very little, taking only what we can't live without, and plan to stay in a motel for a while.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by tracielee212

Our landlord has decided to stop renting and sell and has given us notice to move. We have limited time and resourses, but since we are having to rush a move anyway and we've been interested in Washington we are going to go for it and move from Missouri to there at the end of the month. Yikes! Anyway...any suggestions of a good area for a welder with a family of 5? We are starting out with very little, taking only what we can't live without, and plan to stay in a motel for a while.

Why exactly are you interested in Washington? That would help us pick an area for you because areas across the state are very different.

[tracielee212]

My guy looks at national welding jobs listed by state. Washington always has the most listings. This is our main reason for wanting to move there. Washington had more than 200 new jobs posted yesterday, scattered across the state, Missouri had 3. There just are no oppurtunities in his feild here. Also, my abusive ex husband is here and moving across the country from him would be a good thing. We've had a really tough year and we feel that a dramatic change and a new enviornment would be best for us. We prefer small town living, but are not being picky. We know this is going to be hard and we're just tryingto find the easiest place to settle in at this point. High employment rates and job oppurtunities and a fairy cheap motel with weekly rates (Motel 6 or the like) are our only neccessary criteria.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by tracielee212

Washington had more than 200 new jobs posted yesterday, scattered across the state

With 200 new jobs posted, the process should be fairly straightforward for you. Acquire one of those positions and then move to the town where the new job is.

If you've never been to WA, as a generalization the state can be divided in to two "flavors". The western 1/3 of the state is the greener part with more temperate summers and winters but you have to be willing to deal with gray weather and rain for a good portion of the year. The eastern 2/3's of WA is more arid with hot, dry summers and colder winters, including fair amounts of snowfall in many areas.

Again, I'll re-state the obvious: get the top or best job your husband can find and then simply move to that town. After that the rest will follow for your family-

[tracielee212]

The issue is most places will tell him over the phone that they are hiring and that the work is there and he seems qualified, but seem reluctant to hire someone who needs to relocate. He has had many responses that he would need to come in and pass a welding test and be interviewed and that they can't guarantee anything long distance. We are making a list of these places and trying to decide the best ones to start with.

[mkcurran]

Originally Posted by tracielee212

The issue is most places will tell him over the phone that they are hiring and that the work is there and he seems qualified, but seem reluctant to hire someone who needs to relocate. He has had many responses that he would need to come in and pass a welding test and be interviewed and that they can't guarantee anything long distance. We are making a list of these places and trying to decide the best ones to start with.

I'd suggest somewhere around Moses Lake. Takata is currently hiring welders. Genie and Katana are also in the area and hire welders periodically. If you husband has any interest in teaching Big Bend Community College seems to always be looking for welding teachers. It's also not so far that if an oppertunity came up at Boeing or any of the other companies on the coast that he couldn't drive over for an interview.

Also due to the high migratory agricultural workforce, week-to-week rentals can be had cheaply at the moment. As many of the migrant workers have headed south for the year.

[tracielee212]

Thanks. Would you suggest anywhere particular for week to week renting?

[mkcurran]

Originally Posted by tracielee212

Thanks. Would you suggest anywhere particular for week to week renting?

Soap Lake is filled with tons of old motels that have been converted into apartments. Ephrata is more centrally located and has a few week-to-week rentals.