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Does anyone have any suggestions about good areas for relocation? I've heard a lot of advice about better job markets in other areas of the country, but haven't heard any specific places mentioned.
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jkmichal wrote:Does anyone have any suggestions about good areas for relocation? I've heard a lot of advice about better job markets in other areas of the country, but haven't heard any specific places mentioned. It is usually best to look through the job ads that interest you and see where the concentrations are.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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It depends on what sort of area you'd like to live in and what type of job you're looking for. One area I constantly see job ads for is California. Of course, it's super expensive to live there. I also keep running into openings in Virginia and New Jersey.
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I've seen the same thing, SaraD. California jobs abound, but the cost of living is ludicrous. I love California, but forget ever owning your own home on a librarian's salary.
I've seen a lot of jobs in Texas (which, apart from Austin, is quite a cheap place to live with great weather). I tend to eliminate possible jobs if they are in places I do not wish to live.
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jkmichal wrote:Does anyone have any suggestions about good areas for relocation? I've heard a lot of advice about better job markets in other areas of the country, but haven't heard any specific places mentioned. Are you looking for a job in a public library? Or another setting? Are you looking to live in a rural area or urban center or something in between? My inclination would be to say it's not the best thing to move to an area, and then look for a job. Certainly that wouldn't necessarily work out for academic positions, where searches are often regional if not national. Areas right around library schools will be tough. And some cities are big enough to absorb lots of workers. I'm sorry I can't offer more specific insight than that... perhaps offer up a few regions of interest, and then people can comment on that. Good luck.
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joan wrote:My inclination would be to say it's not the best thing to move to an area, and then look for a job. I don't agree with this. I've tried many many times to job hunt from afar, and it makes for some lousy interview experiences, high travel expenses, sometimes a botched phone interview, and it seems to leave employers with the sense that you're not 100% serious about the job. It's obviously much more difficult to move to a new place and then look, but at least you'll be taken seriously by the interviewing panel. For reference positions you do need a basic knowledge of the area/state/community and that comes from being a resident. If a panel has their choice between someone who lives locally and someone who lives in another state ... well, who would you pick.
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I'd encourage people to consider California despite the high cost of living. The Cal State University system is an excellent system to work for. Librarians get faculty appointments with comparable pay. You have lots of opportunities for professional development, support from the campus, and usually some help with attending annual conferences. As a faculty member, librarians have the same buying power when it comes to purchasing homes as any teaching faculty. Also, not all areas of California are expensive. The big cities and beach areas have a high cost of living but if you move inland you can live well. Give it a shot. You can always look for another job once you've got some experience.
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When I was finishing library school, the general idea that I got was that you could live where you like, earn what you like or have the position that you like. The catch is
it's 2 out of three.....
There are so many variables that I've decided to apply locally, and to places where I'd like to live with a job that I'd enjoy. Patience, a thick skin and networking are vital. I'm also finding ways to keep involved in lists, forums and volunteer activity.
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dbriel wrote:When I was finishing library school, the general idea that I got was that you could live where you like, earn what you like or have the position that you like. The catch is
it's 2 out of three..... This true of many careers. After I finished by undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, I found the same was true.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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jkmichal wrote:Does anyone have any suggestions about good areas for relocation? I've heard a lot of advice about better job markets in other areas of the country, but haven't heard any specific places mentioned. You have to do some research as to what you can or cannot live without (e.g. mountains, sunshine, snow, urban living, rural). It will make a difference because a good job isn't going to make you "happy" especially if there are no nightlife, the nearest city is two hours away, and there's no one your age to talk to! (Well, you get the idea.) My husband and I moved from San Francisco to upstate New York two years ago (new job for him), and the change was night and day. Yes, California has a high cost of living, but everything is relative. We may have found a brand new house in upstate New York (cheap by CA standards), but we can't stand the runaway taxes and the heating bills all adds up. Plus we're "bored". So after I finish my MLIS in April, we are moving back to the San Francisco Bay Area. My husband has already started his job hunt. What we both realized was that it was the "lifestyle" that California offered that was terribly missing in upstate New York, but then again, we both knew what we wanted. (And yes, you can buy a house in CA on a librarian's salary. You just need to save and not spend alot. Hint. Hint.) So do some soul-searching and who knows, California might not be "that expensive" if you find that right job. (Or else, I guess, if everyone is afraid of moving there, then my chances of finding work increases!) Good luck!
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