turotufas

iTrader: (7)

"When she put that card in there, yo we got food stamps!" -ODB

turotufas

iTrader: (7)

Damn double post.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

LOL ODB.

I heard something about more green? I'm in for that. My pay is ******* pitiful. Decent job, but not quite enough pay to support myself on my own while finishing up school. Everyone always hassles me, asking why I still live with my dad. I can't afford to move out with a low paying job. The cost of living goes up and up, and it seems everyones pay stays about the same. Sure the minimum wage goes up, but that doesn't really effect most of us making more than that.

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

Ever stop to think that it might be because you live in...Alabama. Just saying...

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

There are many high salary jobs and low hourly jobs in Alabama just like any state. But you get more of everything for your money. There are expensive neighborhoods and poor ones just like anywhere. You just need to be in a desirable career field and that is a personal issue regarding choices, education, drive, and determination.

I would much prefer to live in Birmingham over Baltimore and I have visited both. I would prefer Birmingham to any city in New Jersey as well. Or Cleveland, or New York City, or Buffalo, or Philadelphia, or Washington DC, or Norfolk, or Chicago, just to name a few I have spent time in over the years. It is actually quite a nice town. Montgomery Alabama notsomuch.

But what's with the propensity to look down on the South? Most people in the north have got it soooo good? I call BS on that one because I've lived all over this country.

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Well I live in Baltimore. So please do tell why you prefer Bham vs all those other cities. Please do tell- I am curious.

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

I'm not going to debate that with you. I agree that there are high salary jobs there.

I would however be willing to debate the amount/availability of high paying jobs there vs other parts of the country, like the DC area. Including areas reaching down into Stafford County thanks to QMCB. The DC area, largely because its a hub of Govt and Tech industries provides a unique ability to make city wages while working AND living outside of the city. I live in Richmond, have an EASY 1hr commute each way to Quantico, and make the same amount my comparable position in Arlington would be. I know because I've worked there before also. So I can rent a 2k sqft house in Richmond for $950/mo, pay way less for gas, and food and everything else. While still making DC metro pay. Yes I commute, but there is virtually no traffic each way allowing me to drive 80+mph almost the entire way. Even If I moved back up to the Stafford area, the cost of living only slightly increases. My house might cost me 1100/mo instead, and gas is an avg of 5-10 cents more per gal. Food costs are relatively the same, as well as utilities.

There are areas all around DC like that because its just such a large area. The fact is you just can't get this opportunity in many areas in the country. The majority of the south fits in that list for many reasons, population density, presence of Tech industry, etc... Other areas similar would be Silicon Valley, Seattle, and other places with a mix of Tech and Govt, or a lot of one or the other. Its really a simple matter of the amount of opportunities.

If there are more jobs available that pay more, you opportunity for getting one increases. You might say, but there are also more people competing for those jobs. Yes, but is the percentage of qualified applicants increasing at the same rate? My best guess is no.

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

Then again, if you are going to school full time, as in during the day, its going to be tough to land a great position anyway. Most, not all, good jobs require you to be in the office. Lord knows I've been hunting for a position that will let me telecommute a few days a week since I can do most of my job from anywhere with fast internet access (internet at home is faster than work; SAD).

If you are just going online or at night though, then depending on what you do you could market yourself as a studying, professional job hunter that is just finishing up. A lot also depends on what you do, as Six said. Some careers require a degree just to get into a entry level position. Some value work experience as much or much more than a degree.

So if what you do, or want to do is not in high demand where you live. You realistically either need to move, or change your career to match the demand in the area you live. Where you live and the types of positions available will have a tremendous bearing on your ability to get a job as well as one that pays what you consider well.

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

Ever stop to realize that Huntsville, Alabama has the highest concentration of PHD's in the country?

turotufas

iTrader: (7)

Surprisingly, it's up there.

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

I know it's got the highest concentration of engineers int he country and I think it's like 2nd or 3rd for PHDs.

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

Actually I'm not suprised, my company has many jobs available there. But I can tell you that for each one available there there are at least 10 available in northern VA, and we are not based out of VA.

If you don't think location has one of the largest bearings on it, then you are not one of the people with a phd.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I would guess he does not do heroin. That is probably why he does not like Baltimore.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Have you been here lately? I'z not so great, akshualy. But yeah, there are worse places, our economy is just crap, thanks to the crooks in charge of the city and county. No surprise we have made it into the national spotlight as one of the worst off cities in terms of economy/government. In it's day it was nice though.

Yes, we do have running water in Alabama, and we do have rich and poor like any other state. If anything we have larger pockets of rich people than just about anywhere else I have been. Just in the area we have Mountain Brook, very high end city, Vestavia, Hoover, Trussville to some extent, all pretty uppity cities with a lot of snoby rich people. The high paying jobs are out there, but there is a huge gap in between high and low paying. So you are either poor, or fairly well off, not much in between. Unfortunately right now I am the lesser of the two until I finish up my education which is proving to be long and drawn out. Been working on some kind of higher education since I was 16... now I'm 24 and still trucking.

Fortunately I work in a medical lab, and work the 2nd shift (6pm-2:30am) and have some time to continue my education. I hope I can get enough **** done to actually get a decent job within a year, maybe a bit more. Fortunately in my short life I have avoided much debt outside of school loans and other little things, so I'm not hurting too bad for money, it just sucks living under the same roof as my dad at age 24. Most everyone else I know my age has already moved on. Then again they all live paycheck to paycheck and are no happier than I am, and have to struggle to make ends meet, so I'm not too envious I guess. I've tried to play things smart and not rush myself. I have a long time to live with regret if I **** it up this early on. Besides we work opposite shifts, and I have the upstairs to myself like an apartment and pay a little rent, so it's almost like I'm not still here, lol.

Is Huntsville because of Redstone Arsenal and the Marshall Space Center? I wasn't aware of that statistic. We did have Wernher von Braun, I guess that counts as 50 regular engineers.

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

I just moved out from living with my mom too. Less because I could afford it, more because I just can't stand her. I love my mom, but I can only take her in doses. 2x a month max. I feel your pain.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

I guess me and my dad get along, but we are nearly polar opposites in almost every aspect of our lives. Still a comfortable living situation, so I'm in no hurry to run out and get into a shitty apartment I can't afford and mess my plans all up.

Sparetire

IIRC Mobile has the highest VD rate in the country.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

It's big enough to have everything you need without being so big that it becomes a mecca for things you don't want. It is in the rolling hills of the southern Appalachians which makes it an attractive city. It has a large population of professionals and has a nice sized university with an excellent academic reputation which adds to the appeal of the city. There is a balanced amount of new development and old charm without being run down. There are many nice upper-middle class neighborhoods where one could comfortably raise a family and a large enough business base to be able to support a career. The taxes are much lower and nice housing is less costly as well. It is far enough to the south to have a long summer season and a relatively mild winter season without the heavy doses of winter rain/sleet/ice that the Maryland/Nova/NC area get along the Piedmont region.
So, topography, climate, professional base, presence of academia, cost of living, intrusiveness of government to name a few.
Amount of high paying jobs is not in question. Amount of quality available housing at very reasonable costs is certainly a question. I lived in Tyson's Corner for two years, so I'm not talking out of my ***. Traffic does suck going anywhere during rush hour. It just does. Much of the available housing has been there for half a century and is more expensive than newer houses in other parts of the country. That's why COLA's are higher there than lots of other places. Crime is teh suck in lots of the greater DC area.
I have family in Richmond and I know how far you are having to drive to find relief from the sprawl and its effects. Quantico isn't exactly DC either. It is much closer to Fredericksburg than DC. And the fact that you drive through Fredericksburg and then another 40 miles to find a place to live kinda supports my point. That's a pretty long *** commute. And I wouldn't say Stafford was Baltimore either. It is a long way and worlds apart. Besides, I'm not running down NOVA because parts of it are really nice. I'm just saying there are nice places to be that you might not have considered and for reasons you might not have considered.

True, and I'm not saying that everyone needs to book a flight to Birmingham today. I'm saying that there are opportunities to be had there just like some other places, but that the lack of realization of the opportunity might either rest in the hands of the OP or might just have not occured yet due to not having punched every ticket he needed to move to the next level. He should be able to make a satisfactory living in that city. It doesn't suck.

OP probably needs to complete resume enhancement therapy.

Yes. They build rockets that go boom. Even when they shouldn't.
That's where the government cheese is. If your company designed and built something like, perhaps, mechanical street sweepers they probably would not choose to be anywhere near NOVA. The tax structure incentivizes companies to GTFO.
If you like Cheese Whiz go where the cheese is.
Or crack. Or prostitutes. Or muggings. Or urban decay. Or shipyard workers. Or urban decay. Or gangs. Or urban decay. Or high taxes. Or urban decay. Or denial of firearms rights. Did I mention the urban decay? Baltimore is like Detroit Lite.
The economy is bad all over. Everyone just sees it most where they live. Suck it up. You don't live in Andalusia yet. And many local governments had people stealing money when there was plenty of it and noone noticed. Since things tightened up many municipalities went back and checked the books on where the money went and found dirt on public servants. We had some of that in Tampa as well. That's politics.
It is good to be impatient at your age, but you are nearly there. Stay at home as long as you are in school and use that opportunity to focus on finishing school instead of paying bills. There will be plenty of time for making money and having nice stuff later. You will eclipse those who left school early and went to work without ever getting their degrees. Your job right now is to get a degree.
Made in the shade...
Damn, is he still alive?

It's a real party town.

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

To be fair, I did not say I live in Richmond because thats all I can afford. I live here now because I wanted to get a house with my brother. I lived in Fredericksburg for the last 7 years and I could easily afford to rent a house there too and then only have like a 15min commute. I just chose not to because I wanted to help out my brother with his living situation.

Also, you completely missed my point about Quantico. It isn't DC, you're right. The point is that you can make nearly DC wages working a full 30-40 mi south and out of all the **** traffic and expensive living. On average, at least in IT, you can make 90% of the pay the same job would pay right in the city. There are places like that all over the area surrounding DC.

Arlington Senior IT Admin:
Pay - $100k/year
1br apt in Courthouse area - $1500/mo
Commute - short distance, still will take you 15min or longer to get anywhere even by metro
Parking - $80/mo and up

Fredericksburg working in Quantico area same position:
Pay - $90k/year
1br apt - $700/mo
Commute - hop on i95, drive 15-20 min to job
Parking - Free

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Are there any colored folk above the poverty line? I'm one of those..