Thanks mate And the same to you

I think the general feelings of inadequacy are the worst thing. It's very easy to take all of the employment rejection personally and it's difficult to know what to do about it.

I read an interesting artice in the St Pete's Times a few weeks ago which chronicled the experiences of a few dozen people who have been looking for work in the area. It was a six month review following their intial article and the vast majority of people (which ranged in industries from IT to medicine to finance) were still out of work. These were trained and experienced people and everybody was struggling. It was at once disheartening and also relieving because it helped me realise that it isn't just me, it's a problem across the board. It doesn't help my (our!) situation but it certainly helped me realise that I just need to keep on persevering and hope that something comes along.

I've thought about taking courses but I really don't know what will help other than a degree. I have training and qualifications relevant to my job but unless I'm willing to start again in another industry I think it will be a huge amount of money to pay for a certificate that won't make me a better employee in any way except for having an extra piece of paper.

I think my timeline for moving will be the end of this year. If I don't have anything by then it's pretty much sure that we'll be heading north-west. Thankfully I've got a long standing holiday to Hawaii coming up to look forward to so at least I have something to focus on. Also have an interview tomorrow which looks promising but I won't count my chickens!

One of the big problems in the area is the amount of government/security clearance level jobs in the area. It instantly precludes us from a huge amount of the IT market. Frustrating, pure and simple.

Oh and isn't the heat something! Friends in the area had warned us but it really does hit you like an oven. Can't even mow the lawn without needed a shower and full change of clothes! We're still trying to get out an do as much as we can, remind ourselves why we moved here. The heat is oppressive but if you go out knowing you'll sweat like a pig it's slightly more bearable.

I hope things start to turn around for you soon. I guess all you can do is just try to make the most of it and enjoy the good parts of the area.

We moved here without having jobs, almost 6 years ago now. My husband's background is telecoms (working British Telecom before we moved over.) We started in Oregon and eventually moved up to Seattle area, which was in his favor. It took several months of applications, but eventually he got a contract job through Tek Systems and became permanently employed at AT&T. Scary to think what would have happened had it not happened. Not quite so sure it would pan out now. However, have you thought about agencies such as Tek Systems?

It is sad to hear(read) the lethargy/frustration coming from you and your situation.
I can only echo other people's sentiments that I hope life turns around for you.
I found working tough when I arrived, taking almost a year to first get a permit, then another year to be told my qualifications weren't enough to even sit the initial exam, (RN) - and now am going off in a slightly different direction, studying from home.
I'm lucky in that my husband works, we don't have young kids to support and I had the proceeds from the sale of my home for a while; but it is so frustrating.
It was never a problem to find a job for me at home, yet here as my English RN isn't enough, I can only work as an Aide on minimum wage. It was very depressing for a while and, in the early days, made me very angry.
Washington State, it seems, does NOt have a shortage of nurses.
But, I'm happy to be studying, keeps me occupied, and the area is really worth it.
My husband is a Washingtonian - and I can understand why he kept coming back. It is a beautiful place. The scenery is incredible and the climate is good, people are friendly, plus we are close to Canada, with a local airport flying us to holiday destinations in little over 2hrs.
I don't think I could have coped with all my time at home, had the home not been so wonderful.
Good luck, MrLee - and if you find yourself up in this area I really don't think you'd regret it. Give me a holler when you get here! ;-)

Yes that is really hard, because you and I both know we CAN do the job and we can do it well. All we want is to be given the chance to do so. On a few interviews I offered to do a free week trial period. I never heard anything back from those places and grew concerned that making such an offer was showing desperation and hurting my chances.

Indeed. But we both know that "persevering" is easier said than done when you keep getting kicks in the teeth.

This is something I have wrestled with too. College is going to be a big expense that we can ill afford right now, BUT I'm sitting at home winding my thumbs so I NEED to do something constructive with my time, also, if I am to make the US my home I am left with little doubt that having a degree is going to be a requirement for the future. Maybe I will eventually secure a job without one, but what then, I'm sure this won't be the only time I have to look for work and I may then find myself fighting the same fires again. I'm doing the first 2 years of the degree at SPC Community College and will then transfer as a Junior to another institution. This make is the first 2 years MUCH cheaper.

The very best of luck to you with it. Keep us updated on how it goes and what feedback you get from them (if any!!!!) I envy your possible move, even if it comes at the expense of being out of work for a few more months. Personally if I were you, and my wife was up for it, I'd be heading to the PNW now. You both want it. Why wait.

This is spot on. I never considered this area to be a big hub for government and defense jobs. I know Raytheon, L3 and Honeywell have places in Pinellas and Tampa but the proportion of jobs requiring clearance is staggeringly high. My conclusion has been that they aren't necessarily big employers in the area, they are just the only ones replacing workers or taking new employees on because they are probably the only industry with a reliably paying client in the current climate....UNCLE SAM. Private industry is just allowing people to leave/firing them and not replacing them until the grass is greener.

Roll on winter. I'm avoiding nearly all outdoor activity at the moment. I seem to be allergic to a lot of sun creams so me and the sunshine state are kind of "at odds" with each other at the moment.

Best of luck tomorrow!

I've been in contact with several agencies but it seems at the moment they really don't have much. My wife (when she was out of work (programmer)) and I have been asked to attend interviews with various agencies on the past. Several never contacted either of us again despite us e-mailing them. Some have even had the nerve to ask us to interview at their offices in Tampa (20 miles away) and then at the end of it say they didn't have anything available at the moment!

I'm really pleased for you that you have found a place you enjoy living. Let's hope that employment pans out for you too.

Thank you, I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Okay some good news and a bit of a turnaround from last week. I had the interview and it went really well, got called back for a second interview the day after and got offered the job. I start tomorrow. It really came out of nowhere and isn't really a project management job but I'm hoping it will actually be something better.

Here's the real telling factor though; it's working for a Brit! It's a small internet company and it looks like it will be an incredible opportunity in a very different and progressive company. I have to say that I think the Brit connection really helped and I'm very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time in the right circumstances. It's a long commute - North Tampa to St Pete's Beach (over an hour each way with moderate traffic) but that really doesn't bother me at the moment, I'm too pleased at actually having a job to care.

It's really surprising how quickly things can change. I was really down about it all last week (as my post probably showed) but hopefully this is the start of a turnaround in the great Florida adventure.

Hopefully this can give a little inspiration to you WARPed. There are at least some people out there who are willing to consider us! I guess the advice I can give is try and reach out to the ex-pat community and see if they have contacts etc.

I'll let you know how it all works out! Might still be back on here asking for PNW advice by the end of the year!

Awesome news and very well done! If you ever want to kill some time after work give me a shout and we can have a pint of Boddingtons in the Horse and Jockey on Pasadena Ave (you can buy...JOKING ). Being interviewed by a Brit is an incredible stroke of luck. I hope it works out for you.

Which part of Medway are you in? Was born in Borstal (the village...) and spent the first part of my life in Rochester, Chatham, Strood, Cuxton.

Now living in Redmond, WA, and visiting the Tri-Cities on a more or less regular basis (Kennewick for 2-3 days every two months).

I live in Findsbury right now which is essentially the posher part of strood, or so they think!

Hey WARPed,

Well, I told myself I wasn't going to post anymore on here because I'm not British (I went to Uni in England and was living there until a week ago), so I didn't think anybody would be too keen on my popping in. But I lived in a tiny town in the PNW called Anacortes for 14 years before I moved to England, so I wanted to tell you a bit about it...though it seems like everybody else has that taken care of.

Western Washington is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places in America. You've got everything you could possibly hope for: beaches, mountains, forests, four seasons...the list goes on. Geographically, Washington is incredibly diverse. There's even a rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula! All you have to do for warmer weather is cross the Cascades into Eastern Washington. If you're looking for a place that's really in touch with nature, look no further. It's not uncommon to look out the window in the morning and see a deer in your front yard. Maybe not so much in the big cities, but definitely in the smaller ones.

Something really unique about the PNW that I love is the Native American heritage. Their history is so rooted in the land; it's really beautiful. And the traditions of the local tribes are so different from those most people usually hear about in connection with old Westerns and things. It's definitely worth looking into their history a bit, and I know there are loads of museums you can go to that display tribal art and teach a bit about the old way of living.

As far as politics go, I think you'll find yourself more in place in Washington. Seattle especially is very focused on the environment and being green. The word that comes to mind is progressive.

Heard of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Modest Mouse, Death Cab? All from the Pacific Northwest. In terms of music, Seattle is a major player. There are several record labels HQ'd there, and they were the scene for the grunge genre. Vancouver is also pretty good for music. I've driven up for a few gigs. As for IT, well Seattle is the place to be. Many world-wide companies are either HQ'd there or have offices there, like Microsoft and Starbucks (my favourite).

There are loads of opportunities for getting into the water. Diving, obviously, is a big one, but there's also yachting, fishing, crabbing, etc. Life in general centres around the water in one way or another. Seattle is a port city, so it's not uncommon to see big cruise ships in the harbour. The PNW was really established because of it's natural resources (cedar, salmon, beavers, etc.)

As for driving...well, it's pretty much the same wherever you go. People are crazy. As for the PNW specifically, we get a lot of Canadian drivers, and they're pretty insane. I love Canadians, don't get me wrong, but they drive like maniacs. There were times driving around the Vancouver area where I feared for my life. :S

Sorry if this all sounds slightly disconnected. If you want to know more about the area, don't hesitate to ask. And like someone suggested, go for a visit. That's the best way to be able to tell if you really like a place or not. May is a lovely time to visit, and the weather should be nice. The most important thing is that you and your wife need to be happy. You've got to find a place where you feel like you fit in and can connect with the people, where there are opportunities for you both to work, and where you'll ultimately find comfort and happiness.

Best of luck in making your decision,
~Jen

Hey Jen.. welcome home.. how is the re-entry going?

Just want to add a pish posh! You're welcome to pop in here and chat any time you like. There's lots of us non-British here. Someone has to keep them honest.

Absolutely!


And Jen, loved your explanation of things up here. Still the reason why my British husband doesn't miss the UK.