Author Topic: what is the job market up there like?  (Read 946 times)

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Offline myronman3

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what is the job market up there like?
« on: December 27, 2005, 01:40:24 AM »
hey guys,  recent changes in my life are causing me to look elsewhere for a place to call home.   i always liked the idear of alaska.  

i am in the telecommunications field,  and i was wondering what the job market is up that way.   how hard is it for a guy to get started from scratch up there?     what areas should i look at, which should i avoid?  i am not looking to move up soon,  just something i am chewing on.  thanks in advance.

Offline Dand

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try these to start
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2005, 08:20:15 AM »
Try these out for starters:


State of Ak. Jobs link: http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/

State of Alaska online website:   see communities info. http://www.state.ak.us/

Its different for everyone.  Some make it really well where no one would have believed it and others have a really hard time where it would appear success would be easy.  Check around and study up carefully.  All things aren't as they seem sometimes.  Don't really know how to explain it because I've never lived "outside". But I see a lot of folks come and get frustrated because they have expectations that it will be more like "back home" than it turns out to be.  But some folks just fit in real nice and do well.  But it IS different here, especially in the bush.

One thing to keep in mind; in some cases employers can specify Native Preference on a position. Some times those jobs can sit open for a very long time, and even if you have the skills needed but not the other qualifications, it can be a very long wait, or no hire at all.  I've seen folks get real frustrated and angry over it but that's the way it is.  More often in a bush community.  

Some times (esp. bush) employers are hesitant to hire folks new to Alaska as they are afraid they won't stick around long. Once a person shows they have staying power, options can open up.

Poke around on these web sites,  check out the Anchorage Daily News website http://www.adn.com/  and good luck. You might try a google search too or trade contacts.

HTH
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Offline Sourdough

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what is the job market up there like?
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2006, 06:51:47 PM »
You may want to check with GCI and ACS they are the principal phone suppliers here in the Fairbanks area, as well as Anchorage.  First of all you need to decide where in the state you would like to live, or try first.  There is five geographical zones in the state.  And they are all differant.  South Central is where the most people live.  That is Anchorage, Wasillia, Palmer, and I think Valdez also falls into that area.  The weather is comperable to upper Michigan, just longer.  Have had friends tell me it was not as bad as Montana or North Dakota.  But their summer weather sucks.  Here in the Interior, we have the coldest winter weather in the state.  But we also have the best (warm, dry, sunny) summer weather in the state.  Check around and see what's availiable.  The right job could be waiting for you.  Then again you may decide after six months or a year that this is not the place for you.  Good Luck.
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Offline corbanzo

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what is the job market up there like?
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2006, 03:25:39 PM »
ACS has been doing a lot of work lately in my area, and it's a pretty good outfit to get on, a few of my buddies have started to work for them.  There is always work in Alaska - oil, fishing, telecom, whatever.  We always seem to be building something... slow and steady, how our growth seems to go.
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Offline coyote trapper1928

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what is the job market up there like?
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2006, 04:39:53 AM »
Are there any computer or internet related  jobs in alaska?
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Offline corbanzo

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what is the job market up there like?
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2006, 10:10:53 AM »
My brother was making about 70k a year for working for the state doing computer programming in anchorage some years ago.  That is where you will find most of those types of jobs, in the big city.  Most things that have to do with technology are electrician types of jobs.
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Offline myronman3

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what is the job market up there like?
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2006, 01:05:25 PM »
thanks guys, i will look into it.