Job Growth Areas?

[DonPE]

I was just fired from my job a few hours ago. Still kind of numb. I'm living in Connecticut and since I graduated in 1994, I have gone through many companies. Several companies have closed on me, a couple times got caught in layoffs, but this is a first. Anyway, I am re-evaluating engineering or maybe just engineering in the Northeast. I am now very able to move to another part of the country. I was wondering if there is any job growth in any other parts of the country, especially the Southeast. I mostly do circuit design. I have heard rumors about job growth in Florida, but I don't know if that is true. If anyone has any idea where there might be more jobs than in CT, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[monkeydog]

Try going to your local public library and checking out the local papers (Orlando, Tampa Bay, etc.). Also check out local papers in Silcon Valley, outside companies will go there to hire back to their location.

 

[buzzp]

Dont forget triangle park in NC(?). Do you want to get involved in power? I would expect this market to grow extensively in the next few years given the attention to the grid.

 

[PSE]

Most Engineering societies also have a jobs board available that you could try to use. They also have areas to post your resume' or cv for review by prospective employers. If you are interested in a particular state, you might find with a search that there is a jobs/resume posting site dedicated to that state. The number one thing is to get your information out there for employers to find and keep active in your search.

Good luck

 

[davefitz]

try <

http://www.thinkjobs.com>

for engineering jobs, espescially in the power and chemical sectors.

Growing fields and areas are (a) LNG recieving facilities( eng offices in Houston) (b) new coal fired power plants (c) new coal gasification plants (midwest)(c) canadian tar sands (Ft McMurray alberta)

 

[Comcokid]

I hear you DonPE. I too have had companies dissappear from under me, and have been laid-off suddenly in the past. Knowing and being told you are a key employee is no guarentee either.

Even though I have been happly employed at my current employer for four years, I take a few minutes every evening to surf the job web sites just to see how many hits I get with certain skills, to keep tabs on how well the market is in different parts of the country, and to follow potential employers to learn as much about them as I can. I always want to know where the handle is on my reserve chute!

The job market does not vary by the region, but by the major metropolitan area. A company that suddently adds a few engineers in a place like - say - Tampa, may do so by acquiring some of those people locally. That will in turn make those companies replace lost employees and you will see listings over a few month period.

There is always what is called the "hidden" job market. Companies will have a unfilled need and will wait for opportunity to come along to fill it.

In addition to sites like 'careerbuilder' and 'monster' try ones like 'flipdog' which is a site that searches company sites for job listings. Do what monkeydog suggested and browse papers in another city.

Over the long hall, acquire some additional skills in RF design, analog design, etc. A varied skill set doesn't necessarly help at the big company where a job may be very specific, but helps at the small company where the engineer may be asked to solve all sorts of design issues. I work at a small company that is a division of a major corporation - small company does not necessarly mean a garage shop.

 

[BillPSU]

DonPE
You might want to look at medical device manufacturers. They are looking for the right people.

 

[DonPE]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I've contacted recruiters in several other states, and am using the major internet sites. IEEE and NSPE don't have many postings, by comparison.