Jobs in Cleveland/ Akron (Columbus, Cincinnati: crime rate, new home, find a job)

[Family in a Frenzy]

My family is desperate to return to Akron/ Cleveland area, but my husband is having trouble finding job leads. He is a computer/ IT director/manager type, but is willing to do anything to get us home. Any ideas in where to look or head hunters?

Thanks for your help. We are living in the Central Valley of CA and it is a NIGHTMARE!!!!

[paintballer1708]

^My neighbors down here in Cincinnati are from Oakland and are always telling me the horror stories about California. Now about the jobs, check Strongsville a suburb of Cleveland. The Cleveland/Akron area has a good tech market right now and it has been growing rapidly these past few years. I will help you out with more information. What is it you are looking for exactly?

[Family in a Frenzy]

He was a MIS manager, IT director, Business Analyst, programmer (though he doesn't want to program anymore). He is currently working as an IT specialist for Pelco. The leading manufacturer of security cameras.

It was Pelco's cameras that caught the london bombing and there were Pelco cameras retrieved from the WTC that were used to investigate it.

it seems like until we have an Ohio address, he won't be taken seriously. He has over 20 years of computer experience, including a BA in management. He also owned and managed his own computer store.
Any ideas?

[paintballer1708]

Have you done any research on Pelco locations around Cleveland or Akron? Sounds like with his knowledge about the source he should have no problem finding a job.

[paintballer1708]

I dont know if this helps at all, but the current unemployment rate for Cleveland is 4.5% and Akron sits at about 4.5% as well. Both cities are below the nation average. They are doing really well.

[birdy...]

Dear Family-

Where in Central CA are you?

Birdy...

[Family in a Frenzy]

We're currently in Fresno, CA.

[paintballer1708]

Do you like Fresno? It didnt seem like too bad of a city when i was last there. They could really use some modernazation in the downtown.

[birdy...]

Paintballer....

Fresno is probably the "last" part of the Central Valley that's coming out of the "barn."

Frenzy, I lived in the Stockton area for over 20 years...We referred to this area as the "crotch" of CA. It's really come around though and is now a bedroom community to the Bay Area. I'd give anything to live there over where I am now. We ended up having to take a transfer to Springfield, MO with hubby's company (UPS) and this area really sucks.

We are thinking about the Mansfield area. DH's family is from Columbus but are gravitating to Delaware/Morrow counties. I find that area too "citified" at least the rules even though it's a rural community.

Good luck on the town of you choose. I'm from CA but married a OHIO resident that's my connection with this state.

Happy Holidays!

Birdy...

[Family in a Frenzy]

Fresno is a terrible place to raise a family.

We were spoiled in Ohio and didn't even realize it. Fresno is a very backwards city. Our children who at the time of our move ranged in grades from preschool to 6th grade. They were on average 2 years ahead of the kids here. We moved to the highest scoring school district in the Fresno/Clovis area. My son in 7th grade had 47 kids in his class, and in 6th grade had 38. In ohio, it ranged from 19 -30 at the most. Teachers here come to class in flip flops with little professionalism. Teachers tattoed with odd piercings are common. There is a shuffle along syndrome that we didn't notice in Ohio. Most people who are from here, have never left. i think it is more common to meet people in Ohio who have lived other places and returned to OHio. Most of my friends in Ohio are honest with themselves about where they live. We know that Ohio isn't perfect, but that in most parts is an unbeatable place to raise a family. When my husband first went to OHio, he thought he had entered the twilight zone. Everyone is/was so nice. You just don't find that here. I tried to pull out onto a busy street from a grocery store parking lot here in Fresno. We counted 36 cars passed before someone would let us out. If anyone is familiar with Tallmadge circle at lunchtime, it's a nightmare, the most I ever waited was 3-4 cars. People are generally just decent, caring, and just plain nice in Ohio. My kids have suffered tremendously from the environment here. Yesterday we heard an 8th grader tell her mom to SHUT UP and the top of her lungs!!! Ever see that in Ohio??

There was a huge housing boom a year before we got here. in 2003 you could get a newer 1800 sq ft house for about 175K, now that same house is selling for 400K. There are actually people who commute to the bay area (2.5 hours away)!! We are in the top 10 for IV drug users, Meth manufacturing, and bad air. There is also a really high crime rate and gang tagging even in the affluent, gated areas. English speakers are the minority and it is evident when trying to find a radio station. I finally got sirius satellite radio to avoid the lack of radio stations to choose from. The recently got a 3 million grant to bring 3000 HMONG refugees. The city has many problems. New homes in the 500K range only have .13 -.17 size of a yard. Fences, fences everywhere. Then there is the little detail of nothing to do. The summers consistently hover around 100-115, from about May to Oct. It's brutal. No one wants to play outside when it's so hot. Sure you can drive 2 hours to really good skiing, 3 hours to the bay area, 3 hours to the beach, but the every day living is just not worth the trade! My kids have recognized that kids here are different. We all agree that kids can be rough everywhere, but my kids have recognized that kids here are rougher. Due to the cost of living, more parents are working and the divorce rate is higher in CA at 67%. We live in an affluent area, but have never met 90% of our neighbors. People aren't as friendly to meet her. My husband was born and raised here and he now calls Ohio home.

Okay, sorry for the rant, but we are most homesick at Christmastime. I have applied to graduate school in Ohio, and hopefully I will get accepted and my husband can find a job.

If anyone is thinking of moving anywhere in CA, check out the CA forum!! I am not alone in my opinion of Fresno.