How to find a job when relocating to a new city?

June 13, 2006 7:51 PM

My fiance is returning to school, which means I must relocate (from Virginia) to the new city (Oklahoma City) where I have very few contacts. Are there any tips or tricks for finding a job in a specific location?
posted by boring_prophet to Work & Money (8 answers total)

b_p, you might start with Jobsok.com. There's a search feature and a series of display ad pages.

Also, check with any contacts you may already have in "The City" (as we Okies call it), or contacts of your fiance's through the school. Let them know of your search, and ask if they know anyone you should talk with. Are you looking for any particular type of job?
posted by Snerd at 8:24 PM on June 13, 2006

Boring--I lived in OKC for ten years, it was a great experience. Feel free to contact me if you have questions/concerns. The people are very nice.
posted by 6:1 at 8:55 PM on June 13, 2006

First, there's Craigslist for OK City.

Don't forget you can you do more than look at want ads - you can post situations wanted, and ask questions in the discussion forums. I never met an Okie that didn't try to help me - even if I didn't ask them to!

If you want to target certain business sectors there are business directories available as well.

Also, it would help you said what sort of work you were looking for.
posted by Jos Bleau at 9:01 PM on June 13, 2006

FWIW, I also went to college in OKC.
posted by 6:1 at 10:57 PM on June 13, 2006

I am supposed to be spending one-year in Oklahoma City. I have finally decided to try to stay for as long as I can. The place is very nice, very clean, people are extremely friendly and outgoing and contrary to my worries when I came here, there's plenty to do. OKC has a very vibrant downtown entertainment district and there's always stuff to do in the burbs, which seem to go on forever. Overall, the City is a great place and if I have to leave, I'll do it kicking and screaming.

As per your question about the jobs, I would use Craigslist and also as mentioned above, the newspaper has jobsok.com. Good luck! If you get out here, I hope you will be as pleasantly surprised as I am.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 5:14 AM on June 14, 2006

Join an association chapter in your field. Also, check out the local universities to see if they have any jobs open.
posted by onepapertiger at 6:27 AM on June 14, 2006

Response by poster: Hi Everyone, thanks for the responses. I'm actually finishing up my Phd in Industrial Engineering at Virginia Tech right now. I probably won't finish my dissertation until after the move to OK. I've applied for one job at OU that involves recruiting/advising engineering students. In my previous life I worked as process engineer in the textile and automotive industries. So, I'm looking for work in either the education field or going back to the engineering work.

I have been checking out the large job sites like monster and I've been keeping my eye on Craig's list. I had not seen jobsok.com; it looks like it should be helpful. I've also been checking the OU jobs site pretty regularly.
posted by boring_prophet at 8:38 AM on June 14, 2006

you might look at some of the big employers websites - chesapeake, devon energy etc. with the energy industry the way it is, and the degree you have i would think you could find something. maybe something you are overqualified for, but still.


http://www.cytiva.com/cejobs/cojobsCEC.asp

engineering job at chesapeake

for fun- looks like you are thinking norman area with the OU references. good mexican food at border crossing on main and fun patio dining and beer drinking at the mont east of campus.
posted by domino at 8:50 AM on June 14, 2006