Comments on: Big employers, small-town jobs

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:35:50 +0000

Donna, headhunters probably wouldn’t be your best bet. Instead, I’d suggest going through professional associations (American Psychological Assn., maybe?) to find practices that are growing and hiring, or practices that may be for sale because the therapist is retiring. Read trade publications, go to as many conferences as you can, and try to network your way into an opportunity. Also, contact hospitals and clinics in the towns where you might want to live and find out whether there is a shortage of mental health practitioners locally. Small towns have fewer therapists per capita than big cities, but small towns do need “shrinks”!

By: Donna DuBow welesley MA

Donna DuBow welesley MA — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:16:05 +0000

Annie– what are the chances of finding work in a small town as a mental health therapist LPCC. Do you know of a headhunter who could help?

By: Renee, Washington, D.C.

Renee, Washington, D.C. — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:48:13 +0000

I was raised in a small town (pop. less than 10,000, rural area and 3+ hours from any true big city) but now live in D.C. Company jobs are hard to come by in small towns … my friend has a good office job at Pepsi Bottling in a small Virginia town. If she wants to leave that job and stay in the area, though, her choices are very limited. Best thing in that case might be to start her own business, perhaps using her prior catering and restaurant experience — some of the most successful people I know in my hometown own their own businesses, sometimes starting with little training or experience, but learning by doing. In a small town there may be an unmet need, and less competition, so starting a business can make sense. Make your own opportunity. It seems less city people do that — guess there are enough employers that that mentality is understandable. And it also seems that most small businesses in the city are run by recent immigrants. I was encouraged to leave the area I’m from for better opportunities. The job opportunities really are plentiful in the big city — one can job hop without nearly as much worry and stress. The big city is such a rat race, though, and housing is so expensive (except Houston and some others). I wonder if a better compromise is a small city.

I would think that the internet could help people adjust to small town life — there’s no big chain bookstore nearby, but books can be ordered on-line. Grocery stores — not so good. But, you can afford a yard and have your own garden. Less to do, but people have more downtime to do other things like have a BBQ with friends or do something outdoors — even (gasp) during the week!

By: Richard Mudrinich, Hermitage, PA

Richard Mudrinich, Hermitage, PA — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:13:50 +0000

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man is trying to figure out where to live.

Richard Mudrinich
Rescue Rick the Grass Cut man

By: Len Stawasz, New City, NY

Len Stawasz, New City, NY — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 23:31:13 +0000

Better jobs, regardless of the size of a town or city, is a referral from someone who is already working at the company AND knows your background. That person is an automatic referral who has inside track by reading job postings on the company buleetin boards.

By: Scott n Mckee Sweet Home OR.

Scott n Mckee Sweet Home OR. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:39:20 +0000

I believe Sweet Home OR. is the best place to live we have lots of brand new cheap housing in $200,000 and up and some a little less we are located one to two hours away from every major city in Oregon the coast of the pacific ocean or the ski resorts of the mountains we have two very large lakes and three rivers within 10 minutes. We have beutiful sunrises and sets as we are tucked in the foot hills of the cascade mountain range.

By: Paul Leaf, Benton Harbor, Michigan

Paul Leaf, Benton Harbor, Michigan — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:40:53 +0000

My wife and I have lived in a couple of bigger cities, Minneapolis and Kansas City and loved both, but if you are looking for a large company and a small town, consider Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, Michigan, which is in SW Michigan on the Lake Michigan coast. The weather is tolerable 9-10 months out of the year, we are in the fruitbelt with apples, cherries, peaches, and vineyards. We live in an area named Bainbridge Township, it’s hard to describe except it’s a Benton Harbor mailing address, with Watervliet Schools (great schools) and Sister Lakes Fire Department. You generally don’t have to describe your coordinates when in a big city or suburb. SW Michigan is a great place to raise a family, and own acreage. It’s one of the more “horse-friendly” areas I’ve lived in. My wife and I have been here for nearly 20 years and still love it!

By: Becca Albquerque

Becca Albquerque — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:54:03 +0000

My husband and I lived for many years in Seattle (I also previously lived in San Francisco for several years). We both loved Seattle in many ways, but knew that we did not want to live under a cloud for the rest of our lives, and also knew that we were ready for a simplier lifestyle. So we packed up amd moved to the Soutwest – New Mexico (Albuqurque). We have been here for a few years, and, although we love some things about the area – the perfect weather; the open land; and the great SW food – there are other things we don’t like about the area, and are planning to move in a few years…we just don’t know where yet. I would love to hear your suggestions…we are ideally looking for a smallish town feel, but close to a bigger city, as well; somewhere with a sunny, warm climate; somewhere with a sense of sophistication; somewhere that is fairly liberal with a highish poulation of Democrats….somewhere with affordable housing, good job prospects; and a nice landscape, preferably with water close by. Are we just dreaming and aiming too high, or are there really towns like this?? Thanks in advance for any feedback!!

By: Matthew, NY, NY

Matthew, NY, NY — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:30:38 +0000

Regarding those great big employers located in small towns – how does one find them and those jobs? I work in NYC and have approached a few headhunters with no luck. We are interested in moving down south or out west to a horse-friendly community. We tried living in a horse-friendly town in upstate NY (Orange County), but the commute into NYC was a killer.

Please help advise of a headhunter or way to find those small-town big companies.

By: Country Boy Cincy Ohio

Country Boy Cincy Ohio — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:17:43 +0000

I grew up in a small town near WV for 18 years. I moved to a city and lived
here for another 18 years, so I have a very educated experience of both sides.
Cities are great places to attend college and find great paying jobs, I have done both. There are no other benefits, the air stinks, the people try to run you off the road and are rude as hell. I want to move back home and would take a 50% paycut anyday.

By: Richard Mudrinich - Hermitage, Pennsylvania

Richard Mudrinich - Hermitage, Pennsylvania — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:30:02 +0000

Dear Anne:

I met you in a New York City jazz club next to the Ed Sullivan Theatre. I appreciate your BLOG on the topic of living in a major city versus small town. I am looking for a new job in both environments, resulting in severals years of bouncing back-and-forth like a corporate ping-pong ball, not to mention several layoffs and resource actions. I appreciate any assistance that anyone can provide. Please visit http://www.rescuerick.com for my contact information. Thank you.

Richard T. Mudrinich
Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

By: Helen, Marshfield, WI

Helen, Marshfield, WI — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:10:57 +0000

I think most people are happy with what they know best. I find that if you grew up in a city, then eventually you end up in the city. If you grew up in a small town, then you eventually find yourself back there. I’m from a small town and would like to try living in the city for awhile to see if my theory is correct.
By the way, those large companies in small cities are few and far between. They also don’t have much turnover and it’s hard to get a job there with good pay. About the only thing cheaper in a small town is housing cost.

By: Ed Lawrence, Chicago, IL

Ed Lawrence, Chicago, IL — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:18:59 +0000

I am a corporate recruiter with 30 years experience asking people to accept professional and technical jobs in small towns all across America. While many balk at the idea of such a move, of those who did only one regreted his decision. Personally, I would move to a small town in a nano-second if the salary levels and future opportunities were clear and evident. That is the problem for most salaried professionals. I can never adequately answer the question, “What happens if my job goes away?”

By: Mary Burson, Ypsilanti, MI

Mary Burson, Ypsilanti, MI — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:54:44 +0000

We would jump at the chance to work for a big company in a small town. I just need to know.. where’s the list of the companies!

By: Megan Ithaca, NY

Megan Ithaca, NY — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:22:23 +0000

Anyone interested in big company-small town should check out Smuckers (Yeah, the jelly)in Orrville, OH. They have been there since the beginning and have done wonders for the community by way of attracting employees to the area.

By: Ericka New Berlin, IL.

Ericka New Berlin, IL. — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:39:09 +0000

Just take into consideration that being in a small town also puts you in a position of less privacy. Small towns know everyone and insist on knowing as much as possible about everyone’s personal life. Someone coming from a big city might find that unnerving or they might embrace it. My biggest advice would be to watch out for those gossipy cliques. They are harder to escape in a small community.

By: Lisa Zaloudek, Kremlin, OK

Lisa Zaloudek, Kremlin, OK — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:33:41 +0000

my daughter married a guy from a SMALL town in OK…she has her masters degree, 16 years military as an officer, 10 years in corporate positions and is constantly told they are afraid she will leave them and move on to something better. She is very discouraged about finding a position. She has been Vice President of Human Resources and would like to get out of corporate but no one seems to understand that. She is in the Enid, OK area.

By: Kara, population 3000, TX

Kara, population 3000, TX — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:23:04 +0000

I think anyone who is from a city wanting to move to the country is absolutely NUTS! I moved from Houston to the country and not a day passes that I pray for death to take me away from here (as I now cannot afford to move back)! As a single woman, I’m despised be every other woman in town, the local form of entertainment is how much beer someone can drink and if you think it’s cheaper living in the country – groceries are are at least 33% higher and the choice of groceries is disgusting; my taxes for a smaller house is approx. 28% higher than my much larger home in the city; gas is .20-30 cents more per gallon; the people won’t mind their own business; no city conveniences such as a real fire department, police department, hospital system; and here’s a shocker: if your dog gets outside and off your property (it happens), anyone can shoot your dog because there’s no animal control. One of my neighbors shot the other neighbors poodle when it got out even though they knew who the dog belonged to! Backwards people with the mentality to match. I’ll take the city any day of the week and until I get back there, I pray to die in my sleep! — By the way, Austin/San Antonio area is the BEST if you can afford to live there. – PS – dial up, no high speed, so think really hard before making a move.

By: Jonathon, Salem, Missouri

Jonathon, Salem, Missouri — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:17:37 +0000

Don’t move to small town. If you do check out the people very carefully first. Most small towns are run by Good Old Boys Club. If you are not local or inbred or kin, related to father, mother, sister, brother, aunt suzie or Uncle Bo especially in SALEM, Missouri it doesn’t matter what your qualifications are, you cannot get a job. Degree or 20 years experience, and willing to take a pay cut. You will be beaten out of any job by a high school drop-out with zero personality.

By: Jeff Zeitz, Akron Ohio

Jeff Zeitz, Akron Ohio — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:13:22 +0000

Great article and concept. I think companies like The J.M Smucker company that does over $3Billion in sales and is located in Orrville Oh are examples that should be review as well. Another great opportunity is consulting (for Strong Companies) but lets you work from your home or area outside of a corporate office.