Considering move to Tampa. Thoughts?

[Mike_Templar]

Hello all!

I have recently given serious consideration to relocating to the Tampa / St. Pete / Clearwater area. Before you start thinking I went on a vacation, loved it and am doing something impusive, that isn't the case.

My spouse lived in St. Pete for quite a while and we go there frequently, etc. so this has been well talked about / pro's and cons, etc.

We're down to the last con: Jobs.

We both work in IT, and from what I can glean from the all-knowing Internet, Tampa is hit or miss on IT jobs and pay, etc. I've seen a lot of people say they would obtain great jobs only to be let go after six months.

I am an integration manager with a major consulting firm, so I am trying to find either a travel or remote work position. She is a very senior / lead business analyst.

What do you Tampa folks think of our prospects, and are we sane?
We're coming from Louisville and the worst weather on Earth.


Mike.

[superdog]

I love Louisville, but I would choose Tampa easy. It is a great area and very up and coming. The quality of life is not even something you can compare.

If this is something you can do, absolutely do it.

[azguy]

In general, IMHO, good/talented people always find good jobs. It may not be easy, it may not be smooth but it'll happen. Maybe you'll need to start with temp work, or contract work or even part-time work but good people get jobs...

On the other note, I could and have had the opportunity to make SERIOUS (I do OK, don't get me wrong) money if I moved to NY or Boston over the past 15 years. I happily make 50% less to live and work in Scottsdale, AZ. It's in the 80's this week and I sailed all weekend while the Northeast lives in snow hell. No thank you, that's not worth any amount of money to me...and I mean ANY amount...

[69mach351]

It may be worth getting your information to some head hunters in the area. Have someone start the process of looking for you, and you may get relocation paid for.

[Headshrinker]

I have a home on Longboat Key, some seventy miles south of Tampa, but have spent some time there. It is a very up and coming area as mentioned, as there are a lot of older historical areas as well as newer upscale locations.

[yjfang]

Plus living in AZ is hella cheap.

Originally Posted by azguy

In general, IMHO, good/talented people always find good jobs. It may not be easy, it may not be smooth but it'll happen. Maybe you'll need to start with temp work, or contract work or even part-time work but good people get jobs...

On the other note, I could and have had the opportunity to make SERIOUS (I do OK, don't get me wrong) money if I moved to NY or Boston over the past 15 years. I happily make 50% less to live and work in Scottsdale, AZ. It's in the 80's this week and I sailed all weekend while the Northeast lives in snow hell. No thank you, that's not worth any amount of money to me...and I mean ANY amount...

[rr-nyc]

I know two couples that left the Tampa area after years of living there

Florida in general has a pretty soft job market for my type of work ( Medtech). I work remotely out of my CT office but getting tired of the biweekly commute. As I look around for new opportunities, there are none- as in zero based in FL,


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[Angrypuppy]

I've lived in FL, and spent time all over the state. Tampa is the only area I would consider moving to down there, maybe Tallahassee.

[thomaspp]

Tampa is fun and relaxed. And you have Tom (a member here) near you to talk watches!

[azguy]

Originally Posted by yjfang

Plus living in AZ is hella cheap.

[wantonebad]

Hey, don't forget Rik Dietel, he's there too!!

Jon, what you say about quality people finding work is true in most situations however when there is little or no work in a given field then you have a glut of applicants for every opening. Not a good situation for being hired. Tampa is very appealing, lots more people trying to get in then people leaving...

[locutus49]

We have lived in Wash D.C. area for decades, but are about to move to Southern California because we are sick of the bad weather.

Our house goes on the market this weekend. Hopefully a move is soon after. So I totally understand.

[tkerrmd]

I am from Philly and been in Tampa over twenty years, very very nice place to live and raise a family. Glad to show you around any time you come to visit.

[Casey VP-26]

I have a close friend just relocated to Tampa from Ohio about a year ago. So far He and his wife love it. Good Luck.

[Mike_Templar]

It sounds like I'm on the right track.
I've reached out through my linked-in and started making connections with Tampa recruiters and others in the technical community in Tampa. I'm on the tampa technical forum on linked-in, etc. I think it will take a bit of doing, but if we keep casting our net, we'll hit something. I think AZ guy has it best. We make a great living, but it's just awful most of the time. The last two weeks has been 20 in the morning and 50 at lunch and 20 by the time you get home again, which KILLS my sinus's / head. I also love to play golf and playing around here is like playing on concrete most of the time (1st world problems).

Anyway - I will be down the end of March following a band I really like from Philly called Get The Led Out. They do a tour of Florida every year and we use it as one of our excuses to come down. We just follow them down the coast. Chattanooga, Knoxville, Jacksonville, right on down. When I'm down there, I'll post something and maybe meet up with some of you guys! That would be excellent.

[JohnAndrew]

Mike
Best wishes in your move. We recently bought a home in the panhandle after growing tired of the Midwestern winters. We hope to complete our move, to Florida, this early to mid summer. If you'd like to pm me with any questions, I'd be happy to reply. My wife and I spent a month driving from northern Florida, down to Miami last summer. Searching for an area we could and would like to make a home in.

[ezmarr]

Do it! And you don't have the WORST weather in Louisville, KY. I spent my whole life in Ohio and the last 10 years in Cleveland. Much colder and more snow there than in KY. Two years ago I was given the opportunity (via LinkedIn) to move to Savannah, GA. Jumped on it and would do again in a heartbeat!

Best of luck to you.

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by Mike_Templar

It sounds like I'm on the right track.
I've reached out through my linked-in and started making connections with Tampa recruiters and others in the technical community in Tampa. I'm on the tampa technical forum on linked-in, etc. I think it will take a bit of doing, but if we keep casting our net, we'll hit something. I think AZ guy has it best. We make a great living, but it's just awful most of the time. The last two weeks has been 20 in the morning and 50 at lunch and 20 by the time you get home again, which KILLS my sinus's / head. I also love to play golf and playing around here is like playing on concrete most of the time (1st world problems).

Anyway - I will be down the end of March following a band I really like from Philly called Get The Led Out. They do a tour of Florida every year and we use it as one of our excuses to come down. We just follow them down the coast. Chattanooga, Knoxville, Jacksonville, right on down. When I'm down there, I'll post something and maybe meet up with some of you guys! That would be excellent.

lots of Tampa people on this forum, maybe time for a GTC

[Ed Rooney]

I've been to a few national meetings in Tamps with my old company, and my Mom used to live south of there in North Port. I enjoyed it there very much.

[Mike_Templar]

Originally Posted by ezmarr

Do it! And you don't have the WORST weather in Louisville, KY. I spent my whole life in Ohio and the last 10 years in Cleveland. Much colder and more snow there than in KY. Two years ago I was given the opportunity (via LinkedIn) to move to Savannah, GA. Jumped on it and would do again in a heartbeat!

Best of luck to you.

It's more than snow. When it's 20 when I wake up, 50 at lunch and then 10 driving home, 63 the next day and snows the next, it wreaks havoc with my head, absolute havoc!!!!!!!!

[Scot_3]

Spent 18 years in Sarasota just south of st. Pete. So much fun every where you look. As far as jobs and pay, I've always been told Florida companys pay less and there are fewer opportunities . My expirance has been that Florida companies are just as willing to pay for good people than anywhere else and good people are always in demand.