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Anyone from Indiana, specifically Indianapolis?

Myself and my housemate have become increasingly frustrated with life in our own pisstake of a country, and are seriously considering moving out there in the summer to live/work for 12months, or even longer if we can get a greencard.

My question is, how does the job market stand over there at the moment? I myself am an architectural technologist, and my housemate is a graphic/web designer. We both have upwards of 5 years professional expirience in our respective fields.

I suppose anyone from any state could advise us really, however we are initially looking at indiana due to the low cost of living (10% below national average apparently).

Also, does anyone have any useful tips for immigration into the U.S?

Thought this would be as a good a place to ask as any, as I notice there are a few stateside folks around these parts.

Cheers,

Dobern

Dobern wrote:Anyone from Indiana, specifically Indianapolis?

My question is, how does the job market stand over there at the moment?

one suggestion is to check the website for the Indianapolis newspaper and they should have a jobs section for you to browse

Good luck.

It might be a case of "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence". but it could be a fun experience for you. A car trip around the US would be something you would remember forever. MY European cousins did this a few years ago, but they drove around both Canada and the US.

I think that, before you go, you should watch some US TV, via satellite, to get a flavour of the country. It might be very educational. CBS, NBC, ABC, and so on are the older mainstream channels, but, for an almost surreal US flavour, check out FOX.

FOX "News" is NOT a parody! Watch it, to see some of the types of views that you might encounter. (The Bush administration did NOT happen in a vaccum. FOX News is the Republican party megaphone. While you might laugh at the stuff on TV, keep in mind that millions of their viewers believe what is shown. Scary stuff indeed!! )

I would go to the US monsterboard and other websites, as well as some of the help wanted sections of the online newspapers in the US, to see what jobs are available.

Also, you might want to check that your certifications are valid in the US. They often do not recognize foreign certifications. My own profession is an example. I am qualified in the US. The UK profession will grant me qualifications based on my US qualifications, but the US does not reciprocate for those qualified in the UK. (The irony is that the UK system is much more difficult and compreshensive than the US one.)

All I know about Indiana is that autoracing is popular, but some of the laws pertaining to public behaviour are a little excessive.


All males 18 to 50 years old must work six days a year on public roads.

Mustaches are illegal if the bearer has a tendency to habitually kiss other humans.

Hotel sheets must be exactly 99 inches long and 81 inches wide.

State government officials who engage in private duels can be dismissed from their post.

Drinking from your own bottle in a bar can lead to your arrest.

A man over the age of 18 may be arrested for statutory rape if the passenger in his car is not wearing her socks and shoes, and is under the age of 17.

It is illegal to sell cars on Sunday.

Drinks on the house are illegal.

It is illegal for a liquor store to sell cold soft drinks.

A person who dyes, stains, or otherwise alters the natural coloring of a bird or rabbit commits a Class B misdemeanor. (Ind. Code 15-2.1-21-13(b)

Smoking in the state legislature building is banned, except when the legislature is in session.

Liquor stores may not sell milk.

Check forgery can be punished with public flogging up to 100 stripes.

Grocery stores may not sell any type of cold liquor.

You can get out of paying for a dependent's medical care by praying for him/her.

Pedestrians crossing the highway at night are prohibited from wearing tail lights.

No one may catch a fish with his bare hands.

Men are prohibited from standing in a bar.

You are not allowed to carry a cocktail from the bar to a table. The waiter or waitress has to do it.

"Spiteful Gossip" and "talking behind a person's back" are illegal.

You are required to pour your drink into a glass.

It is against the law to pass a horse on the street.

If any person has a puppet show, wire dancing or tumbling act in the state of Indiana and receives money for it, they will be fined $3 under the Act to Prevent Immoral Practices.

http://www.ahajokes.com/laws014.html

I grew up in Indiana...but it was Northwest Indiana. We had Lake Michigan. We were MUCH closer to Chicago, Illinois than central/southern Indiana. I have been through Indianapolis though. I'd say it's a "big city," but only if I am comparing it to other "cities" in Indiana. Many people I graduated with stayed in Indiana, moving, in fact, to Indianapolis. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but I did move away as soon as I was able. Indiana is also VERY beautiful! I think if you are looking for a "put-your-big-toe-in-the-water" place, Indianapolis would a good start. I agree with checking local newspaper websites...Good Luck! (Hope you like cows and corn!)

Thanks for the replies chaps & chapettes, hadn't thought of the local newspapers so will give it a try now.

Cheers,

Dobern

graphic/web design is a terrible field right now in this country. people with a lot more experience than 5 years have trouble finding work, that may not be the best plan, IMO. peace

just curious why indiana? nothing against it by any means, just seems a random choice. i myself can only see myself living on the west coast of this country.

im kind of in the same situation as you. tired of living here and thinking of moving to the uk as i have family there and consider it my second home. exploring the option of getting dual uk/us citizenship. as someone else said though may be a case of the grass is always greener on the other side.

but yea the job market in this country is probably as sparse as it is in the uk. also may wanna explore lving on the west coast. much nicer than the midwest imo.

Yeah honestly I can't see why you'd want to live in Indiana. Nothing against it, but I'd head west too. I lived in Fort Wayne IN for a spell as a teen, and hated it. Chicago and Ann Arbor are probably my fave midwest cities if I had to pick. Ann Arbor used to have Hash Bash, haven't been since '89. Hopefully still going strong. Oh yeah, Madison is pretty cool too.

indiana is a hellhole. im in chicago (less of a hell hole, but not a great place IMO) and my girl is from northern indiana. i spend alot of time there. the job market sucks here in chicago, i can only imagine its terrible over there.

i have heard that bloomington is one of the metaphorical islands of sanity in the midwest, but i cant speak to it personally.

if you wanna come stateside, theres better places. indiana is cheap because it sucks. you're either in the middle of fucking nowhere surrounded by cornfields and hillbillies (its also home to the KKK...) or in the hood, trying not to get stabbed. and as foriegners, i can tell you that indiana isnt exactly the most open or accepting place. be prepared for a year of being called eurotrash, fags, and having your accents ridiculed by people who say nucular and libary.

not recommended unless you like walmart and conservative bible beaters.

Ever given Canada a thought?

Less chance of needing body armour just to go to the store.
If you get sick you wont need to mortgage your house to get needed care.

Plus there's poutine, nuff said.

Clayman wrote: people who say nucular and libary.

not recommended unless you like walmart and conservative bible beaters.

LMFAO!!! (do you know my relatives?!?)

Max Flower wrote:Ever given Canada a thought?

Less chance of needing body armour just to go to the store.
If you get sick you wont need to mortgage your house to get needed care.

Plus there's poutine, nuff said.

WHAT is that???? Is that caramel......................mmmmmmmmmmmmm...

^ gravy of some sort i believe.

Looks absolutely revolting