Where to find welding jobs in Alaska?

Nursing in Seattle or Alaska?

• Hi all, I am a new graduate nurse in Seattle. I have been looking for hospital jobs western washington since late march. I have not found one or even got a call for an interview in any hospital in Washington for that matter. I did get a job from a blood center and I will start in 2 weeks. It pays 26/hr....I have not yet factored in overtime. Moving to Alaska was my back up plan, if I did not get a job in Washington-Seattle. I am now getting calls from Alaskan hospitals that will give me the experience I need to get my foot in the door in the nursing profession. Nurses out there know that new grads find it very difficult to get a job in the market but once you get experience the doors open. So I wanted to know whether I should still interview with hospitals in Alaska and maybe take a job if they offer it. They pay much higher in Alaska. One out patient clinic said they would pay me 31/hr, so over time would be great. I heard some hospitals in Alaska pay $38 or even more. I could pay off my student loans off quickly and get experience. I am happy to get a job at the blood center and being able to live and stay in the Seattle area but at the same time I need hospital experience and I don't know how long before I will get a hospital job in Washington. The market here is so tight, I can't even get an interview around here. I have also gotten calls from Montana, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Should I hold out for my dream job in Seattle or take a job in Alaska if I am offered? Note: I am single with no children or credit cards. I just have student loan debt to pay off. Lived in a variety of cities before.

• Answer:

  Only you can decide if moving to get the job experience you need is worth it. But keep in mind that for many basic things, the cost of living in Alaska is MUCH higher. In the interior especially, food and other basics cost many times more than they do in Seattle. So while $5-$12 per hour more sounds like a lot, you need to double check the cost of living to see if you'll really be keeping more of what you earn, or if that difference in salary is to help offset the different in the cost of living.