I need your help

On August 14, I entered the land of the unemployed yet again. This damn economic situation has really thrown me for a loop. I lost my job in October 2008 due to budget cuts at the company (they sell truck accessories and such, and with truck sales down, their sales were down too). I worked as a contract web developer from December 2008 through March 2009 (it was a 3 month contract that got extended a month; they wanted to keep me on, but they didn’t have the work to justify a new position unfortunately). I worked on another contract job from May 2009 to August 13 (it was actually a 6 month contract-to-hire position that they ended up ending 3 months early … and then laid off 15 people the day after my contract ended).

I’ve actually been looking around since shortly after I started that 2nd contract job. Based on things that I heard around the office, I wasn’t convinced that the situation was all that stable (and I guess I was right). Unfortunately, the Fargo area just doesn’t have anything in the area that I am looking. I have a background in php and sql (both MSSQL and MySQL). The job listings that I am finding are for things like .NET or Java or other areas of web development that I don’t have experience in. I guess the Fargo area just isn’t big on php development … or at least no companies are looking for those types of developers.

So I am at a crossroad. If I want to keep working as a web developer (and I do), I need to look elsewhere for a job … I need to relocate. My preference has always been to stay right here in the Fargo area (despite the bitching I do in the winter about the cold and the snow). I was at this point before, but those contract jobs popped up and allowed me to put that off. But I really don’t think that is going to happen this time around.

This is where I need your help. Where the hell do I focus my job search? I could stay in the tri-state area (ND, SD, MN), but I don’t know if there are very many opportunities for me around here. If I’m going to move, I might as well pick up and go to some other part of the country. But I really don’t know where to look. I did ask on Twitter, and got a suggestion from Jennifer (a.k.a. @theworkingmom). She said that she’s seen quite a few opportunities for php developers in Utah. My thoughts were to either go south to Kansas, Oklahoma, or Texas (Tornado Alley :biggrin: I’m still a weather gal at heart) or to North Carolina (NASCAR country). I know … my reasoning is silly. But honestly, I have NO CLUE where to even start.

I know that I need to start doing research as to areas of the country with good opportunities and that are good places to live, but I’ve been putting it off. I can’t do that for much longer. My savings will only last so long, and I need to give 2 months notice to move out of my apartment. So the clock is ticking.

I’m hoping someone out there reading this might be able to suggest some area of the country that I could add to my list, and maybe give me a “review” of sorts on the area. As I said, I have no idea where to start. It doesn’t help that my heart isn’t in it either. But my head needs to prevail. I can’t wait around here forever hoping that some position magically appears.