Moving West and looking for work

[Wild Bill]

Hey folks,
My name is Billy Schwarz and I've been on here for about 6 months or so now and love the forum and the interaction. Currently located in Brookings, SD but will be moving to Grand Junction, CO in early June with my fiancé, as she has taken a job there after graduation. I have been looking for a while but haven't been able to really find any job openings that fit. I'm a landscaper by trade and have a 4 yr degree from SDSU in Landscape Design. Definitely willing to switch career paths if necessary and haven't really crossed anything off the list. I know there are a few guys on here from the GJ area and would be more than thankful if anyone had any input or leads. Feel free to PM me or something if anyone knows anything. Thanks a lot guys!

 

[mtmiller]

Brookings to CO.....good call. ;-)

 

[HighDesertSage]

I curretly live in GJ. Your gonna love it here. 30 minutes to great deer, elk, and fishing. The job market can be some what feast or famine though. I would check the GJ Nickel Want Ads, GJ sentinel classifieds and get yourself set up on linked in. There are a few landscape and design companies here. A simple google search can get you a few names. Not gonna sugar coat it though. The job market here can be tough. It's not like Salt Lake or Denver. I got really lucky to have the job I do. I always recommend people obtain employment before moving here. Hopefully though you guys will be able to live off her salary until you can find something. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Good Luck!

 

[Khunter]

GJ is a great place to live. Lived there 10 years then moved a bit east to Glenwood.

put a good resume together and march into every landscape office with it.


book cliff gardens is a high end sort of place with a nursery and a landscaping department.

 

[el unit]

Colorado's western slope and Grand Junction area is a great place. Good luck with the job search.

 

[marksjeep]

Welcome to the Grand Valley. I'll keep my ears open on jobs. In the mean time, feel free to PM if you have any questions about the area.

 

[Oak]

As the others have said, you will like the area. I suggest you have your lovely wife find a second job so you can fully experience all that Western Colorado has to offer. Good luck.

 

[Gunner46]

Just a suggestion, but short term, just to get some cash flow going, why not look into pulling some guard/security duty. The pay's not great, but it's not hard work either. If you're willing to do nights, or weekends you'll not have any problem finding work.

 

[Wild Bill]

Thanks for all the input folks! Really appreciate it

 

[Dinkshooter]

As the others have said, you will like the area. I suggest you have your lovely wife find a second job so you can fully experience all that Western Colorado has to offer. Good luck.

Oak's yard looks like crap, hit him up first

 

[davinski]

Another SD transplant to GJ here, 21 years now. It wasn't until year 7 that we actually bought a snow shovel, if that tells you anything. A few of us GJ-types all ought to get together for lunch or beverages or something. PM me if you want, I know of a couple firms I'd visit if I were a landscape architect. Residential development is still a little slow, but the municipalities around here have gone a little gonzo with their landscape requirements so folks like you should be in demand.

Word to the wise, the CPW won't consider you a resident until after 6 months. And that's at time of purchase of or application for a tag. I'd bite the bullet and buy for non-res rates if you haven't already. There may not be any late season elk leftover tags by December.
Dave

 

[mtmiller]

Another SD transplant to GJ here, 21 years now. Dave

Good side of the state?

 

[davinski]

Good side of the state?

Definitely the better side of the state. CO has a front range/west slope thing going on like east river vs. west river back home in SD.