I might possibly wind up living in the Chicago area within the next year or so. I have family in the area and, understandably, my wife wants our kids to grow up with their grandparents and such. I'm torn because I love Utah (the landscape, its beauty, recreational opportunities and friends we've made over the years). My question is for the Chicagonites on this board.

How would you characterize the Chicago job market?

It would vary based on personal background, I'm sure. Being a nurse, my wife will have no problem, but it won't be as easy for me. Yes, I have a degree (english BA). It's proven not an especially lucrative or practical field, unless the plan is higher education or teaching (english).

Opinions?

once you get here, go back to school and get your masters in English. then teach it at one of the plentiful suburban highschools or middleschools (called "jr. high") in this area. you probably won't be able to get a good teaching job without the Master's.

Look into publishing. The American Medical Association tends to hire people with English degrees to work on their journals, with no background in medicine or science required.

I really don't want to teach. I've dabbled in it and found one of the biggest aspects of the job is being a disciplinarian. I can't stand trying to force interest on a captive audience. I guess beggars can't be choosers, but I'm a bit of both.

Wood Goblin wrote:Look into publishing. The American Medical Association tends to hire people with English degrees to work on their journals, with no background in medicine or science required.

That's a possibility. Here in Salt Lake City, I worked for three + years as a technical writer for a cancer hospital.

I've been in Chicago for 6 months and I've been hired 5 times. In comparison to Michigan or Indiana (the other places I've lived) the jobs are definitely here for the industrious.

LaSalle bon Dioxide wrote:

Wood Goblin wrote:Look into publishing. The American Medical Association tends to hire people with English degrees to work on their journals, with no background in medicine or science required.

That's a possibility. Here in Salt Lake City, I worked for three + years as a technical writer for a cancer hospital.

Look into the AMA. Also, there are a handful of academic publishers and medical/scientific societies around here that are worth examining.

This is an excellent thread.

There's a chance I'll be moving to Chicago in about a year and am glad to hear that technical writing jobs are generally available. I've looked at job listings in my field on occasion and they generally seem pretty decent, but I like that this thread reaffirms that.

Salut, LaSalle bon Dioxide and Wood Goblin!

Wood Goblin wrote:
Look into the AMA.

I used to work here in publishing. It was boring as shit with little accountability, which I guess can be good if that's what you're looking for, or alternately bad if you're not. Not sure if it's changed in the last 10 years.

LBD,

Oh man it would be awesome to have you in town! Would you be living more out towards the burbs, or the city? If you are good at technical writing and medical jargon I would sugges Abbott Labs. One of the biggest pharmaceutical companies out there, located in St. Charles I think. here

Also we will have to hang out.