maybe moving to Kokomo . . .

[DollyM]

My husband had a job interview at Indiana University at Kokomo today, if it works out, Indiana here we come! (Cross your fingers, it has been a long dry spell for us financially and these is the break that we need to get on our feet.)

[IndianaGreen]

1. Let us know if hubby lands the job

and if so, when you get settled in Kokomo.

[DollyM]

2. Thanks!

They have two positions and interviewed six people, including him. They are suppose to let him know something by Friday. I sent a resume to a Hospice in Kokomo a couple of days ago and they called me today, very interested. I know things are suppose to be be bad economically in Kokomo but the seem to have more job opportunities there than they do here in southern Illinois. There is nothing here but Wal-Mart and they are so glutted with applications they aren't doing much hiring. I did look up some apartment listings in Kokomo just in case, so I am trying to be positive.

[IndianaGreen]

3. I cry every time I drive through Kokomo on my way to South Bend

I remember both cities when they had a vibrant industry, particularly Kokomo. It breaks my heart to see all the empty factories. A socialist government would put re-industrialization at the top of the agenda.

[DollyM]

4. But they do have . . .

the giant stuffed cow and the giant old stump! LOL! The area I presently live in has an unemployment rate about the same as Kokomo but Kokomo does seem to have other opportunities, especially for professionals, that this area in southern Illinois, does not have. My husband and I both have Master's degrees and can't find jobs here to save our lives.

[Jokerman]

5. Some of my earliest memories are from Kokomo.

Trips to Union Optical for my sister's glasses.

Visiting my dad on the UAW picket line outside of Chrysler.

Shopping at the Markland Mall.


We lived in a small town near Kokomo while my dad spent 25 years in the Chrysler transmission plant. Like IndianaGreen said, the town has seen better times. It bounced back a little in the 90s along with Chrysler but any city so closely tied to the auto industry has to be a little shaky right now.

My sister took some classes at IUK and always had good things to say about the people there.

Best of luck to both of you on the job hunt.

[Jack Bone]

6. I'm in Kokomo...

The City of Firsts, awaits you..possibly?

I work @ Chrysler (for the time being), I am a returning student @ IUK (not this semester tho)
We've got a nice blossoming Democratic community here, lots of chain restaurants & stores..cost of living is low...lots of nice homes for sale.

The only "downside" is that there are maybe too many churches, and the politics that go along w/ them.

What we lack in culture can be found close by, either in Indy, Chicago, Columbus OH, or Detroit.

it's a nice place to raise a family.

feel free to message me here in DU when & if you're looking to buy or rent a home. I'll be able to tell you where the better neighborhoods/school districts are.

I'm crossing my fingers for ya!

Peace & Good Vibes 2 ya!

[DollyM]

7. My husband didn' t get the job . . .

We were so disappointed. I thought Kokomo seemed like a lovely place and full of potential. He interviewed in Northern Illinois last week and we are still waiting to hear back from that. I have a feeling this is just going to be a constant stream of interviews and then nothing. He used to get just about any job he ever applied for but in this economy, they don't want someone who is 55 years old. Too young to retire to old to get a job it seems!

[IndianaGreen]

8. Federal government is hiring

http://www.usajobs.gov/

[DollyM]

9. thanks anyway . . .

He really wanted to work at the college there since that is what his background and esperience is in. There is just too much competition anymore and, he is 55 years old so he just keeps getting interviews and passed over. He was called for an interview at a college in SouthBend but it is 6 hours away and the salary wasn't enough for family to live on and I didn't think I could find work in the area since it is so close to Elkhart. Plus, we are just so broke, we can't afford to drive that far for an interview anymore, much less have the money to move. Kind of the definition of being between a rock and a hard place. So much for those expensive Master's degrees we have! I wish we had saved the money instead of spending it on college since those degrees are apparently worthless once you hit 50 or so.

[AlwaysDemocrat]

10. Have you checked job posting at other IU campuses ?

Is he looking for a staff or faculty position? What area of expertise?

[DollyM]

12. I think we have applied at about every Indiana campus there is!

Now he isn't even getting interviews. He did academic advising with a community college on a program called Student Support Services which was supported by a federal grant. They lost the grant and he lost his job. He also taught psychology and sociology part time so he could also teach one of those if he could find a full time position. But those are pretty hard to come by, all they want is adjunct (part time) teachers since they save on having to pay benefits.

[proteus_lives]

11. Have you thought about Purdue?

Trust me, the Lafayette area is really nice!