Posted: 4/9/2026 10:37:17 AM EDT
[Last Edit: MTNShewter][Edited]
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I've been applying to exclusively jobs in Alabama for one year now. I don't have a job offer yet, but one way or another, we are going to wind up there. I haven't had luck at any of the defense tech firms in Huntsville, and I like that area, but I'm glad to have had more success in the Gulf area. I interviewed with an Orange Beach company on Monday and it went quite well. Hoping to hear back soon, and I'll keep trying until I get a job down there regardless. Wife is spearheading the house hunt and doing a great job, and seeking everywhere from Daphne to the beach itself. Foley is looking the best right now, if I get the Orange Beach position. Whatever happens, we can't wait to be there. I know the area well after serving my term at Pensacola during flight school, and I'm very fond of that experience (Corpus on the other hand, not at all  ).We have two boys, and this will be a better place for them to grow up than here in Colorado where everyone is weird, antisocial and liberal. Any advice is welcome, or just banter about the area these days. 
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Congrats on moving to AL. Elberta and Lillian areas are still not too grown up with McMansions and such in Baldwin County. I have cousins who live in Elberta and work in Foley. You may want to consider living across the line in Florida, since FL has no state income tax. Personally, I would avoid the coastal / beach areas, because they get really crowded and weird / wild during the "beach" season. JMHO, YMMV. Good luck. |
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Thanks! And roger to all of the above. We will not be doing beach zone. I do disaster recovery now, and there will be an element of that in my future work, so I know how far I want to be above base flood elevation. Wife sent me a place on Dauphin Island and this was me:  But truly, she's doing an awesome job. |
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We have a couple threads in the forum regarding the Gulf Shores and Southern AL areas. You'll find the htf members are great here, they'll happily provide relevant info on just about any questions you may have. Good luck, and welcome. |
Alabama: That the great, general and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare....That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state. (Art. I, § 26)
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Originally Posted By Bama-Shooter: Foley has a touch of the liberal. I haven't gotten that feeling while I've been there the last couple days, but my perspective is massively skewed after years on the front range in Colorado, so I believe you. The last couple days in Orange Beach were nice, kinda dumpy weather, but of course the sun just came out as I drove away. 
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Thanks, I have applied to L3 a couple times, none of those jobs really suited my background but I'd be happy to work for them in Huntsville. I interviewed with an Orange Beach company, and visited them in person last week. Things went well but I won't hear if they're moving forward on me for another week. It's a good fit for me and it would put us where we really want to be. Could use yall's prayers on it. We lost the house we were hoping for because this has taken so long to hear back, so we're expanding our home search. |
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Originally Posted By MTNShewter: Back to the drawing board. Job fell through. I wouldn't wish my job hunt experience on a damn soul. At least you’re getting interviews with your job hunt. I’ve put in about 130 applications and have only had an interview for 1 position. |
Looking for work: athletics admin, marketing, event promotions, facility operations.
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Originally Posted By MTNShewter: I've been applying to exclusively jobs in Alabama ......... defense tech firms in Huntsville, and I like that area, but I'm glad to have had more success in the Gulf area. ....... Pensacola during flight school.... |
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Originally Posted By HeyCoach: At least you’re getting interviews with your job hunt. I’ve put in about 130 applications and have only had an interview for 1 position. I may not have put that many applications in. But only one company has reached out at all, and that's after a year of very serious attempt at a career change. It's tough out here. |
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Originally Posted By MTNShewter: I may not have put that many applications in. But only one company has reached out at all, and that's after a year of very serious attempt at a career change. It's tough out here. Originally Posted By MTNShewter: Originally Posted By HeyCoach: At least you’re getting interviews with your job hunt. I’ve put in about 130 applications and have only had an interview for 1 position. I may not have put that many applications in. But only one company has reached out at all, and that's after a year of very serious attempt at a career change. It's tough out here. Sorry to hear that and to have made that assumption. Good luck in finding something, it’ll work out where you’re supposed to be. |
Looking for work: athletics admin, marketing, event promotions, facility operations.
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Originally Posted By MTNShewter: Mainly project management as it's closest to what I do now, but I'm up for damn near anything. I'd love to work with a boat or shipbuilder. Check all the contracting companies in Huntsville you can find, there are piles of them that provide all manner of aviation program management support to all branches. Tyonek, yukista, and SES are giant companies with large operations in town. There are too many smaller companies to count. Every big (and small) defense corporation has large operations here supporting aviation, ballistic missiles, or NASA and they all advertise jobs in the usual places. |
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I had to stumble into Huntsville last year without a plan to work here other than continue my long-time, pre-coof WFH job. I'm fine with stretching it out. But. I kinda did the same in Columbia SC in 1997 and never really got to work there. I kinda want to try to work in HSV "on site" with real, live humans before I die. But, I digress. Do LinkedIn. Set up a minimal profile. Or more. Your call. Configure job alerts that fit your background, interests, and even aspirations. Click on jobs in the job alert emails. Especially click on job alert open houses links in LinkedIn messages or your associated email.  . The recruiters all have LinkedIn Premium and will know exactly who you are. Any of the free AI sites can keyword and acronym your stuff up to stuff into LinkedIn. ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and ... and even Copilot (barf).Obligatory AL HTF HSV disclaimer: @dlshady is not a fed |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: I had to stumble into Huntsville last year without a plan to work here other than continue my long-time, pre-coof WFH job. I'm fine with stretching it out. But. I kinda did the same in Columbia SC in 1997 and never really got to work there. I kinda want to try to work in HSV "on site" with real, live humans before I die. But, I digress. Do LinkedIn. Set up a minimal profile. Or more. Your call. Configure job alerts that fit your background, interests, and even aspirations. Click on jobs in the job alert emails. Especially click on job alert open houses links in LinkedIn messages or your associated email. . The recruiters all have LinkedIn Premium and will know exactly who you are. Any of the free AI sites can keyword and acronym your stuff up to stuff into LinkedIn. ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and ... and even Copilot (barf).Obligatory AL HTF HSV disclaimer: @dlshady is not a fed Attached File |
"Like anybody would tell Joe Biden what the country's real plans are. He still hasn't figured out that his "laptop" is actually an Etch-A-Sketch." - Mech2007
So gross even my fat wife agrees she's gross. - ConfoundZ
So gross even my fat wife agrees she's gross. - ConfoundZ
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Originally Posted By Morgan321: Assuming you’re a naval aviator with a BS degree? If you have experience in military program management you can easily get a job here, those people swarm around like flies on shit. Check all the contracting companies in Huntsville you can find, there are piles of them that provide all manner of aviation program management support to all branches. Tyonek, yukista, and SES are giant companies with large operations in town. There are too many smaller companies to count. Every big (and small) defense corporation has large operations here supporting aviation, ballistic missiles, or NASA and they all advertise jobs in the usual places. Thanks for giving me some more ideas. I am not a Navy Fly guy any more. I did not get wings, did not pass go, and got RIF'd. that was in 2015. I've worked for FEMA for 10 years. Breaking away and getting anyone to care for my experience in our bureaucracy is definitely my challenge. |
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: I had to stumble into Huntsville last year without a plan to work here other than continue my long-time, pre-coof WFH job. I'm fine with stretching it out. But. I kinda did the same in Columbia SC in 1997 and never really got to work there. I kinda want to try to work in HSV "on site" with real, live humans before I die. But, I digress. Do LinkedIn. Set up a minimal profile. Or more. Your call. Configure job alerts that fit your background, interests, and even aspirations. Click on jobs in the job alert emails. Especially click on job alert open houses links in LinkedIn messages or your associated email. . The recruiters all have LinkedIn Premium and will know exactly who you are. Any of the free AI sites can keyword and acronym your stuff up to stuff into LinkedIn. ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and ... and even Copilot (barf).Obligatory AL HTF HSV disclaimer: @dlshady is not a fed Thanks for pitching in, too. I've done the LinkedIn thing, and I do some of their job alerts. Need to do more though. On that subject, I'll share my LinkedIn and resume with any of yall who are interested or think you can point me in a better direction if you have more details. Just dm me your email if so. I want to just thank everyone again. I'm very patient but that's not the skill I need right now. I need to be a damn hound dog for jobs. |
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American by birth. Southern by the grace of God.
Any opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect upon any agency or organization with which I may be employed or affiliated.
Any opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect upon any agency or organization with which I may be employed or affiliated.