Post Graduation Plans

I won't be graduating for a while, I have about 3 years. I would like to hear some ideas from some of you because I have noticed the forum on TE tends to be a lot of smart ladies :) I know a lot of you are professionals. As one about to enter my professional field I'm a little nervous about deciding where to do this. I am very interested in Oregon and Washington state, I lived there briefly a few years back but fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. I'm not sure that's the best way to pick a place to make home and work though. I'm from Indiana but the prospects for my particular field are not very good there unless I want to practice in a rural area and I'm not crazy about that idea. I lived in a rural area growing up, while it has its up sides I still prefer the city and I'm sure my BF would too. For some reason my BF doesn't even like to talk about this subject with me? I can only guess he's just worried about his own career prospects if he were to move. He is a PT and his licensing is specific to each state so if he moved I think he would have to take another licensing for the state he moved to? I guess I'm just wanting to bounce some ideas around. I'm open to any suggestions, ideas etc. Thanks in advance :)

Picking a place because you fell in love with it is the perfect reason to move there. It's so easy to stay in a place you don't love because it's familiar, and it often gets harder to leave as the ties that bind you to it grow. When I was at that place in my life, I found an internship at a company in the city I was thinking about, in the break between first and second semester senior year. I ended up working there for 12 years.

Maybe take a roadtrip with your BF so you can get a sense of the area together.

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For some reason my BF doesn't even like to talk about this subject with me? I can only guess he's just worried about his own career prospects if he were to move. He is a PT and his licensing is specific to each state so if he moved I think he would have to take another licensing for the state he moved to? I guess I'm just wanting to bounce some ideas around. I'm open to any suggestions, ideas etc.

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What is your area of study?

Your BF- Hope the 2 of you begin the dialogue pretty soon. Better now, for both of you.

And remember he doesn't have to join you right at the same time you move. There could always be a yr. lag where yes, the 2 of you would live apart briefly. He needs time to make the transition financially, etc. He is pulling in the money so to ask him to give up a job and meanwhile you would be looking for a job unless you get one after moving, would not be a great thing for both of you financially.

Does your program help with job placement? If so, I'd start there. Talk to your job placement director. In my field, it was harder than I imagined it would be to get a job outside of the primary geographic area served by the school. Most either stayed in Indiana or went back to their own home state. You might find the same with your program; I don't know. As for your BF. I would start having, if he's willing, more open and honest conversations about your future plans. It's not fair that you're having to guess at what he's thinking.

The other piece of advice is this: sometimes you get your dream job in your dream location straight out of school. But far more typically, you end up having to take a job that isn't ideal and then work your way toward what you really want or where you really want to be. So keep that in mind.

Redrhodie - great idea with the road trip to PNW, that would be the perfect thing, so glad you thought of it :)

shootingstar - My area of study is Optometry. We are living apart now and have been for about a year. I suppose it is not such a big deal if we are not immediately living together after school.

Indy - yep I've thought about the working a position in Indiana idea then move on to where I really want to be thing too. That's definitely a possibility. I just don't want to get stuck in IN due to financial reasons or whatever like redrhodie was saying


Thanks for the ideas

a relocation is hard when both partners are not on board. You need to find out if he will ever want to move. We have lots of jobs for PT people in the PacNW

I definitely agree with Red's comments. However, the cautious realist in me has never gotten up the nerve to take that plunge. At least right out of law school, student loans and otherwise being broke dictated my options. But e bold if you can swing it! I can live vicariously through you!

You probably have great job prospects graduating from Optometry. I suppose the big question for you later, career -wise it to work under someone or have a partnership business.

It will probably be easier for you to take the plunge to move to a different state/region after graduation vs. him. He might need to be in a bigger metro area initially in NW briefly before being with you in a more rural area.

Wow; I just did a bit of reading about optometry programs. I didn't realize how few schools there are in the US. That certainly differs from law school. I'd like to think that will definitely work in your favor. Again, I'd start talking to your job placement office. I assume they'll have some advice in terms of job search strategies.

While my experience may not be relevant (I'm a teacher), I have followed the job until I build up enough practical experience to go where I choose. I seek out jobs that will meet my needs and make me happy. A cool city can be cool, but if you hate your job it won't be an enjoyable stay. Luckily, that tactic has taken me to some pretty unique places-- all of which I learned to love. The mountains of western Massachusetts, northern Maine, Lake Placid, New York, and now St. Louis. I've been in STL for 4 years now and while I love it, my partner and I are both planning to return to New England, the homeland, in a few years. I'll have a much easier time finding a job where I want with plenty of experience under my belt!

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Originally Posted by indysteel

I definitely agree with Red's comments. However, the cautious realist in me has never gotten up the nerve to take that plunge. At least right out of law school, student loans and otherwise being broke dictated my options. But e bold if you can swing it! I can live vicariously through you!

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Did you go to law school in Indiana? My sister graduated last May from IU. She just started working for a firm in Syracuse and studying for the NY bar.

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

Did you go to law school in Indiana? My sister graduated last May from IU. She just started working for a firm in Syracuse and studying for the NY bar.

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I went to law school at IU-Bloomington. Class of '96. Sometimes I can't believe it's already been almost 16 years since I was in school.

Best wishes to your sister! I'm glad she was able to find a job in the current market. How did she end up in Syracuse out of curiosity?

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Originally Posted by indysteel

I went to law school at IU-Bloomington. Class of '96. Sometimes I can't believe it's already been almost 16 years since I was in school.

Best wishes to your sister! I'm glad she was able to find a job in the current market. How did she end up in Syracuse out of curiosity?

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She was interested in labor law. New York has plenty of that, and this firm mostly handles labor disputes (on the labor side). Interestingly, while she did get some interviews because she had a connection or network, she did not get offers from any of those interviews, and this one she did even though she didn't have any connections.

Sorry to hijack WindingRoad's thread...back to your life now, WindingRoad! :)

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

Maybe take a roadtrip with your BF so you can get a sense of the area together.

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I love this idea. You've got some time to sort this out, which is great.