From my experience in helping my fiancee find a decent job, I've discovered why people are leaving our state: there just aren't any good high paying jobs in our state. She has a degree in ultrasound. You'd think since it's a medical field, she'd be able to find a job easily. Nope! Not an opening anywhere in the state. The only opening right now is in Chickasha and they require several years of previous on-the job experience. So, instead, we switch to looking for non-ultrasound jobs. Hmmm, let's see...we have customer service jobs, more customer service jobs, and even more customer service jobs. All pay around $9.50 an hour. Not a bad salary, but seems like one could do better than that with a college degree. very other jobs seems to require tons of experience....they could care less whether you have a degree or not.

Anyways, there are tons of ultrasound openings in Texas......yet, we don't have any here. In fact, the job to applicant ratio is getting so bad around here, Texas hospitals are starting to advertise in our paper for ultrasound techs because they know there are several graduating from OU and unable to find work. Hmmmm...and we wonder why so many graduates are leaving our state? Duh, there just aren't any opportunities here. My fiancee could have an ultrasound job with up to a $15,000 sign on bonus tomorrow. They're begging for ultrasound techs in Texas! We've given some thought to oving to Texas, but there's no way I could transfer! I'd have to drop out of med school.....so as you can see, it hasn't been easy.

I was reading through an ad today....this company was wanting a Receptionist/Bookkeeper....someone proficient in MS Office (Excel/Word), type 65 WPM, 10-Key 10,000 KSH, 10 years of previous office experience, experience with tons of different book keeping computer programs, a bachelor's degree in business, accounts receiveable/accounts payable experience, payroll experience, etc. etc. etc.....the list went on and on forever! Then at the end, they try to hide in....$7.50 an hour! I'm like...WHAT IN THE WORLD? They're expecting all that for so little pay. You've got to be kidding! I was thinking...who in the world would do all of this for such a sucky salary....ahhhh, a dumb Okie, that's who!


I have a friend that just recently accepted a job as a CPA in Los Angeles, California. Why? She couldn't find a job here. The company in LA was extremely happy to get her! They showed their gratitude by helping with moving arrangements and even finding her a decent apartment. Her salary to start straight out of OU Accounting school: $120,000. Pretty nice starting salary. She told me that with cost of living adjustments, that would probably amount to about $75,000 a year here. Starting out, she said there was no way a firm in OKC would've payed her that!

Anyways, some great examples of why people are leaving our state.