Is anyone here from Alaska? Where do you live & what is it like? See rest of the question below...?

Question

What are the job prospects in Alaska for someone without a college degree?

Please do not give answers like "no" or "check google". I would really like to hear from Alaskans about the areas they live in and what they are like. I already know Alaska is very different from North to South.

Answer 1

You're asking a specific question, you clearly want a real answer, and you actually pick best answers from your previous questions (dang rare), so I'll try to give you a comphresive answer.

All Alaskan towns are "small towns" by which I mean people are connected, they know someone who knows someone and if can make just a few connections, people will help you find a good situation - housing, job, recreation, etc.

Alaska is more Libertarian then most anywhere else - a greater civility between Dems and Reps; hunters and treehuggers; rich and poor. Although my closest friends have similar views, I have more casual friends and aquaintances with (IMO) wacky views than I ever did in the 48 states.

It is absolute gorgeous scenery up here in a way that is hard to describe. I look out across 20 miles of saltwater at 3 glaciated volcanos. A view others would pay millions for and up here it is just one of many great views. If you are into serious recreation (hunting, fishing (duh), camping, hiking, BPing, X-C skiing, etc) then the opportunties are world-class. It is VERY good to have both summer AND WINTER sports/activities that excite you. We have a lot of winter, you might as well look forward to it.

Jobs - Because of the small-town nature, if you are a hard worker, learn quick, and do good work, the word gets around and you will have lots of options. (It works in reverse too, if you're a screw-up). Most people I do engineering for don't realize it, but I'm a registered engineer in AK without a degree. I think there is a greater appreciation here of the person than the CV/resume. Most Alaskan towns were established or took off so recently - in the last 30-50 years, that all the important movers and shakers weren't PhDs in Urban Planning, but were veterans or homesteaders or housewifes that stepped up and got things done.

Some of the easier jobs to get into are seasonal work (another poster mentioned tourist trade stuff in SE AK). Anything in the hospitality industry (hotels, bars, guides, air charters, etc) hires up for each summer. But I'd caution you to think about who you meet. Housekeeping in a hotel or B&B and you just see the dirty sheets of tourists who are passing through. But front desk at an air charter service and you'll be meeting locals who need to fly someplace right now (i.e. are employed, local, have money, responsibility and may well be hiring people themselves). Or working retail - selling t-shirts to tourists just leads to a pink-slip in September when the last tour ship comes through. But working at the local clothing store, marine supply, etc and you meet locals who stay all winter.

I live in Kenai and I like that 1) there lots of recreation close by - BP, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, skiing, dog mushing 2) it is not a big city like Anchorage (no traffic jams, you know the people you meet), 3) it IS big enough to have all services and stores in town, 4) it is on the road system (an important flexibility and mental-health thing to consider), and 5) and the climate gets decent summers and decent winters. Fairbanks is SO extreme on both ends, IMO. And SE AK gets so much rain.

Homer is really nice for culture, weather, and views. Dicey on skiing all winter, but a one hour drive fixes that.

Carole is right that some bigger money jobs are for welding/instrumentation/heavy equipment. But oilfields need cooks and secretaries and medical assistants, etc. Many who work on the North Slope do 2 weeks on (14 12-hour days) in company housing. And then get 2 weeks off 13 times a year! That's a nice bit of time to vacation around Alaska (and occasionally elsewhere). It can be a nice lifestyle, especially if you don't have kids.

Answer 2

If you're curious about Alaska and don't yet have a college education, you might want to come up to Alaska as a seasonal employee. There is lots of seasonal (summer/tourist season) work to be had in Juneau, Skagway, and Haines. If you have any outdoor skills like rafting or kayaking experience, you could find work leading tours. That way you can see Alaska for yourself before making the commitment to moving here and living here year round. A lot of people make the mistake of coming up here knowing nothing about what they're getting into. There are lots of jobs available in mining, pipeline, and road contruction too, but the money there is for people with vocational training in heavy equipment and things like that.

Answer 3

Choose a city that you would like to live in and "google" it. On that site they usually list jobs available.

Alaska is a large state and very different from north to south and east to west. You must choose the area you think you would like to live in.

Answer 4

no