Advice on finding planning work in Louisiana [was: I don't know what to call this, but ...] - Cyburbia Forums

Wolfman · 2009-10-24, 11:19 PM

So, here's the deal. I'm currently going to school in Nebraska (Nebraska is awesome, back off), currently in Undergrad studies (BA majoring in History, possibly minoring or going for a split major in econ, we shall see). My current plan is to go to into a Masters program in Urban Planning.

So, I'm thinking that after school, I pretty much need to get out of town and work elsewhere for a while. For some reason, I have this desire to live in Lousiana, New Orleans to be exact. I'm gonna geuss that the advice to come is something along the lines of 'well, maybe you should go to school there'. I would, but I'm a Marine Reservist at a base near my school. There is no base in Lousiana (or anywhere near) with an MOS similar to mine, which means that I pretty much cann't transfer there.

That aside, is there any other advice someone could give me about the possibilitly of moving to Lousiana, trying to get a job there as a planner, general beginning of career advice, or just general comments on life?

JNA · 2009-10-24, 11:59 PM

Something to consider is that -
the APA National Conference is scheduled to be in New Orleans on Saturday, April 10 – Tuesday, April 13, 2010.
http://www.planning.org/conference/index.htm

One possibility -
Keep checking their website for student volunteer opportunities.

You should be in good company because there are several Marines that are members of Cyburbia.

Wolfman · 2009-10-25, 12:07 AM

Quote:

the APA National Conference is scheduled to be in New Orleans on Saturday, April 10 – Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

My Wolfy senses are tingling. I think that I'm going to be making a road trip in April.... I hope I don't have drill....

Quote:

You should be in good company because there are several Marines that are members of Cyburbia

I'm only a reservist, so I'm only half as cool as those 100% Marine Marines

Dan · 2009-10-25, 12:43 PM

We've got several Cyburbians in NO; they should be checking in after the weekend.

One thing to consider: public sector planning jobs in Louisiana, even in the New Orleans area, tend not to pay that well.

Tresmo · 2009-10-25, 01:32 PM

The Marine Forces Reserve is headquartered in New Orleans.

Wolfman · 2009-10-25, 02:04 PM

Quote:

One thing to consider: public sector planning jobs in Louisiana, even in the New Orleans area, tend not to pay that well.

-shruggs-
If it pays better then Min wage, I'll be happy.

Quote:

The Marine Forces Reserve is headquartered in New Orleans.

I know. I also know there is no base in the area with an MOS anywhere near mine.

JNA · 2009-10-25, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wolfman

My Wolfy senses are tingling. I think that I'm going to be making a road trip in April.... I hope I don't have drill....

I'm only a reservist, so I'm only half as cool as those 100% Marine Marines

Is it to early to say if they are attending teh NO Laefest ?

I was told if you wear/earned/claim the Eagle, Globe & Anchor you are a Marine.

Tresmo · 2009-10-25, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wolfman

-shruggs-
If it pays better then Min wage, I'll be happy.

I know. I also know there is no base in the area with an MOS anywhere near mine.

Then I won't suggest you look there for planning positions.

nrschmid · 2009-10-25, 04:42 PM

What is your MOS? I was in the Army National Guard and mine was a 12B, which at the time was for combat engineers. I "think" they have a different MOS now, but I have been out of the service for 6 years. I served in the same guard unit my whole time in the service, but there were other engineering units, both combat and construction in other towns. Honestly, during most drills, I felt more like an 88M, which is a truck driver, so I only utilized my actual MOS during AT at Camp Atterbury or Fort Lost in the Woods.

If you have a very specialized MOS, it might be difficult to find a unit. Although, isn't every marine a rifleman? Have you considered detailing into an infantry unit? I am assuming there are more infantry units than other units in the marine reserves. Have you considered doing drill in another state? My guard unit was in Northwest Indiana but my college was in East Central Illinois.

Wolfman · 2009-10-25, 04:59 PM

Quote:

I was told if you wear/earned/claim the Eagle, Globe & Anchor you are a Marine.

I'm just making fun of myself. I'm allowed.

Quote:

Then I won't suggest you look there for planning positions.

?

Quote:

What is your MOS?

1341, Engineering Equipment Mechanic. The closest reserve unit with 1341s is in North Carolina (as I recall)

Quote:

Have you considered detailing into an infantry unit?

I cann't begin to tell you how much paper work would be involved in me changing my MOS, to Infantry of all things.

nrschmid · 2009-10-25, 05:40 PM

Well you have a very specialized MOS. Quite honestly, I think that there are many MOSs what really should only belong in active duty units. You have the worst of both worlds: you want to work in planning (which is such a small industry to begin with) in a specific geographic area AND you have an MOS that is very specialized and is not found in too many reserve units. You are going to have to make some compromises if you want to do both.

Wolfman · 2009-10-25, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Well you have a very specialized MOS

Not really. If there was a unit with Gen Mechs, or Motor T Mechs, I could transfer with a minimum of head ache.

nrschmid · 2009-10-25, 07:32 PM

Here's the other thing. It's hard enough to get a good planning job even in good times. If you are in the Reserves, you could also be called up. It just might be difficult to grow in this hypercompetitive industry, especially when we recover from the recession, even without serving in the marines.

Paperwork is paperwork, so I'm not really buying that, especially from a squid, err, I mean marine.

Wolfman · 2009-10-25, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Here's the other thing. It's hard enough to get a good planning job even in good times

Well, I've only recently started Undergrad work. I really doubt the economy is going to be in the toilet when I graduate from a Masters program. Which will be in 6 years, at the earliest.

Quote:

If you are in the Reserves, you could also be called up. It just might be difficult to grow in this hypercompetitive industry, especially when we recover from the recession, even without serving in the marines

My Regular Reserve Contract will be up by the time I graduate school, so I'm not worried about that. I'm going to keep a couple of classes that can be done online so that if deployed, I can keep going to school

Quote:

Paperwork is paperwork, so I'm not really buying that, especially from a squid, err, I mean marine

The minumum of headache just means that I wont have to go through an MOS school to get a new MOS if I go into something similar, like becoming a Motor T or Gen Mech. If I were to go into admin (for instance) I'd have to go through an MOS school.

Cloverhill · 2009-10-26, 11:05 AM

I worked for the Jefferson Parish Planning Dept and for a private planning firm while getting my masters at UNO. I've got to say that you probably won't make that much money there, you'll definitely notice the politics, you will be shocked at the poverty in a major American city, but you will never have a better time eating out for lunch.

Here's the thing: In New Orleans you don't obsess about how long it takes the phone company to install your telephone line, you'll call them a bunch of times and it will happen eventually. You concern yourself with where you are eating your next meal, or going out to hear a band, or cruising the art galleries. New Orleans is not about business, it is about sponging it all up. It is difficult to stand back and absorb the experience because the place sucks you in. You may have a career that starts there, but it will probably end up being secondary to the other stuff you end up doing.

And before all the New Orleans people beat me up, let me say that I look back on my days there as some of the most fulfilling of my career. We worked hard, I learned a lot, got paid very badly, and we has a great time. I miss those days and often wish the rest of the Country would take a lesson from my good friends in New Orleans. That said, do not deny that while you were working on that Staff report, you weren't thinking about a catfish po-boy with creole mustard and a Turbo Dog from Deanie's.

New Orleans is a different kind of place. It drips with atmosphere and can be overwhelming. It celebrates and venerates decay. I worked with many American Expats (like me) who moved to New Orleans not because it was a good career move, but because they could go anywhere and why not New Orleans? I loved my time there.

I say go for it. Be agile, travel light.

solarstar · 2009-10-26, 01:01 PM

A word of caution. The City of N.O., at least as of a few years ago when I was there, required planners (and most other employees) to actually live in the city limits in order to work there. It's hard to find affordable housing in the city limits, and their human resources wouldn't even accept an application until after I had established residence there and could show them a driver's license with that address. I was lucky enough to find great employment with one of the surrounding parishes. I had sent an inquiry letter with my resume to a parish that I thought was hiring, and they were kind enough to send it on to another parish that had an open position. It's hard to predict if there will be available jobs in 6 years time, but it worked for me. (My husband's job wasn't as good, so we eventually returned to Florida). Good luck!

dandy_warhol · 2009-10-28, 11:30 AM

If you're planning on getting your Master's in Planning and want to live in NOLA then I would highly suggest getting your MURP from the University of New Orleans.

The planning faculty is very well connected to the planning scene in NOLA. At least two of the adjunct prof. are well connected local planners.

I attended UNO and received my MURP in '06. I am very satisfied with my planning education and the exeperiences and networks I developed while attending school there.

nrschmid · 2009-10-28, 01:16 PM

What is your rank right now and how many years have you been in the service? Are you planning on staying in USMCR after your time is up? Have you considered earning your butter bars through OCS, MECEP/NROTC, etc?

If you plan on staying in as enlisted, you might have to make some tough decisions. MOSs are, by definition, military occuaptions NOT civillian occupations, so any overlap or similarities is really a bonus. Hopefully you realized the limitations of a specialized MOS when you first signed on. From my experience, I know that guard units need to have an open slot for a specialized MOS. How strict are the Marine reserve units with this?

Wolfman · 2009-10-28, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dandy

If you're planning on getting your Master's in Planning and want to live in NOLA then I would highly suggest getting your MURP from the University of New Orleans.

I knew I was going to get that advice. I have a contractual obligation to stay where I am for 6 years, which is about how much longer I'll be in school to get a Masters. I could get a BA, work the last two years, move to NOLA, get a Masters, and then find work, but if I get a job full time for 2 years, I know I'm not gonna want to move. The reason I'm asking for advice is mostly for some course work I could take to help balance out with me not knowing anyone in the area.

Quote:

Originally posted by Nrschmid

What is your rank right now and how many years have you been in the service?

Lance Corporal/E3, 1 year

Quote:

Are you planning on staying in USMCR after your time is up?

Contract is up, I'm gone.

Quote:

Have you considered earning your butter bars through OCS, MECEP/NROTC, etc?

HELL NO!

Quote:

MOSs are, by definition, military occuaptions NOT civillian occupations, so any overlap or similarities is really a bonus. Hopefully you realized the limitations of a specialized MOS when you first signed on. From my experience, I know that guard units need to have an open slot for a specialized MOS. How strict are the Marine reserve units with this?

I'm a heavy equipment mechanic, not very specialized, and there is a civilian carry over. I just don't want to do that for the rest of my life.

nrschmid · 2009-10-28, 02:26 PM

#1. I thought you had a lot more time in the service and were already an NCO (E5 or higher). Dude, you have barely been in a year AND you are a reservist. It's not like you are even making the military your full time occupation. You only have a 1 year contract?
#2. It sounds like you want to do planning as a FULL TIME job correct? If I read this correctly, you would like to work in NOLA and then earn an MUP. If your "1 year" contract is up, just move on. You are trying to bend your full time career path around an MOS.

The One · 2009-10-28, 02:35 PM

Compromise and go to North Carolina for 3 or 4 years, then move to NO with experience later.

Wolfman · 2009-10-28, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nrschmid] You only have a 1 year contract?[/QUOTE]

What are you talking about? I said I have a 6 year contractual obligation to where I am more then once.

Quote:

If I read this correctly, you would like to work in NOLA and then earn an MUP.

No. I want to get a degree here, in Nebraska while I'm in the Reserves, and then when my contract is up (in 2014), move to NOLA to work.

Quote:

You are trying to bend your full time career path around an MOS.

How do you figure?

[QUOTE="The One

Compromise and go to North Carolina for 3 or 4 years, then move to NO with experience later.

How would that be a compromise? I'd still have a contractual obligation to the Omaha area until 2014.

Edit, I don't know whats up with that, it should be fine though.

nrschmid · 2009-10-28, 03:20 PM

You said "contract is up. I'm gone" which I interpreted it as you were already done. I think you meant " when the [six year] contract is up, I'm gone".

NOW it makes more sense. If you want to work in NOLA when you are done, you might have to commute out of state for drill if you want to stay in your MOS. This is assuming that you don't get called up.

Brocktoon · 2009-10-28, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wolfman

I'd still have a contractual obligation to the Omaha area until 2014.

Your contract is with the Marines not your unit. I have know Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Grunts that have transferred due to school or work commitments. One friend went from being an AH-64 pilot to a truck driver because he moved and the reserve unit in his new city did transport. Another friend went from being a infantrymen to bulk fuel when he moved from Las Vegas to Phoenix. My friend in the Navy reserves went from Cyptro to being a yeoman...the Navy invested thousands of dollars in her but she wanted to move to AZ and that was the only E-6 slot they had. I knew one guy that transfered from the Army Reserves to the Navy Reserves to better meet his MOS when he moved. My point is if you want to move you can and my guess is when you report for duty at your new location they can accomodate you.

As someone that has been bitten by the wanderlust bug on numerous times I can understate the desire to want to move. In 6 years who knows where you will want to live. You are just starting in school. Why not transfer to LA now and try it out.

Planderella · 2009-11-05, 03:10 PM

Just curious, why do you want to work/live in New Orleans?

2009-10-25, 12:43 PM	#4
Dan Cyburbia Administrator Registered: Mar 1996 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 8,964 Blog entries: 3	We've got several Cyburbians in NO; they should be checking in after the weekend. One thing to consider: public sector planning jobs in Louisiana, even in the New Orleans area, tend not to pay that well. __________________ Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell. -- Edward Abbey

2009-10-25, 04:42 PM	#9
nrschmid Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,603	What is your MOS? I was in the Army National Guard and mine was a 12B, which at the time was for combat engineers. I "think" they have a different MOS now, but I have been out of the service for 6 years. I served in the same guard unit my whole time in the service, but there were other engineering units, both combat and construction in other towns. Honestly, during most drills, I felt more like an 88M, which is a truck driver, so I only utilized my actual MOS during AT at Camp Atterbury or Fort Lost in the Woods. If you have a very specialized MOS, it might be difficult to find a unit. Although, isn't every marine a rifleman? Have you considered detailing into an infantry unit? I am assuming there are more infantry units than other units in the marine reserves. Have you considered doing drill in another state? My guard unit was in Northwest Indiana but my college was in East Central Illinois. __________________ "This is great, honey. What's the crunchy stuff?" "M&Ms. I ran out of paprika." Family Guy

2009-10-25, 05:40 PM	#11
nrschmid Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,603	Well you have a very specialized MOS. Quite honestly, I think that there are many MOSs what really should only belong in active duty units. You have the worst of both worlds: you want to work in planning (which is such a small industry to begin with) in a specific geographic area AND you have an MOS that is very specialized and is not found in too many reserve units. You are going to have to make some compromises if you want to do both. __________________ "This is great, honey. What's the crunchy stuff?" "M&Ms. I ran out of paprika." Family Guy

2009-10-25, 07:32 PM	#13
nrschmid Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,603	Here's the other thing. It's hard enough to get a good planning job even in good times. If you are in the Reserves, you could also be called up. It just might be difficult to grow in this hypercompetitive industry, especially when we recover from the recession, even without serving in the marines. Paperwork is paperwork, so I'm not really buying that, especially from a squid, err, I mean marine. __________________ "This is great, honey. What's the crunchy stuff?" "M&Ms. I ran out of paprika." Family Guy

2009-10-26, 11:05 AM	#15
Cloverhill Member Registered: Aug 2009 Location: Northern VA, USA Posts: 6	A different kind of place I worked for the Jefferson Parish Planning Dept and for a private planning firm while getting my masters at UNO. I've got to say that you probably won't make that much money there, you'll definitely notice the politics, you will be shocked at the poverty in a major American city, but you will never have a better time eating out for lunch. Here's the thing: In New Orleans you don't obsess about how long it takes the phone company to install your telephone line, you'll call them a bunch of times and it will happen eventually. You concern yourself with where you are eating your next meal, or going out to hear a band, or cruising the art galleries. New Orleans is not about business, it is about sponging it all up. It is difficult to stand back and absorb the experience because the place sucks you in. You may have a career that starts there, but it will probably end up being secondary to the other stuff you end up doing. And before all the New Orleans people beat me up, let me say that I look back on my days there as some of the most fulfilling of my career. We worked hard, I learned a lot, got paid very badly, and we has a great time. I miss those days and often wish the rest of the Country would take a lesson from my good friends in New Orleans. That said, do not deny that while you were working on that Staff report, you weren't thinking about a catfish po-boy with creole mustard and a Turbo Dog from Deanie's. New Orleans is a different kind of place. It drips with atmosphere and can be overwhelming. It celebrates and venerates decay. I worked with many American Expats (like me) who moved to New Orleans not because it was a good career move, but because they could go anywhere and why not New Orleans? I loved my time there. I say go for it. Be agile, travel light.

2009-10-24, 11:19 PM	#1
Wolfman Member Registered: Oct 2009 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 17	Advice on finding planning work in Louisiana [was: I don't know what to call this, but ...] So, here's the deal. I'm currently going to school in Nebraska (Nebraska is awesome, back off), currently in Undergrad studies (BA majoring in History, possibly minoring or going for a split major in econ, we shall see). My current plan is to go to into a Masters program in Urban Planning. So, I'm thinking that after school, I pretty much need to get out of town and work elsewhere for a while. For some reason, I have this desire to live in Lousiana, New Orleans to be exact. I'm gonna geuss that the advice to come is something along the lines of 'well, maybe you should go to school there'. I would, but I'm a Marine Reservist at a base near my school. There is no base in Lousiana (or anywhere near) with an MOS similar to mine, which means that I pretty much cann't transfer there. That aside, is there any other advice someone could give me about the possibilitly of moving to Lousiana, trying to get a job there as a planner, general beginning of career advice, or just general comments on life?

2009-10-25, 01:32 PM	#5
Tresmo Cyburbian Registered: Jun 2005 Location: chaos Posts: 756	The Marine Forces Reserve is headquartered in New Orleans.

2009-10-26, 01:01 PM	#16
solarstar Cyburbian Registered: Aug 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 195	A word of caution. The City of N.O., at least as of a few years ago when I was there, required planners (and most other employees) to actually live in the city limits in order to work there. It's hard to find affordable housing in the city limits, and their human resources wouldn't even accept an application until after I had established residence there and could show them a driver's license with that address. I was lucky enough to find great employment with one of the surrounding parishes. I had sent an inquiry letter with my resume to a parish that I thought was hiring, and they were kind enough to send it on to another parish that had an open position. It's hard to predict if there will be available jobs in 6 years time, but it worked for me. (My husband's job wasn't as good, so we eventually returned to Florida). Good luck!

2009-10-28, 11:30 AM	#17
dandy_warhol Cyburbian Plus Registered: Aug 2005 Location: meh. Posts: 3,604	If you're planning on getting your Master's in Planning and want to live in NOLA then I would highly suggest getting your MURP from the University of New Orleans. The planning faculty is very well connected to the planning scene in NOLA. At least two of the adjunct prof. are well connected local planners. I attended UNO and received my MURP in '06. I am very satisfied with my planning education and the exeperiences and networks I developed while attending school there. __________________ Nice girl, but about as sharp as a sack of wet mice. - Foghorn Leghorn

2009-10-28, 01:16 PM	#18
nrschmid Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,603	What is your rank right now and how many years have you been in the service? Are you planning on staying in USMCR after your time is up? Have you considered earning your butter bars through OCS, MECEP/NROTC, etc? If you plan on staying in as enlisted, you might have to make some tough decisions. MOSs are, by definition, military occuaptions NOT civillian occupations, so any overlap or similarities is really a bonus. Hopefully you realized the limitations of a specialized MOS when you first signed on. From my experience, I know that guard units need to have an open slot for a specialized MOS. How strict are the Marine reserve units with this? __________________ "This is great, honey. What's the crunchy stuff?" "M&Ms. I ran out of paprika." Family Guy

2009-10-28, 02:26 PM	#20
nrschmid Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,603	#1. I thought you had a lot more time in the service and were already an NCO (E5 or higher). Dude, you have barely been in a year AND you are a reservist. It's not like you are even making the military your full time occupation. You only have a 1 year contract? #2. It sounds like you want to do planning as a FULL TIME job correct? If I read this correctly, you would like to work in NOLA and then earn an MUP. If your "1 year" contract is up, just move on. You are trying to bend your full time career path around an MOS. __________________ "This is great, honey. What's the crunchy stuff?" "M&Ms. I ran out of paprika." Family Guy

2009-10-28, 02:35 PM	#21
The One Cyburbian Registered: Mar 2004 Location: The Space Between Your Ears Posts: 5,290	Ah..... Compromise and go to North Carolina for 3 or 4 years, then move to NO with experience later. __________________ Stephen King's inspiration: While browsing through an attic with his elder brother, King uncovered a paperback version of an H. P. Lovecraft collection of short stories that had belonged to his father. The cover art—an illustration of a monster hiding within the recesses of a hell-like cavern beneath a tombstone—was, he writes, “the moment of my life when the dowsing rod suddenly went down hard ... as far as I was concerned, I was on my way.”

2009-10-28, 03:20 PM	#23
nrschmid Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,603	You said "contract is up. I'm gone" which I interpreted it as you were already done. I think you meant " when the [six year] contract is up, I'm gone". NOW it makes more sense. If you want to work in NOLA when you are done, you might have to commute out of state for drill if you want to stay in your MOS. This is assuming that you don't get called up. __________________ "This is great, honey. What's the crunchy stuff?" "M&Ms. I ran out of paprika." Family Guy

2009-11-05, 03:10 PM	#25
Planderella Moving at my own pace....... Registered: Dec 1998 Location: NOLA Posts: 4,357	Just curious, why do you want to work/live in New Orleans? __________________ "A witty woman is a treasure, a witty beauty is a power!"