Raleigh and the Triangle - A Visitor's and Local's Guide

[Snilsson]

Another question.. Do you think it would be difficult for a newly immigrated swedish 25 year old to get a job?
I have 5 years of experience being a service advisor and 3 years of experience being a service managar at a BMW dealership.

I know there's like a ton of variables but I'm just curious about the aspect of being an immigrant and having no references in the U.S.

 

[Unsustainable]

They are building an IKEA (lol).

I would start looking at dealerships in the area you are looking to move to and put in job requests. I haven't looked for a job in 16 1/2 years (been with the same company). If all else fails and you don't mind crawling under houses and you have a little knowledge of electronics, I could give a referral for ATT.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

They are building an IKEA (lol).

I would start looking at dealerships in the area you are looking to move to and put in job requests. I haven't looked for a job in 16 1/2 years (been with the same company). If all else fails and you don't mind crawling under houses and you have a little knowledge of electronics, I could give a referral for ATT.

Great starting idea - if that comes to naught, there are a few independent repair shops in the area that specialize in BMW's and a few other independent shops that do a little bit of everything.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Can you fix my piece of **** Mini?

 

[Snilsson]

I should say that I'm looking towards changing a direction in my career. I will have the automotive industry as backup but would prefer not to be around cars more than I need to.

My biggest concern is if that employers won't give me a chance because I would be an immigrant without references in the states.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I should say that I'm looking towards changing a direction in my career. I will have the automotive industry as backup but would prefer not to be around cars more than I need to.

My biggest concern is if that employers won't give me a chance because I would be an immigrant without references in the states.

I mean, it kinda depends on what you're actually qualified to do, right? You know cars, so cars are what you're definitely qualified for. Anything else, you're gonna need to convince somebody. Is there a particular field that's *not* cars that you're interested in and/or qualified for?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Honestly a European accent might be a huge advantage in selling European cars.

Bonus: You can just say you're German and 99% of the customers won't have a clue.

 

[Snilsson]

I mean, it kinda depends on what you're actually qualified to do, right? You know cars, so cars are what you're definitely qualified for. Anything else, you're gonna need to convince somebody. Is there a particular field that's *not* cars that you're interested in and/or qualified for?

Well, I might be naive but I'm hoping that my experience in management can be attractive in other businesses. I haven't done much research in other fields but I'm interested in everything from IT to sales to just about anything.

I'm still young and can still learn something new and wouldn't have a problem with taking a pay-cut if I know it's a good job with no dead-ends.

Honestly a European accent might be a huge advantage in selling European cars.

Bonus: You can just say you're German and 99% of the customers won't have a clue.

You sure about that? If someone speaks with an accent here in Sweden it's kinda looked down upon.

 

[tarheelhockey]

You sure about that? If someone speaks with an accent here in Sweden it's kinda looked down upon.

Depends on what kind of accent it is, and who you're talking to.

I was half-joking about it making you sound like you know what you're talking about when selling a car.

 

[Snilsson]

Depends on what kind of accent it is, and who you're talking to.

I was half-joking about it making you sound like you know what you're talking about when selling a car.

I see that now.. Obivously I need to improve my english.

Well, when I have been to the states people have guessed that I'm from Germany. And who wouldn't love to buy a car from a Schwarzenegger impersonator..

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I see that now.. Obivously I need to improve my english.

Well, when I have been to the states people have guessed that I'm from Germany. And who wouldn't love to buy a car from a Schwarzenegger impersonator..

To be honest, if there's any place in NC you'd be fine it's the Triangle. Between NC State, UNC, and Duke, there's lots of people with a wide variety of accents so I don't think it'd be looked down on as, say, when my (French) mother stopped at a diner in middle of nowhere Texas several decades ago when they were transferring bases and she was told in no uncertain terms that that diner didn't accommodate Mexicans (substitute Mexicans for a certain racial slur).

 

[Snilsson]

To be honest, if there's any place in NC you'd be fine it's the Triangle. Between NC State, UNC, and Duke, there's lots of people with a wide variety of accents so I don't think it'd be looked down on as, say, when my (French) mother stopped at a diner in middle of nowhere Texas several decades ago when they were transferring bases and she was told in no uncertain terms that that diner didn't accommodate Mexicans (substitute Mexicans for a certain racial slur).

Miserable biggots.. :-(

I don't think that my accent is that bad but it gets more present the longer a conversation continues.
I can imagine I would be fine after a few months of daily english. It's difficult to practice when there's no one to talk to.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Preeeeeety sure your English is better than our Swedish.

 

[tarheelhockey]

To be honest, if there's any place in NC you'd be fine it's the Triangle. Between NC State, UNC, and Duke, there's lots of people with a wide variety of accents

Also, there are a lot of Northern Europeans associated with the tech companies. Maybe not Swedes specifically, but Germans, Swiss, Danes, Belgians. Not to mention a TON of Indians and Asians.

I don't know anything about this group, but it looks like there's an active Swedish expat community: https://www.internations.org/raleigh-expats/swedish

 

[RodTheBawd]

Well, I might be naive but I'm hoping that my experience in management can be attractive in other businesses. I haven't done much research in other fields but I'm interested in everything from IT to sales to just about anything.

One piece of advice: narrow your scope of "interest". There's nothing worse than when friends or family ask me to find them a job, and when I ask what they want to do, they say "anything". Oh, ok, I'll go talk to the plethora of hiring managers and let them know I know a guy that wants to do anything. You don't have to know the exact industry you want to be in, but at least have an idea, along with what you want to be doing. I'm in finance, so I can work in virtually every industry, but there are specific things I want to be (and am capable of) doing within finance. Feel free to toss me your CV and I can give you more specific advice (I'm sure others here would do the same).

 

[Snilsson]

Preeeeeety sure your English is better than our Swedish.

Sure, but who cares about speaking swedish.

Also, there are a lot of Northern Europeans associated with the tech companies. Maybe not Swedes specifically, but Germans, Swiss, Danes, Belgians. Not to mention a TON of Indians and Asians.

I don't know anything about this group, but it looks like there's an active Swedish expat community: https://www.internations.org/raleigh-expats/swedish

Interesting, I didn't know that. You rarely hear about swedes living outside NY/LA/Miami.

Thank you.

One piece of advice: narrow your scope of "interest". There's nothing worse than when friends or family ask me to find them a job, and when I ask what they want to do, they say "anything". Oh, ok, I'll go talk to the plethora of hiring managers and let them know I know a guy that wants to do anything. You don't have to know the exact industry you want to be in, but at least have an idea, along with what you want to be doing. I'm in finance, so I can work in virtually every industry, but there are specific things I want to be (and am capable of) doing within finance. Feel free to toss me your CV and I can give you more specific advice (I'm sure others here would do the same).

Fair enough.
I'm excited and a bit carried away by all this. I just found out 4 weeks ago that I have this opportunity to move to the states, but it will take another 8-9 months before I get my visa.
Tbh I don't even have a CV (in either language) so it might be a good start to write something down.

I really appreciate you guys taking the time to help me. I just need to sit down and think through what I really want. It's not that I'm unhappy in the automotive industry I just want to try something new before I get "too settled in"

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Hey everyone, any Canes fans from Wilmington? My best friend lives there, and after I finally escape from my prison like family and relatives, I'll be in Canada working and eventually saving up to come to visit Wilmington. If any Canes fans are in Wilmington, can you tell me more about the place? I already know a lot, heard there are fantastic food, great unknown restaurants that serve the best food on the planet. Also a lot of great places for tourists. But my friend never went in depth on the actual tourist areas, and I want to know the perspective from many people. Thanks!

Honestly a European accent might be a huge advantage in selling European cars.

Bonus: You can just say you're German and 99% of the customers won't have a clue.

Well most people in NC from what my friend told are mostly mixed with German, Irish, and Scottish anyways. He says they can tell where you're from usually. But he's in the Wilmington area, guess it's different in Raleigh?

Also, there are a lot of Northern Europeans associated with the tech companies. Maybe not Swedes specifically, but Germans, Swiss, Danes, Belgians. Not to mention a TON of Indians and Asians.

I don't know anything about this group, but it looks like there's an active Swedish expat community: https://www.internations.org/raleigh-expats/swedish

Oh trust me I know there are a lot of Asians in NC, especially Cary. By Asian terms I'm somehow the nephew of a girl younger than me... But yeah my "aunt" used to live in Cary, she's since went aboard to study in Europe, and her parents moved back to Taiwan.

 

[Francis10]

Where in Canada are you working?

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Where in Canada are you working?

Um, well anywhere that accepts a low skilled worker. Just going to do a simple job that pays the bill for now, but I prefer not to get too personal. I'm just here to discuss about a good time in NC, because after saving up I'd like to pay a visit to my friend in Wilmington and he'll show me around NC, still I'd like to get some knowledge about the area in general.

 

[raynman]

When I think of Wilmington I think of beaches and tv shows/movies. There have been a lot of tv shows and movies filmed there over the years. Downtown Wilmington is really nice to walk around.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I like Wilmington, but it's likely going to bring something of a culture shock. I'd advise not sticking to the tourist areas on your visit, if you're serious about living here. You can always go hang out in those places after you move.

Straight up, poverty in the southern USA is not like poverty in Canada. And the poverty in and around Wilmington can be jarring even for native North Carolinians. Unless you're planning to be waaay up in an ivory tower somehow, I'd suggest taking a close and realistic look at where you're actually going to live and work. Do some everyday things like walk around the nearest grocery, go to the park and just sit and people-watch. That'll give you an idea of whether you really want to live there or not.

Basically what I'm saying is, I wouldn't advise someone to move to Wilmington from Canada based on a tourist visit. It's a place with a significant underbelly that you won't see at the downtown shops.

 

[HisIceness]

Most of the tourist areas in the city of Wilmington itself are in Downtown. The only one outside DT proper would probably be UNC-Wilmington which isn't very "touristy", but gets visitors outside DT.

Regardless most folks who say they are going to Wilmington for vacation are really going to Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, or some other nearby beach. They might come to DT Wilmington for a date night and take a stroll along the river walk after dinner, or go kill some hours at the USS North Carolina, but a majority of their time isn't going to be in the city of Wilmington itself.

I have a cousin who lived there for 3 years and recently moved back to Raleigh. She loved living there at first but got bored with it after the first year. By year 2 she was making trip to Raleigh every weekend. If you're single and not a college student it's probably not the best city to date.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I like Wilmington, but it's likely going to bring something of a culture shock. I'd advise not sticking to the tourist areas on your visit, if you're serious about living here. You can always go hang out in those places after you move.

Straight up, poverty in the southern USA is not like poverty in Canada. And the poverty in and around Wilmington can be jarring even for native North Carolinians. Unless you're planning to be waaay up in an ivory tower somehow, I'd suggest taking a close and realistic look at where you're actually going to live and work. Do some everyday things like walk around the nearest grocery, go to the park and just sit and people-watch. That'll give you an idea of whether you really want to live there or not.

Basically what I'm saying is, I wouldn't advise someone to move to Wilmington from Canada based on a tourist visit. It's a place with a significant underbelly that you won't see at the downtown shops.

Nah I don't plan to move to Wilmington, just plan on visiting a friend. He'll only take me to nice places. He did say that Wilmington tends to have extreme differences depending on where you go in the city and he recommends I stay in Canada (Besides I'm not an American citizen and don't want to wait forever to get the proper documents to work and live lol). Wilmington is cheaper than Toronto by far (A nice but small condo is cheaper than some old, small, broken down houses in downtown Toronto), and also is next to fresh clean water and overall just a cleaner place from what he's told me. However social services are far worse than Toronto, and it's more dangerous as a whole as well. Public transportation (Which already sucks in Toronto) is even worse, and I don't have my driver's license just yet, so at least being able to take midnight buses and subways is worth it whereas you can't really do that in Wilmington. Then there's the friends and partial family part, where he's the only guy I know in NC (And the entire United States as a whole outside of some parts of New York lol), something I won't experience any issues with in Toronto.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Hey guys off topic, but how is NC right now in regards to the hurricane? I hope all is well and nothing bad has happened. My friend in Wilmington has been offline for a long time so I'm wondering if anything has happened down there.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

it's not coming this way, swung further west