Should you look for a job in Alaska?  Before you pack up the van, sell your house, and buy twenty maps for the drive, caution is in order.

When I hitched a ride to Anchorage after a two-year absence, I was sure I could walk into the employment office and get a job.  Friends offered me a place to sleep until I got my own apartment.  After three weeks of job hunting, the man of the house sat me down on the couch.

"When you wrote that you needed a place to stay, you said it would only be for two weeks," he said.

"I know," I replied, "I didn't think that it would take this long."

The problem was that I didn't think before I made the trip.  I was young, idealistic, and the world was mine to conquer.  "Here I sit on this couch wondering where I'll be sleeping next week."

My best friend accompanied me to Alaska and she wasn't having any more success at finding a job than I was.

"What are we going to do?" she asked.

I said a prayer and hoped for the best.  However, I don't recommend prayer as your only preparation before you travel thousands of miles from your home, family or support group.

The State of Alaska recommends the following and in this case more is better.

• Round trip ticket
• Cash $1,500 for temporary work
• Cash $2,500 for permanent work
• Credit cards
• Other financial resources

To that list, I would add

• Have a plan

The cost of living in Alaska can be downright scary at times.  Living expenses can easily top $4000 per month for a family of four.  Nobody sleeps on the street when it's fifty below zero. 

If you are counting on the Permanent Dividend Fund check to tide you over, think again.  Only Alaska residents qualify to receive it. 

My friend found us a live-in job that gave us a bedroom to share, kitchen privileges, and a little cash.  Thank goodness it was June and not December.  Not the dream that I'd imagined but we survived.

Of course, if I'd had that round trip ticket, I probably wouldn't be living in Alaska today.

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Job information and links:

• Alaska Job Center Network; provided by the State of Alaska and is a "one-stop career center system serving employers, job seekers and people looking for job training or temporary assistance."
• Alaska Jobs Center from the I Love Alaska website.  Be sure to scroll down and look at all the links.
   
  
  • Help Wanted Jobs Wanted
  • Search for Jobs Wanted statewide or by region.
  • Free Classifieds where employers advertise for help wanted.
• Alaska Fish Jobs download for $30 or order by mail for $40.
• Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employment opportunities in administration, customer service, finance, accounting, facilities, flight attendants, operations, high tech, human resources, maintenance, mileage plan representative, marketing, pilot, planning, reservations, vacation sales, and temp pool.
• Alaska Fishing Jobs, working on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska or hiring someone for your boat.
  • A Letter From Alaska written by the skipper of the Cape Clear.
  • People; brief bios and photos of fishing boat crewmembers.
  • Recommended Reading list of Alaska books.
  • FAQ Frequently Asked Questions, such as
    • "How much money can I make?"
    • "Do I need experience?" or
    • "What if I get seasick?"
  • Region Map of fisheries with the greatest potential.
  • Tool Kit an eighty-page overview with addresses, descriptions, discussions, and concerns about working as a fishing boat crew member.  Approximately $30 plus shipping.
• Job Seeker, provided by the State of Alaska Department of Labor.
• Workplace Alaska, the State's on-line employment process.  You can recruit or apply for vacancies in the State's classified database.