I know this is a firearms board and I have started another thread on guns and introduced myself.

I am considering a move to the BI and have a few job questions if anyone can help.  I am looking for information on paramedic jobs either private or fire based on the island.  I have been in the fire/EMS field since 1997.  The other thing I am looking for is information on teaching jobs for my GF.

I have been doing some research and most is conflicting.  I am hoping to be able to talk to someone that has some current and first hand information.  Thanks.

Jos are few and far between on the BI. However, you both have experience for positions that can become available on the BI. A lot of people move there thinking they will get a job but have experience for positions that don't exist on the BI.

Have you been checking the Hawaii County jobs website? What is the conflict you are referring to?

A good resource for information and to get answers directly from locals try the Kona Forum www.konaforum.com/forum

I have been google searching every combination of words that I can think of.  We will NOT be moving without jobs lined up, that is not even an option.

I read everything from there is a great shortage of medics and if you are qualified there is no problem getting a job to the opposite of if you are not local and didn't get your training here good luck getting a job.  Then of course there is the "things are different here" and "mainlanders are not liked in these positions".  Of course I have read everything in between.   

Of course there is the issue of transferring our "licenses" over for our professions and we are just starting the process on that as well. 

She has been reading up on her stuff.  I have been doing the best I can with mine.  The fire department does not even have a website that I can find other then a one page "contact" info on the Hawaii County website.  There nothing I can find that talks about the job, the shifts, rotation, how the system works there, ect basic stuff you would find on most department websites. 

I know the other gun boards I am on have people from all walks of life and since I had gun questions I thought I would just ask this one also.

The actual job listings are either on the city/county website or the state website. As far as getting a job before you move it is almost impossible but not improbable. I did it. So it can be done. Problem is that the government agencies are mandated to accept out of state applications. Even consider interviews. But there is still the old way of hiring there and it is more of who you know and not what you know. I interviewed with the county and I had all the quals they were looking for and aced their test and did well in the interview. Of course I didn't get the job. But now that I have contacts I was told I could get a job over there if an opening came up. I would try even if it means flying over for an interview on your own dime.

If there are openings your wife stands a better chance of having a job before you move. The need for teachers there used to be great. But mostly in the rural areas (not near Kona or Hilo). My wife was subjected to some prejudice when we lived there and was not hired by two employers we know about due to her skin color. We moved to Oahu mostly because after a couple of years she couldn't get a job. She got a job a week after we moved here. And again I had a job before we moved.

Let me know if u have any more questions.

One place you can look for jobs is:

www.hirenethawaii.com

In my experience getting a job anywhere when you do not actually live there is going to be very hard. People simply do not want to waste their time on someone who is not even local. When my girlfriend and I moved back to the big island from the east coast she was able to get a couple of interviews lined up beforehand but had to fly out here on her own dime for a few days to do working interviews. That was about $1500 just for the ticket and no promise of a job. In the end she was offered a position and we moved back. I have been unable to find a job in my field since it is virtually non existant on the kona side but my family is still here and I have been able to work for my dad.

I think the positions you are looking for are going to be especially hard to find just because they are county type jobs which I think are much more who you know types than private sector. 

Again thanks for all the comments.

It is totally understandable that people do not want to waste their time on people from out of state. 

GF was able to talk to a local teacher and found out that she is way more qualified then many of the teachers there.  Sounds like she would have no problem getting a job. 

For me it sounds like if I meet all the requirements (which I think I do) then I should easily be able to get a job with AMR.  Once I find out about my certification then I think we might plan a trip down there as soon as school gets out here in June.  Will stop by the stations and shake some hands.

Again thanks for all the comments.

It is totally understandable that people do not want to waste their time on people from out of state. 

GF was able to talk to a local teacher and found out that she is way more qualified then many of the teachers there.  Sounds like she would have no problem getting a job. 

For me it sounds like if I meet all the requirements (which I think I do) then I should easily be able to get a job with AMR.  Once I find out about my certification then I think we might plan a trip down there as soon as school gets out here in June.  Will stop by the stations and shake some hands.

Just because she's qualified, doesn't mean she's going to get hired.  Also even if she does get hired, she could be assigned to a school on the opposite side of the island from your home.  On the BI we are talking a several hour commute depending where you are living.  My mom was a teacher on Oahu for years and she got assigned to a bunch of different schools up and down the east side.  It took her a lot of years before she had enough seniority to get assigned closer to home.

Very good point. 

That is some of the kind of stuff we are trying to find out about. 

Just because she's qualified, doesn't mean she's going to get hired.  Also even if she does get hired, she could be assigned to a school on the opposite side of the island from your home.  On the BI we are talking a several hour commute depending where you are living.  My mom was a teacher on Oahu for years and she got assigned to a bunch of different schools up and down the east side.  It took her a lot of years before she had enough seniority to get assigned closer to home.

True Dat G.

However, I do know from some experience that if the school system is desperate enough she will have an easier time getting hired. I have friends that have infiltrated the school system on the BI. And did so quite easily. But of course at the time the school district was quite desperate. I don't know what their situation is at this moment? And don't be surprised if she gets assigned out in Ka'u which would mean you would need to enjoy country living.

I believe the OP is going to have the harder time getting a job there due to the hiring practices.

It sounds like there are a ton of "teachers" working there (HI) that only have provisional licenses so in reality they are not even teachers.  My GF has a masters in teaching and is even "highly qualified" in a couple areas through federal testing.  Again according to the teacher she spoke with there (17 years and a local) said she may not get the school of her choice, but getting an area she wants should not be a problem. 

Yes I fully agree I will have a harder time.  Right now I am working on that.  I am trying to get my training records from a school that only exists on paper these days.  I have the ones showing all my didactic hours with all the subject along with a completion letter.  What I dont have is anything showing the actual hours for clinical and internship.  I know my school actually had higher standards then that required, I just need to prove it. 

Again for AMR I dont think I would have much problem getting a job.  I understand it is much harder for a fire job, just like any other area.