I personally know 2 and possibly 3 reputable contractors in this area who work year around and do primarily new residential construction who are looking for experienced, hard working, reliable carpenters. It is essential to have all 3 qualifications. They have all had somebody who either doesn’t work hard, doesn’t show up or isn’t experienced. It goes without saying that you’d need to like living up here too.
Well, I am very hard working, extremely reliable and love to live up norht, problem is, my carpentry experience ended with advanced wood working class in High school.
But I will add to those who may consider a move…my move to Duluth has been an uplifting experience.
What kind of $ are you thinking for a exp. framer?
The business owners up N are ALWAYS looking for good, reliable employees. About all most of the const. trade has now is run down alcoholics and traveling gypsies. I know that comment doesn’t sound good but it’s the truth! I grew up and lived in Hibbing till I was 23 and worked const from 16-23. I worked in many towns including, Baudette, Int. Falls, Hibbing, Virginia, GR, etc. Like I said, it doesn’t soung good. The alcoholic frame of mind and 20 bars in towns of 5,000 people are exactly the reason I left “up North” and const. I will also say I was on booze road right along with the rest of em. So, if ya don’t mind your partner coming to work still drunk maybe up North is for you. 
Maybe a tad harsh, but I just got out of bed and haven’t had my caffeine yet. 
BIRDDOG
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The business owners up N are ALWAYS looking for good, reliable employees. About all most of the const. trade has now is run down alcoholics and traveling gypsies. I know that comment doesn’t sound good but it’s the truth! I grew up and lived in Hibbing till I was 23 and worked const from 16-23. I worked in many towns including, Baudette, Int. Falls, Hibbing, Virginia, GR, etc. Like I said, it doesn’t soung good. The alcoholic frame of mind and 20 bars in towns of 5,000 people are exactly the reason I left “up North” and const. I will also say I was on booze road right along with the rest of em. So, if ya don’t mind your partner coming to work still drunk maybe up North is for you.
BIRDDOG
Actually, with the exeption of Baudette, all the towns you mentioned have populations of far more than 5000….nor do most of them have 20 bars. Perhaps that was an exagerration, just as saying most of the construction industry is either a run-down alcoholic or traveling gypsy? Too any extent, I would rather live up north and work with an alcoholic than live anywhere and work with somebody that doesn’t get up until 12:24 in the afternoon! 
None of these 3 are into the bar scene whatsoever. All 3 live on the lake and are into fishing so you might have to take a day off once in a while to get on the water or ice.
I try and find out this week what the pay range is.
do it.. 3 years ago my girlfriend and i bought a house in Iron, mn Pop. 97.. moved with two kids two dogs and a cat, no jobs and knowing only a few people. i would never go back to that stinking overpopulated disgusting city. theres to many benefits to list ie, fishing hunting housing prices cheaper taxes less people CLEAN AIR… the list goes on… go for it if you have the chance to start out with a good paying job like a carpenter… do it! 
Birddog,
So your saying all construction workers are alcoholics 
I have been doing this for 8 years and have been with a few different places in my time. I have yet to see a drunk, most places have don’t let this happen. You come in late, drunk, or anything else you are usually fired and shown the door. So saying we are all drunks and gpysies is alittle wrong. Maybe the company you worked for was that way but 98% of us are good hardworking people.
He’s from Hibbing give him a break…. 
Sorry slip, I worked till 4am!! I guess everyone works 9-5, weekdays only?? Like I said, I just woke and hadn’t had my caffeine yet so maybe I was a tad harsh. As I read what I typed, I was. My “bad”.
Dodge, did I say all const. workers were drunks? NO! plain and simple, don’t put words in my mouth. We are talking N. Mn. const. Not nation wide.
If a guy can find a decent crew to work with up there, more power to em, it’s a beautiful place to live. I can honestly say that the odds are not in ones favor though.
I sided, framed, roofed and ran equipment for an excavating co. up there for years. All with seperate well know co’s. I can say without reservation, a good chunk of the guys in those fields, at the time were booze hounds. My best bud owns one of the excavating co. I worked for. His biggest problem with employees…the sauce, hard workers, yes. Reliable, not when they show up hung or still buzzed. His old man who handed the business down will say the same thing, and has. Sending guys home happened on a regular basis, that or they were demoted to the trench. Most of the experiences I’m speaking of are from when I worked on the Iron Range. The IR is known for 2 things…iron ore and booze. The latter’s a fact! Exactly the reason I moved away from there. If you haven’t worked up there my words might extreme, if you have, you more than likely know exactly what I’m talking about.
BIRDDOG
For those that think I’m full of it, do a simple google search…(alcoholism on the “iron range”). I think if you take the time to read some of the MANY,MANY topics as I did, you’ll find my words ring very true. I may have come off as a little bitter about the subject, but I think if others had grown up with this crap all around them like I did, they may share my point of view. I think if one takes the time to read up on the subject, they’ll find it effects everything and everybody up in that neck of the woods. This isn’t intended to put down or rip anyone as I’m from the range myself. I’d also like to apologize if I offended anyone. I didn’t intend to.
Pete, sorry if I hijacked your thread. It wasn’t my intention.
Again, sorry to anyone I may have offended.
BIRDDOG
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What kind of $ are you thinking for a exp. framer?
???? I would love to leave Anoka boring county!
Oh yeah I like to have a few grainbelts once in a while. I hope that does not affect my chances of being successful up north. 
I hate to play devil’s advocate here, but here is my take on the comment. I am on the concrete side of the construction industry. We have 2 crews with 4 guys on each crew. My crew has 2 guys that continuously come to work half drunk, super hung over, or forget what time we start work The problem is one of the guys is part owner so you can’t say anything. The other I ride hard in hopes that he shapes up or hits the road. The other crew is the same way, so we are batting .500 for good people. I can also point people out to several other companies that are the same way. But, there are also crews that are just the opposite, but they are few and far between.
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Oh yeah I like to have a few grainbelts once in a while. I hope that does not affect my chances of being successful up north.
Actually, if I do some research, I’m sure I can find where having a few Grainbelts can make a guy MORE SUCCESSFUL 
Nothing like a good cold Premium, Mmmm!
I have to agree with AMWats on this one. I work for a Commercial General Contractor in Rochester, and it is vry difficult to get GOOD help. We have some great guys, but have to continue to turn over some positions in the hopes that we can find the quality of employees we need. Drinking is a major cause of a lot of the problems.
I will say that most Carpenters, or skilled positions are easier to come by quality, but when you get in the laborers, clean up crew, etc. the quality of help decreases. I have always thought that the guys who put something into their trade, are in it for the long haul, and do not want a job for 6 months. Just my $.02.
And if anyone knows some quality help in the Rochester area, PM me and I should be able to put them to work.
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