Relocate to West Virginia for work, stay for the people!

West Virginia is widely known for its low cost of living, historical coal mining, and beautiful scenery. It is considered by many to be somewhat of a hidden gem.

If you LOVE the outdoors then West Virginia just might be your dream state!

It's also a great place to relocate if you're looking to save some money on housing, which is very affordable in West Virginia. Nervous to move? We completely understand. This is why we wanted to learn more and so we gathered up some info from a real West Virginian whose generations of family have lived there since 1740.

Jobcase interviewed Hampton Coakley who says that moving back to West Virginia was one of the best things he has done for himself and his career and encourages others to do the same!

The people: a strong sense of community

Hampton who works at Dell Technologies shared that West Virginia has an incredibly strong sense of community. West Virginians are kind and their state pride runs deep, but they are also very welcoming to outsiders. In West Virginia, community is always present and prioritized. If you need help changing a tire someone will stop to check on you. If you want to accomplish something, others will support you in doing so. If you need some advice, people will give it to you and take a genuine interest in your life and what you have to share.

“In this community, you can really count on people. There's that instant bond and you don't just get that outside of the state. It's a very strong community and if you show an interest, people are very welcoming.”

An ideal way to make a comfortable life

Have you dreamed of taking things slow and enjoying the little moments? Well in West Virginia simple is best and expected! No one there is rushing around and life seems to go at a more relaxed pace. According to Hampton West Virginians seem to be one big, happy, laid-back community. Who wouldn’t want to be apart of that? It’s also one of those places where everyone seems to know one another and trust us that’s a good thing!

“In West Virginia, you really have an opportunity to be somebody and not just another number. And it's not, it's not a power thing. It's about just being active in your community, being very present in where you are and making something for yourself.”

The Mountain State is for nature lovers

Nestled right inside the Appalachian Mountain range, there’s no shortage of nature lovers here to take full advantage of the scenery and fresh mountain air. West Virginians love their lakes, especially Big Bear Lake. If you like to fly fish, hike, camp, bike, they’ve got it ALL! Hampton shared that West Virginia has some of the best backpacking he has ever experienced before in all his travels.

“The resources that we have within driving distance in the state are incredible. I go mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking. On one of my lunch breaks recently, I went for a hike with my mom. I mean, to be able to do that on an actual trail out in the state park is just awesome."

Find work, reinvent yourself!

West Virginia has seen a lot of change in its job market over the years. The coal mines were once the biggest source of income in the state. However, in more recent years, there’s been a significant drop in the need for coal, so West Virginia is working to reinvent itself making it the perfect place to join a new company or perhaps start your own. There are also plenty of jobs in manufacturing!

“West Virginia is kind of like a startup. You maybe begin with fewer resources, but you have all the tools you need to succeed. If you have a great product or a great idea and really believe in what it is that you have it's really just a question of putting in the legwork and making it happen. If you're somebody that is creative and, and wants to get involved West Virginia is a place for you.”

Hampton also says that living in West Virginia really is a good card to have in your back pocket when looking for work and finding others that share that similar connection as well. After all, sometimes it’s not who you know, but where you’re from!

“You could hit up anybody that's from West Virginia on any business website and you'll probably get a phone call if you're a go-getter because they want to help fellow West Virginians. And that carries back to the state.”

We hope this sheds some light on some of the incredible things that #WestVirginia has to offer its residents. If you are interested in relocating or looking for work in West Virginia, be sure to visit the West Virginia Resource Center and get started!

For more about what's happening in West Virginia be sure to follow the Twitter hashtag #yeswv.

Stay current with West Virginia

Keep up to date with the [great things happening in West Virginia with informative podcasts and more!] (https://www.wv.gov/daily304/Pages/default.aspx)

This article is sponsored by WorkForce West Virginia. All opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

Would you rather live in a state where it feels like Cheers and everyone knows your name OR in a busy one?