Finding Work In Central Florida — 2 Foolish Mortals

Finally, we need to devote some time to talking about where you live now and how that plays a role in finding work. One of the most inconvenient truths about trying to find work in Central Florida is that you may encounter challenges if you currently live out of state. More specifically, you may not quality for a position if you’re not currently living in Florida. This is something that we saw in a number of positions that we would have otherwise qualified for. Right at the top of the requirements list, “Valid Florida State Driver’s License” or “Florida Residents Only”.

Now, as some of you who have been part of past discussions may know, this was not the first time we’ve considered a move to Central Florida. The first time was around 5 or 6 years ago. At the time, we were living overseas and were in very different circumstances than we are right now. That said, one thing we didn’t find ourselves running into, back then, was the “Florida Residents Only” situation that is currently present in the job market. Why is this the case? While we can’t be completely sure, our best guess is that this is a result of the way things have changed since 2020. With the wants and needs of employers and employees changing, so too have the requirements for positions. I’d imagine that, in some cases, employers spend a lot of time filing through hopeful future residents and can’t get to the qualified candidates that are currently available and ready to work. At the end of the day, this isn’t great for productivity. That’s a completely different discussion for someone entirely different to be having with you though.

Assuming you still want to move to Florida and are finding yourself looking at a lot of “Florida Resident Only” job listings, the question becomes: what is there to do next? It’s another great question. Like so many of what we often discuss around here, the way you handle this situation is going to depend heavily on your priorities, wants and needs. For those who are only casually considering a move to Florida, I think that it’s likely best to continue looking for positions that you qualify for and aren’t designated for Florida Residents Only. This might stretch out the time it takes you to find work, but if you’re not fully committed to making the move to Florida, it’s what we think is a good way to go. On the other hand, if you’re prepared to make the move to Central Florida one way or another, there’s a more drastic route you might want to consider. While it’s most definitely not right for everyone, the right people might find that it makes more sense to move to Central Florida first and find work once you arrive. This is an option that I’d really only recommend to the right type of person, specifically someone who is set on moving to Central Florida and is at a major disadvantage trying to find work in their field living out of state.