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Crazy Job Market

What's the CMM job market like near you?

I live and work in the far northern outskirts of Chicago. There is a fair amount of industry around me, but there are typically only two or three CMM job openings at a time within my commuting area. Most of them are normally the same few jobs that nobody wants or they just don’t pay enough.

However, right now it seems like there are quite a few jobs available near me that I'd be happy to take if I didn't already have a good thing going. Also, where I work we have been down a CMM programmer for many months and recently lost two more who left for greener pastures. HR tells me that no one is even applying, let alone anyone with good qualifications! We are working to build talent from within, but it's going to take some time.

How about you?
Are you currently understaffed? Or should I say, more understaffed than usual?
Do you see a lot more job openings near you?
Am I the only one dumb enough to do this for a living? What am I missing here?
  • I put my 2 week notice in last week as well. The job market has been very generous to me for once in my life. So yesterday the owner brought me in his office to talk and try to get me to stay. An hour and a half later I am still leaving. Not sure why he tried so hard considering our work load here, but he did match my current offer. The difference at this point is a 20min drive to/from work and 5 day work week+overtime verses a 40min drive and 4 day work week, but no overtime. What would you do?? Most of the rest of the work/benefits are the same.


    The cutdown on your drive is critical. That is an hour of your life back each week. May not seem like much, but at 52 hours a year is over another week's worth of vacation! Plus, the way gas prices are, you are saving even more money!
  • I didn't think of it that way, I did the pros and cons and the new job keeps winning. Not sure why I'm overthinking. Thanks for your input!


  • The cutdown on your drive is critical. That is an hour of your life back each week. May not seem like much, but at 52 hours a year is over another week's worth of vacation! Plus, the way gas prices are, you are saving even more money!


    My new job doubles my drive (30 minutes to 1 hour each way) but about $4/hr more, benefits on day 1, I get my overtime back, they are more than willing to work with me on leaving early for race weekends and the job moves my career forward massively. The extra drive doesn't bother me but it still sucks. That being said, the positives far outweigh the negatives for me.
  • Good for you!! Where do you do most of your racing? I ride motorcycles, but don't race. Love watching it! It takes a different kind of person to be able to do it and do it well.


  • My new job doubles my drive (30 minutes to 1 hour each way) but about $4/hr more, benefits on day 1, I get my overtime back, they are more than willing to work with me on leaving early for race weekends and the job moves my career forward massively. The extra drive doesn't bother me but it still sucks. That being said, the positives far outweigh the negatives for me.


    Yeah dude! Everyone's pros and cons are different and if the new job feeds your racing hobby and entrepreneur endeavors, then go for it!
  • The series I run is all in Illinois, specifically Joliet and South Beloit. I also sell tires and ride at track days in Bowling Green Kentucky (Corvette Museum track) and 30 minutes west of Indianapolis Indiana (Putnam Park Road Course).


  • Yeah dude! Everyone's pros and cons are different and if the new job feeds your racing hobby and entrepreneur endeavors, then go for it!


    My racing hobby is about to get a big boost. One of the vendors close to us is about to not be a tire supplier (vendors fault through VERY poor actions) and their region will be given to us. It should easily double our profits. We are currently looking at getting a second trailer and tire machine so, if we have conflicting events, we can cover both events.

    This month has been ridiculously busy for me with the tire business, racing, changing jobs, and this weekend will be very tough on me because Sunday will be one year since I lost my wife. A lot of positives with one big negative.
  • Oh man! That last bit was hard to read. I simply can'y imagine the pain. I'm sure all your brethren here are hoping the best for you. Stay busy and hang with some friends.
  • There is a reason my headphones are so loud today.
  • Yeah that hit me hard too. I couldn't imagine.