Old member, new area
Hi all, not really a new member, but I am moving to a new area.
I am the acting SQF practitioner in our packaging facility and the back up practitioner in our sugar refinery. I will be moving soon to the Houston, TX area and wanted to get some feedback from any food safety people who might be in that area. First and foremost, how is the job market? Secondly, what do you think of the area? I am moving from the Detroit, MI area, so not having to shovel snow 2-3 times a day every few days during winter is already going to be a bonus!
Good luck with the move.
I see a lot of jobs posted on http://jobs.foodnavi...com/content/us/ so it might be worth searching there.
Regards,
Tony
All the best buddy
No direct experience to share, but wishing you all the best.
I'm from rainy Manchester in the UK and have just returned from a short business trip to Orlando.
The heat was a welcome break...as was the customer service. :smile:
Hello Simon,
Welcome to Houston. Snow? We had eleven inches of snow on Christmas Eve about ten years ago. It lasted about three days and was never seen again. We'll get a few days in January with a few hours below freezing. That's about it. Spring starts in the first week of March with the redbud trees blooming. That lasts about three weeks and then summer begins.
The last few years have been very rainy. Our weather is very much like that of New Orleans... hot and steamy. Houston isn't called the bayou city for nothing.
A good exterminator is essential to your home life. If you live near any body of water, you can expect roof rats. If you have any palm trees, you can expect roaches. Not just your little black northern roaches... big rodeo riding roaches... yee haa!
Actually, Houston is quite nice. Lots of housing to choose from... lots of cultural events and sports. Be aware of the various tax rates in the different counties and suburbs. If you don't pay attention to it, it could mean the difference between vacation and stay-cation.
Traffic can be a biznatch. So, be sure to live within 45 minutes drive of your job (rush hour time). This translates to about 15 miles maximum... yes... seriously. Let's say the Houston metro area is a circle. You never want to work outside of the same 90 degree pie slice in which you live. It's suicide.
There are lots of Food Safety jobs in the Houston area. The problem is, most of the good ol' boy companies don't follow the regulations the way they should. They've gotten away with murder for so long, it's a way of life. I've found this to be prevalent in Texas. A good example is what happened to Blue Bell Ice Cream. If you don't know about it, look it up. I'm not saying every company is like that. But, be careful in your interviews and ask questions about inspections and findings. Get a good plant tour and be observant. If you see small escapes, you should be suspicious. Get a look at their SOPs if you can. If they're not professional looking, be suspicious.
I don't see many of the openings being well paid. I talked to a major soft drink bottler here recently about running their quality department. The pay was so low it was off my radar. I certainly wouldn't come here looking for a stepping stone in Food Safety.
All the best!
Mike