BlogSwap: An Outsider's take on St Louis

This post is guest-authored by Zoë for the JobGals at JobSyntax, Inc, and is part of the Recruiting.com BlogSwap.

I have to admit that I know as much about St. Louis as I know about fishing.  And believe me folks, that ain't much.  When it comes to the niche space of recruiting in St. Louis my knowledge becomes even more pathetic.  So when asked to write a guest post, I was initially stumped.  What would be intriguing to St. Louis readers from a Seattleites perspective?  And even more so, someone that focuses on high tech software engineering?  Then I started doing some research and I found out some really surprising things that I think most outsiders don't know about St. Louis, especially with regards to the tech industry.  So here's my attempt at bringing some attention to those forgotten areas and hopefully to start a dialogue with you St. Louisans about your lovely city...

Chalk it up to my American ignorance of my own country, but when I think of St. Louis I think of three things; beer, barbeque and blues. The last thing I think about is software development and engineering. These coveted roles and companies seem to congregate in those other great states and cities in the union.  Yet, when I mentioned this post to Mr. Zoe (that's the good ole SO), he immediately mentioned Washington University.  I didn't know it, but Washington University is slowly becoming a top choice for many students looking to find their way into a software development career. Especially those seeking a great education at a smaller university where they can differentiate themselves.  Not to mention the beautiful campus and the fact that it was ranked 11th in the 2006 US News & World Report Best Colleges Report. 

From great universities spring great companies. There's been an expansion in the number of information technology companies based in St. Louis. The St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association cites information technology as one of the five major industry clusters in the city.  In fact, they further indicate that of the 25 fastest growing private companies in St. Louis, one-third are focused on technology as a core business function.  They also list an interesting set  of companies from software development to IT consulting that are starting-up or setting down roots in the area.   

With an influx of revenue generated by successful companies and the talent being developed at the universities, you're bound to attract attention from jobseekers across the country.  You also start diversifying your community and once neglected parts of the city become attractive again – it’s all about the urban renewal baby!  Add to this a favorable cost of living, good quality of life, centralized location, decent commute times, and a rich culture and nightlife and you've set a stage for explosive growth.

Now again, to those of you already living in St. Louis, these things are probably a statement in the "master of the obvious" category.  Ultimately, though a hot company may attract a great software developer it’s really what the city has to offer that makes them stay.  However, what are some of the things that drew you to the city?  What keeps you there?  If I could find out this stuff on the web, there’s got to be far more compelling information from the folks that actually live in St. Louis.  Love to hear from you!

-Zoë

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