Seattle, also known as “The Emerald City” is the most populous city in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington with nearly 600 thousand residents at the time of writing in 2009. It is a coastal city and a seaport. Seattle is a major contributor to Washington’s economy and is the cultural and educational center of the region. This is one of the main reasons why people are relocating to Seattle.Many Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in Seattle. With the increase in the number of companies in and around Seattle, this area is considered to be one of the top 10 cities to live in according to a study done by Relocation dot com. Microsoft is situated in Redmond near Seattle, besides which there are an additional 2,000 software and digital media companies providing employment to more than 3.5 million people. If you want to find a job in IT, computers or in Internet related fields Seattle might be a great place to consider relocating to.Living in SeattleCost of Living in SeattleThe cost of living in Seattle is above average. The current median price of a home is currently about $315,000 as of Q1 2009 according to the National Association of Realtors, well above the US median home price of $169,000. However the high wages offered – particularly in information related fields – somewhat offset the higher cost of living there.Education in SeattleSeattle houses one of the most respected public research universities in the US – the University of Washington. The city is also home to many art and degree colleges, making it a very sought after place for many young adults, who don’t mind relocating to Seattle for schooling. Seattle has the highest percentage of college and university graduates in comparison to any other major city in the United States, with nearly half its adult population having at least a bachelor’s degree according to the US Census Bureau.Healthcare in SeattleSeattle is said to be”The Best Place in the World to Have a Heart Attack” all thanks to its leading medical research centers and paramedic services. Seattle also houses some of the best pediatric research and medical centers, providing jobs to many doctors and specialists – making it a great place to consider relocating to if you are trying to find a job in healthcare.Recreation in SeattleSports enthusiasts will love Seattle with it’s variety of sports teams and arenas. Professional teams in Seattle include the Seahawks for football, the Sonics for basketball, the Mariners for baseball and the Thunderbirds for hockey, representing all major sports. A few of the major sports venues in Seattle include Safeco Field and Key Arena.Seattle is also home to a thriving music and art scene which will delight the more artistically oriented. It is known as the home of grunge music with several well-known bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice and Chains and more originating in the city. The city has been the regional center for performing arts and holds among the others, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Many festivals and courses are organized for people who are discovering their artistic talents and for those who are relocating to Seattle to make use of this forum.Where to Find a Job in SeattleFind a Job in Seattle Using Job Search SitesSeattle has immense job opportunities – particularly those who are interested in software, digital media and other information related fields. If you are planning to relocate to Seattle and are trying to find a job then the most convenient way will be to use local job sites on the Internet. Signing up with these sites to receive email notifications when jobs matching your search criteria are posted will help you stay abreast of new job opportunities as they become available and will likely help you find a job much faster. Use the list of local Seattle job resources below to get started.• OnlineLocalJobs.com: Local Seattle Jobs Online [http://www.onlinelocaljobs.com/seattle.html]Find a Job at a Fortune 500 Company in SeattleAs mentioned before, Seattle is home to many large global corporations, which supply a multitude of promising job opportunities. Just to give you an idea, Boeing employs 64,000 people, Microsoft employs 11,000 and the list goes on. Visit the sites below to find jobs that are currently available at some of the most popular companies in Seattle.• Amazon: Amazon.com/Careers
• Boeing: Boeing.com/Employment
• Microsoft: Careers.Microsoft.com
• Nordstrom: Careers.Nordstrom.com
• Starbucks: Starbucks.comSeattle – with its dynamic urban culture, pro sports teams for every season, distinctive neighborhoods, great restaurants, superb coffee, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a happening entertainment scene – is definitely a great candidate for those considering relocating. Good luck in your Seattle job search!