Relocating to ATLANTA: No Lined up Job/Few $Thousands in my Pocket (lease, how much)

[ABQ1]

Thanks in advance for your insight on my questions.

First, is it a risk worth taking to relocate to Atlanta WITHOUT a job lined up, with a few thousand $dollars in the pocket?

- Work experience area is in financial analysis in healthcare (about 8 years experience)

- BS accounting & Master degrees (not MBA though).

- Been out of a fulltime job for 12 months (have done 2 short term contract jobs within the 12 months).

- A family of 4 (wife nursing 6 months old baby & currently not working)

- Made $95k last fulltime job but willing to take 20 - 30% lower, if I have to.

- One child in 2nd grade so, school consideration is important.

- Will take temporary/contract immediately while I hunt for fulltime job.

- Of course, we'll rent at first.

[GeorgiatoChina]

No. Get a job first.
Why do you want to move here? Get employment before moving.

[erick295]

If you're already unemployed and can afford the move, it's not exactly much of a risk.

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by erick295

If you're already unemployed and can afford the move, it's not exactly much of a risk.

I disagree. By doing that, you limit your employment opportunities to the Atlanta area unless you are willing to relocate again. Why move once and then end up moving again? Heck, I'd stay wherever you are and launch a multi-city job search and move to the first place that you can get a good job. Heck... after being unemployed for 12 months, I'd loosen up my expectations significantly.

[Adric]

Trying to rent a place without a job while not impossible, is much more difficult no matter how much saved money you have. Many landlords will not let you sign a lease without proof of employment. Something to consider.

[lorilove]

A few thousand won't last very long for a family of 3 and a weak job market.

[ja1myn]

Seems like an intelligent decision to move your entire family to a new city while you remain unemployed.

[Adnaloy]

DO NOT move here without a job. The job market is absolutely horrendous and will cause strain on you and your family. The few thousand you have will not go very far here with a family of 4. I'm living proof of this right now. Please, don't move here without a job....atlanta is NOT what everyone thinks it is.

[cwkimbro]

Where are you moving from? This is generally a little bit more of a lower pay area, but that is often surpassed by how affordable it is to live here.

We got hit pretty bad in the recession. We are coming back, but have a ways to go. I wouldn't move here w/o a job or a fairly large amount of savings.

I would also recommend significantly lowering your salary expectations for now. It is better to keep the experience and your savings in check. You can always search for another job in the following year and regain your salary as conditions improve.

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by Adnaloy

DO NOT move here without a job. The job market is absolutely horrendous and will cause strain on you and your family. The few thousand you have will not go very far here with a family of 4. I'm living proof of this right now. Please, don't move here without a job....atlanta is NOT what everyone thinks it is.

That is a drastic overstatement. I'm going through a change in careers right now and have seen that there are opportunities available.



With a background in accounting, I don't understand why you can't find a job.