Did You Have a Job Before You Moved to Austin? (Vega: hotel, motorhome)

[scongress1234]

Originally Posted by readymade

Ah yes, SoCal: smog, traffic, expensive shopping, excessive house prices, and wide-spread self-absorbtion/narcissism. Yeah, I don't think I'll be moving back. Trust me, it all ain't all "sweet living." The mountains, ocean, & weather are about all it has going for it.

Ahh poppycock! Look at all these splendid examples of the sweet California lifestyle!:


Fires raging in southern California........gee, I feel wheezy.....where's
my gas mask?




Sniff sniff...do I smell smog? Ahhhh, sweet LA perfume.....take it all in,
friends! Look at it this way, in 20 years the chemo ward will thank you for your business!

Cool! Look, the California government mandates emission controls......yeah,
that makes all the difference.......they certainly are national trend setters!


D@mn, it's another Southern California traffic jam!


Ain't California gridlock purdy!

With the price of homes in LA, even the homeless are getting 100K for their hovels!


Folks in LA are really friendly. And they won't hurt you if you give them
a buck!


There are so many cool places in LA to chill out and hang!


It's just LA's way of saying "WELCOME", or "HOWDY" to you texas folks!


This is the welcome wagon for new residents of east LA. You get many assorted cool things, like bullet wounds, bad looks, and stuff!


And, you can get fake ID's really cheap! California really is a pretty
sweet place, don't you think?

[Mckellyb]

I have relocated here, after being in Vegas three years, and I did not have a job here prior to even consideration of relocation. This is because, in the first two months of job hunting, I've had an amazing amount of response.

This is the polar opposite of Vegas, where, if you're not dealing cards or driving a cab, you're unemployed. Plus, pretty much everyone here is friendly, unlike those on the west coast, who just seem to be angry all the time.

[readymade]

I remember one of my first job interviews in LA. The woman said "Why on EARTH would you want to move here?!" and then went on and on about how difficult it was to meet a man.

HAH!

[4800orbust]

Originally Posted by looking for warmth

I'm starting to think it would be better to move there first then find a job, I posted my resume online and I actually have had tons of hits but once they find out I'm not living there yet, then no more responces from them.... I would like to get a job first before we move, but not sure if thats going to happen? (anyone know of any company looking to hire a graphic designer in the next 6 months) hahaha....
Oh and to the person who posted about there buddy throwing the dart.... me and my husband laughed soooo hard over that one.... that would be COOL!!!

I too am in the web/graphics field, moving to austin with the wife june 1st. I'm wondering If I should wait until we move and secure a place (w/an austin address) before I start sending out resumes.
For many reasons.. 1. Location! I could get a hire then come to find its on the other side of a town I know very little about.
We visited last Nov. and fell in love with the soco area.. but damn, I'd hate to find a job then have to travel a hour to my job!!?

On an a similar note, I'll love to do freelance design for a living. . anyone know the market for that?

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Do a 6 month lease...that way you are only committed to an area for a short period of time.

[AustinTexan]

Originally Posted by Mckellyb

I have relocated here, after being in Vegas three years, and I did not have a job here prior to even consideration of relocation. This is because, in the first two months of job hunting, I've had an amazing amount of response.

This is the polar opposite of Vegas, where, if you're not dealing cards or driving a cab, you're unemployed. Plus, pretty much everyone here is friendly, unlike those on the west coast, who just seem to be angry all the time.

Exactly!!! I'm telling you, I deal with a lot of these people from the west coast (mostly California) and you're exactly right, they come across like they're just pissed all the time. What the heck is in the water over there? Is everyone so mad because of the traffic, the crowds, the stress, all of the above? That's why on many of my posts I've referred to those coming here from California and them being so freakin difficult to deal with! Like I said, if you're going to come here with the same attitude/chip on your shoulders as you had where you're coming from, then don't come, because you're not going to be welcome or liked here! Trust me, you stick out like a sore thumb, regardless of where you're at. The second I start talking to someone from California, I can usually guess with pretty high accuracy that they're from there. Their mannerisms, tone of voice, and demanding nature gives them away rather easily. I'm not a hater like I said, but trust me, when you've had to deal with this type of person several times a day, you start to act like they do just to be able to deal with them. Anyway, most of you don't have to deal with them like I do, so you'll never understand what I'm saying.

[RND]

AustinTexan, I would be willing to bet those you are speaking of are not native Californians.

[justanothercalifornian]

We just moved here and DH found a job within a week. He sent out a million resumes out of state and did not get any responses. Once he changed the address to Austin it was fairly quick after that. We were really relieved since we have kids and that can be scary. By the way, AustinTexan don't be such a hater. We are not all like that. I have to say despite how friendly Austinites seem to be I've also run into some attitudes here. Idiots come from all over unfortunately.

[looking for warmth]

Originally Posted by 4800orbust

I too am in the web/graphics field, moving to austin with the wife june 1st. I'm wondering If I should wait until we move and secure a place (w/an austin address) before I start sending out resumes.
For many reasons.. 1. Location! I could get a hire then come to find its on the other side of a town I know very little about.
We visited last Nov. and fell in love with the soco area.. but damn, I'd hate to find a job then have to travel a hour to my job!!?

On an a similar note, I'll love to do freelance design for a living. . anyone know the market for that?

Your lucky 4800orbust, your many steps ahead of us... we're planning on going out there in Aug. to finally look? I found a house I totally fell in love with, but I'm crossing my fingers it wont sell by then... And so far so good...
I know what you mean too about location and where to apply, thats been hard too?? Cuz who knows, I may not even like that area once I see it??

Its great to hear all of you finding jobs so fast, but the things thats starting to scare us is, here in MN, my husband has sent out at least 200 resumes (NOT KIDDING) and NOT one hit, not a call, or an email back or interview and he's been doing this for over 2 months.... So it is VERY scary to move away from a (rocky) job he has, to may never getting anything, like it is here??
I'm not too worried about me, I know I can get a job anywhere. Its just him I worry about... Good luck to you 4800orbust!!!

[readymade]

Originally Posted by 4800orbust

I too am in the web/graphics field, moving to austin with the wife june 1st. I'm wondering If I should wait until we move and secure a place (w/an austin address) before I start sending out resumes.
For many reasons.. 1. Location! I could get a hire then come to find its on the other side of a town I know very little about.
We visited last Nov. and fell in love with the soco area.. but damn, I'd hate to find a job then have to travel a hour to my job!!?

On an a similar note, I'll love to do freelance design for a living. . anyone know the market for that?

My plan (although I shouldn't be helping you since you'll be a competitor, heh) is to start looking in Craigslist for freelance jobs. The cool thing about doing web stuff is that you don't have to live in the same city of the website you're working on. i.e. Look all over, not just in Austin. Also, I was thinking about putting an advertisement in the local paper or something like that.

Most of my freelance jobs have happened through people I know. Word-of-mouth. So, I guess the other thing to do is get out there and meet people.

And, of course, all the other usual stuff like having a great portfolio. Good luck!