Baltimore's job competition, top university alumni, overall city stress levels, etc, young urban professional moving in (Mount Vernon: apartment, townhouses)

[cslicker585]

Hey everyone, about 5 of us will be moving down to Baltimore pretty soon, after being laid off after Wall Street crashed (yeah, we deserved it. and I do mean that haha).

Anyways, a couple of people from my graduating class have already moved down here and said that the jobs are great, the young-single life is amazing, the salaries are competitive, and overall the city isn't as stressful as NYC.

But they've only been here for 2 weeks. Nothing really beats Baltimoreans who've lived here for years. So what's the competitive climate really like for young professionals in the 21-23 age range?

If you're curious as to what my friends and I went through last year as layoffs were already starting: In NYC, most young professionals I've encountered went to an Ivy League school, is either a banker or a lawyer, are really cut-throat, work 60-120 hours a week, and the work hard/play hard mentality is huge. Personally, my friends and I all worked 100 hour work weeks last year, with our managers screaming in our faces from 6am to 3am the next day. The workplace is extremely competitive, everyone wants to jump on everyone else, the older managers hate the new young recruits because they know any of us could potentially take their job. At one firm, my HR recruiter happened to be from Harvard, and when he saw that my resume said "Brown Univ." he literally spat on the paper and said "get out of this interview and stop wasting my time. I can't believe you guys call yourselves ivy leaguers." Then we all busted our asses working for these egotistical pricks hoping to land the full-time job afterwards. Yeah, we did get the final job, but the firm shut down recently and was bought over by Bank of America so now we're all unemployed and searching for jobs in Baltimore.

So what is Baltimore like? Really competitive or mildly competitive? Are there lots of egotistical/arrogant Ivy grads down here or is it mostly nice and "normal" UM and Hopkins guys?

[DivineMsK]

I don't live in Baltimore (though I'm hoping to move there by the end of the year), I live just outside of DC.

But I did live in NYC right after college lo these many years ago (I was in publishing, probably the antithesis of the Wall Street world), and I can tell you that there is probably no other work climate on earth like the one you're leaving. Except possibly Capitol Hill (where you get all the cutthroat attitude and long hours, just with no money and uglier clothes).

[LogSS]

Originally Posted by cslicker585

Hey everyone, about 5 of us will be moving down to Baltimore pretty soon, after being laid off after Wall Street crashed (yeah, we deserved it. and I do mean that haha).

Anyways, a couple of people from my graduating class have already moved down here and said that the jobs are great, the young-single life is amazing, the salaries are competitive, and overall the city isn't as stressful as NYC.

But they've only been here for 2 weeks. Nothing really beats Baltimoreans who've lived here for years. So what's the competitive climate really like for young professionals in the 21-23 age range?

If you're curious as to what my friends and I went through last year as layoffs were already starting: In NYC, most young professionals I've encountered went to an Ivy League school, is either a banker or a lawyer, are really cut-throat, work 60-120 hours a week, and the work hard/play hard mentality is huge. Personally, my friends and I all worked 100 hour work weeks last year, with our managers screaming in our faces from 6am to 3am the next day. The workplace is extremely competitive, everyone wants to jump on everyone else, the older managers hate the new young recruits because they know any of us could potentially take their job. At one firm, my HR recruiter happened to be from Harvard, and when he saw that my resume said "Brown Univ." he literally spat on the paper and said "get out of this interview and stop wasting my time. I can't believe you guys call yourselves ivy leaguers." Then we all busted our asses working for these egotistical pricks hoping to land the full-time job afterwards. Yeah, we did get the final job, but the firm shut down recently and was bought over by Bank of America so now we're all unemployed and searching for jobs in Baltimore.

So what is Baltimore like? Really competitive or mildly competitive? Are there lots of egotistical/arrogant Ivy grads down here or is it mostly nice and "normal" UM and Hopkins guys?

=====================

Balitimore is okay. If you want egotistical/arrogant Ivy grads, super rich, then move to Washington DC/Northern VA. There you will find the same high end stuff as you would in Manhattan except its more liveable and cleaner. As for Baltimore, there's a few area that offers somewhat the same but in a smaller scale. There aren't many places in b'more that offers the same offering as you have had in NYC. You'll find that places around the harbor is probably the best part in terms of urbanism in the the city. I wouldn't venture any farther unless you have a gun. I actually live in Locust Point which is becoming more upscale like DC/Northern VA but in a B'more standard. Good luck

[NJ2MDdude]

Competitive climate?

Other than the federal government, the largest employers in the city are non-profits, viz., universities and health care organizations.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by LogSS

=====================

Balitimore is okay. If you want egotistical/arrogant Ivy grads, super rich, then move to Washington DC/Northern VA. There you will find the same high end stuff as you would in Manhattan except its more liveable and cleaner. As for Baltimore, there's a few area that offers somewhat the same but in a smaller scale. There aren't many places in b'more that offers the same offering as you have had in NYC. You'll find that places around the harbor is probably the best part in terms of urbanism in the the city. I wouldn't venture any farther unless you have a gun. I actually live in Locust Point which is becoming more upscale like DC/Northern VA but in a B'more standard. Good luck

I just love sweeping generalizations. Yes, Baltimore has a ton of rough neighborhoods. But, there are many fine areas away from the Inner Harbor.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by cslicker585

Hey everyone, about 5 of us will be moving down to Baltimore pretty soon, after being laid off after Wall Street crashed (yeah, we deserved it. and I do mean that haha).

Anyways, a couple of people from my graduating class have already moved down here and said that the jobs are great, the young-single life is amazing, the salaries are competitive, and overall the city isn't as stressful as NYC.

But they've only been here for 2 weeks. Nothing really beats Baltimoreans who've lived here for years. So what's the competitive climate really like for young professionals in the 21-23 age range?

If you're curious as to what my friends and I went through last year as layoffs were already starting: In NYC, most young professionals I've encountered went to an Ivy League school, is either a banker or a lawyer, are really cut-throat, work 60-120 hours a week, and the work hard/play hard mentality is huge. Personally, my friends and I all worked 100 hour work weeks last year, with our managers screaming in our faces from 6am to 3am the next day. The workplace is extremely competitive, everyone wants to jump on everyone else, the older managers hate the new young recruits because they know any of us could potentially take their job. At one firm, my HR recruiter happened to be from Harvard, and when he saw that my resume said "Brown Univ." he literally spat on the paper and said "get out of this interview and stop wasting my time. I can't believe you guys call yourselves ivy leaguers." Then we all busted our asses working for these egotistical pricks hoping to land the full-time job afterwards. Yeah, we did get the final job, but the firm shut down recently and was bought over by Bank of America so now we're all unemployed and searching for jobs in Baltimore.

So what is Baltimore like? Really competitive or mildly competitive? Are there lots of egotistical/arrogant Ivy grads down here or is it mostly nice and "normal" UM and Hopkins guys?

Did your friends tell you about the initiation you would have to do when moving here????? You thought Wall Street was tough.

[mrboltonman]

Originally Posted by jonjj

there are many fine areas away from the Inner Harbor.

Perfect time for a plug for Bolton Hill

Oh yeah, the initiation is rough

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by mrboltonman

Perfect time for a plug for Bolton Hill

Oh yeah, the initiation is rough

Bolton Hill is definitely an example of one.

[Be More]

I tend to pity those who cling to the water's edge here in Baltimore and not enjoying the rest of the city. Maybe they shouldn't live here?

[Tallybalt]

It's a laid back town with a strong sense of history, and a genuinely pleasant place to live provided you have a good job. Cost of living is much lower than in New York, accommodations cheaper and better, and people are generally happier, except those who really need the "NYC buzz."

Areas that are popular with young, urban professionals are the waterfront neighborhoods (Canton, Fell's Point, Federal Hill), and Mount Vernon for those with a more hip/artist vibe. Bolton Hill is a pleasant, if more quiet, in-town option. Further north you get old money, affluent Baltimore, and the apartment houses/townhouses along its margins bordering Hopkins (Charles Village, Tuscany Canterbury) are handsome places with a mix of grad students, retired people, and professionals.

Baltimore's handy to NYC and DC, and Amtrak/bus lines are rapid and fairly reliable.

I know offhand a few Brown alums at Legg Mason and T Rowe Price, so your university's name won't be spat on. Finance sector jobs (if you can still get one) will have a 8-6 workweek, and people head out afterwards for drinks at the bars nearby. Not overly competitive, but keep in mind that a large portion of Baltimore's finance world is dominated by old-money Baltimore families with roots in the local prep school world, and they will expect you to perform well. Won't scream in your face, but don't expect a lazy environment either.

Originally Posted by cslicker585

Hey everyone, about 5 of us will be moving down to Baltimore pretty soon, after being laid off after Wall Street crashed (yeah, we deserved it. and I do mean that haha).

Anyways, a couple of people from my graduating class have already moved down here and said that the jobs are great, the young-single life is amazing, the salaries are competitive, and overall the city isn't as stressful as NYC.

But they've only been here for 2 weeks. Nothing really beats Baltimoreans who've lived here for years. So what's the competitive climate really like for young professionals in the 21-23 age range?

If you're curious as to what my friends and I went through last year as layoffs were already starting: In NYC, most young professionals I've encountered went to an Ivy League school, is either a banker or a lawyer, are really cut-throat, work 60-120 hours a week, and the work hard/play hard mentality is huge. Personally, my friends and I all worked 100 hour work weeks last year, with our managers screaming in our faces from 6am to 3am the next day. The workplace is extremely competitive, everyone wants to jump on everyone else, the older managers hate the new young recruits because they know any of us could potentially take their job. At one firm, my HR recruiter happened to be from Harvard, and when he saw that my resume said "Brown Univ." he literally spat on the paper and said "get out of this interview and stop wasting my time. I can't believe you guys call yourselves ivy leaguers." Then we all busted our asses working for these egotistical pricks hoping to land the full-time job afterwards. Yeah, we did get the final job, but the firm shut down recently and was bought over by Bank of America so now we're all unemployed and searching for jobs in Baltimore.

So what is Baltimore like? Really competitive or mildly competitive? Are there lots of egotistical/arrogant Ivy grads down here or is it mostly nice and "normal" UM and Hopkins guys?