WFH in MA 2024 (Boston: unemployed, to live, to move)

[simplexsimon]

Couple more data points that tell me what the job market is like right now, at least anecdotally:

- An unemployed friend told me she was one of almost 2,000 applicants for a remote job (in healthcare) and was lucky enough to at least secure an interview through networking.
- (Financial services) We're looking to hire a couple of interns and easily have 5x more applicants than in years past and for the first time in at least five years are seeing applicants from ivy league schools.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

Couple more data points that tell me what the job market is like right now, at least anecdotally:

- An unemployed friend told me she was one of almost 2,000 applicants for a remote job (in healthcare) and was lucky enough to at least secure an interview through networking.
- (Financial services) We're looking to hire a couple of interns and easily have 5x more applicants than in years past and for the first time in at least five years are seeing applicants from ivy league schools.

Anecdotally, we have a few searches now and haven't lost any candidates due to lack of remote options. That wasn't the case a year ago.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

Couple more data points that tell me what the job market is like right now, at least anecdotally:

- An unemployed friend told me she was one of almost 2,000 applicants for a remote job (in healthcare) and was lucky enough to at least secure an interview through networking.
- (Financial services) We're looking to hire a couple of interns and easily have 5x more applicants than in years past and for the first time in at least five years are seeing applicants from ivy league schools.

I had lunch the other day in Boston with my cousin who was in town for an interview. He's a software engineer and has been out of work since October. After months of unsuccessful interviews, he's giving up on focusing only on remote work. He just built a home almost on the Cape because he "wasn't going to need to commute."

At my company, we had trouble recruiting 1.5-2 years ago. We had several attractive (IMO) openings that we didn't received a single application meeting the minimum qualifications. Not so anymore. We're getting between 50-100 applications for most openings. Sometimes even more. Most of these require at least 3 days in the office per week.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I had lunch the other day in Boston with my cousin who was in town for an interview. He's a software engineer and has been out of work since October. After months of unsuccessful interviews, he's giving up on focusing only on remote work. He just built a home almost on the Cape because he "wasn't going to need to commute."

At my company, we had trouble recruiting 1.5-2 years ago. We had several attractive (IMO) openings that we didn't received a single application meeting the minimum qualifications. Not so anymore. We're getting between 50-100 applications for most openings. Sometimes even more. Most of these require at least 3 days in the office per week.

Ugh that stinks about your cousin who built a house on the cape thinking he could always be remote. I'm not sure why younger people in particular would think they never had to return to an office. If I was in his situation I absolutely would not want to be commuting to Boston from cape. Hopefully he can find something closer.

[newenglandgal123]

Apparently some companies are having trouble recruiting to cover the midwest. I had a call with a recruiter the other day and unbeknownst to me it was for a position that was to cover clients primarily in the midwest. I politely asked if she saw from my resume that I am based in the northeast and asked how much face time would it entail going to see clients in the midwest and she said 30-40%. I said no thank you, that is too much air travel for me...but feel free to reach back out when you have northeast openings!

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I had lunch the other day in Boston with my cousin who was in town for an interview. He's a software engineer and has been out of work since October. After months of unsuccessful interviews, he's giving up on focusing only on remote work. He just built a home almost on the Cape because he "wasn't going to need to commute."

This is exactly the kind of thing I've been talking about.

If it's close to the Cape, there are options commuting Downtown. Not pretty ones... but there are busses that stop at the Sagamore and then goes straight to South Station. Or drive and take the commuter rail.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

This is exactly the kind of thing I've been talking about.

If it's close to the Cape, there are options commuting Downtown. Not pretty ones... but there are busses that stop at the Sagamore and then goes straight to South Station. Or drive and take the commuter rail.

There's also places to work on the south shore...not as many...but it doesn't sound like he's in the position to be too picky if he's out of work right now.

I just can't imagine BUILDING a house on the CAPE to live in full time unless i knew FOR SURE that I didnt have to return to the office. That was kind of dumb. I say this as someone who is a huge advocate of WFH but that was just risky. know people who did move further out away from the city...and at this time they only need to go in once a week.

I do know of a few people who moved out of state once their jobs turned remote...it seems that they are still in those remote positions for now. Many of these folks also have a working spouse to lean on.

I guess the other option is sell the new cape house.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I just can't imagine BUILDING a house on the CAPE to live in full time unless i knew FOR SURE that I didnt have to return to the office. That was kind of dumb.

The current employers policy doesn't mean much if you lose that job.

[newenglandgal123]

Moral of the story...nothing is really stable these days when it comes to employers...always make sure you have a nice nest egg to fall back on. I don't think 6 months worth is enough even thought that's what most financial gurus recommend. I'd say more along the line of 1 year's worth.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

The current employers policy doesn't mean much if you lose that job.

not sure what you mean