A few questions about San Antonio? (Austin, Charlotte: live, to move, places)

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by TXtrkgrl

Maybe you shouldn't look at the big name companies here. I work for a small company, we pay our 'right out of college' engineers in the $50K's starting out, plus bonuses.

I applied everywhere, small companies, large companies everything in between but it was still a matter of getting $30k at the most in maybe 1 or 2 of the places I interviewed with. I did the whole dress formally, look presentable having a great resume with no typos, work experience, did the right things and still. I know that attitude is very important and at the beginning I was very fired up positive and everything because of the all great salaries I would hear from folks but it didn't seem that way in reality after getting stung so many times. My bachelor's degree major was in Business so it wasn't majoring in a lower paying field or anything like that. I constantly hear about a brain drain here in San Antonio and I wish I could stay. I've sent resumes before to companies in Austin, interviewed and got offered really good starting salaries when I was looking for a job but I decided to stay to help out my mom for a little while longer. It's a good thing I did too because I met my husband!

[HisLilSecret]

I don't have a college degree and earn 43K a year as an office admin for a small office. As TXtrkgrl pointed out, maybe you should look at the smaller firms.

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by HisLilSecret

I don't have a college degree and earn 43K a year as an office admin for a small office. As TXtrkgrl pointed out, maybe you should look at the smaller firms.

My current position is at a small firm and my past positions have been at small firms as well and still no luck. Where do you find these jobs? Maybe because I'm too young (27) but I've supervised clients before and the interviewers don't take that experience seriously as if I'm lying, I take letters of recommendation to me and they kind of chuckle, unfortunately. I'm curious as to where you work. I definitely want to make more money!

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by sans ersatz modelisto

It's just like a city full of lazy poor underachievers and fatties.

Can you post a pic of yourself, please, so we know what to aspire to? I mean, surely you're hot, young, well-educated and athletic, and us poor underachievers NEED some goals, don'tcha think? I could post you on my fridge the next time I reach in there for some leftover enchiladas.

LMAO @ the thought of leftover enchiladas--we eat them all at once.

[lemonfresh]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Can you post a pic of yourself, please, so we know what to aspire to? I mean, surely you're hot, young, well-educated and athletic, and us poor underachievers NEED some goals, don'tcha think? I could post you on my fridge the next time I reach in there for some leftover enchiladas.

LMAO @ the thought of leftover enchiladas--we eat them all at once.

He or she must have some extremely fit fingers and buttocks as they seem to spend of a lot time on this forum insulting San Antonio and San Antonians.

[perticusrex]

Originally Posted by sapphire

LMAO @ the thought of leftover enchiladas--we eat them all at once.

MMMmmmm ..... enchiladas........

[mpd33]

Yous guys are funny.

[TXtrkgrl]

but I drink low carb beer with my enchiladas, does that count??

[perticusrex]

Originally Posted by TXtrkgrl

but I drink low carb beer with my enchiladas, does that count??

Drinking your fancy low carbohydrate beer with your enchiladas just means you are very in tune with culture and the arts, you are also considered an intellectual and in some circles a yuppie. Good for you!

[TTecheTTe]

I grew up in SA and currently live in The Woodlands, TX. I don't know what "culture" you are looking for and are not finding, but SA has it all. In addition SPA (the Society for the Performing Arts) brings in internationally renowned artists from around the globe! Take your pick of museums. My personal favorite was the Hertzberg Circus Museum, which unfortunately has closed again because of maintenance problems with their "new" building. SA has long been a thriving artist colony and now has a thriving music industry. However, like every Texas city, SA is spread out far and wide (hey, land here is cheap so we build out, not up) so everything interesting is flung to all for corners and tucked in here and there. When I left, SA had 3 classical and 7 jazz radio stations; not only has Houston never had that many, I still don't have that selection on XM Radio! The horrific traffic (and drivers) are not locals but the massive migration of Yankees and (eek) Californians (They are the worst drivers, and you can easily identify them by putting on your turn signal to change lanes and watch if they gun the accelerator to ensure you can't. It's like a matador waving his cape at a bull! I would rather drive in Mexico than California). Houston had the same problem and periodically does each time we get in these immigrants. Fortunately, at least half miss the high taxes and cost living (or can't handle the humidity) and go back North/California. As far as where you are living, I hate to break it to you but you are not in suburbia; you live in the hood (in my day it was called the "ghetto"). We (girls) drove Potraco only on rare occasions (never alone) and never, ever, drove it at night. There are ethnic neighborhoods/enclaves, which are neither suburbs nor ghetto, where you will find close knit families (many extended and multi-generational), love of neighbor, pride of home-ownership, self-reliance and the popular adult hobby of expensive custom show cars (these neighborhoods are conspicuously absent of gang tags; yeah, that's not "just graffiti." ). You will not find an urban lifestyle in Texas, not even in Houston (the closest you'll get will be the Montrose area), the 4th largest city in the U.S. Unfortunately, part of your income is your rent value, which restricts you from living in an area more suited to your lifestyle. If you haven't tried already, ask for full comp and give up the apt (since you weren't advised of the area). Pick up a free apt guide and find an "Adult/Singles" apt complex, which you will want to be located outside of 410 and North to West. Inside 410 is dicey, as most of the acceptable/desirable properties are expensive to very expensive! Find a macro cafe or head shop and pick up a free alternative press; it's chock full of info on the hip scene and entertainment for young adults (and like minded old fogies). Best of luck to you, and welcome!