Working Professionals in SD? Come in here for discussion. (San Diego: real estate, condos)

[RockhetHD]

Do you guys feel you can hit your career potential in San Diego or do you feel at some point you would have to move to a bigger city to better your career. I am a student and a couple of classmates are discussing this.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

If I cared about my career that much, I would not be living in SD to better it. I choose to live here to support my lifestyle which is less work, more play. However my position in somewhat unique. I have seen colleagues jump laterally quite a bit without much growth. Only recently, I have seen some who have either quit or get laid off to leave for greener pastures. They could care less about location as long as they are compensated well.

I came here to take a position, but am from out of state. IN other words, the company I work for had to reach out of state to get the position filled. Which I am certain still holds water for specialized fields or independents.

Generally speaking, I dont think many folks would come here looking to climb the corporate ladder.

[loveautumn]

I agree, if you are very career driven, climb the ladder type, then SD might not be for you. But then of course it depends on the career you are in....SD doesn't have alot of large corporations. But I've always held to the believe that you can work your way up in a small to mid size company alot faster than a large corp with all the politics and bureaucracy. But personally, if I was young and starting out, serious about my career, SD wouldn't be my first choice.

[deuce35]

I'm not trying to hi-jack your thread, but I'm moving to SD to further my career. I'm planning on moving during the summer time and I'm moving from a bigger city where its almost impossible to move up unless you sell your soul to the company your working for.

Is it different in SD? I'm in Real Estate so I assume my career path and what I want out of it would be different from Rockhet's, but is SD a 60% play 40% work type area?

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by deuce35

I'm not trying to hi-jack your thread, but I'm moving to SD to further my career. I'm planning on moving during the summer time and I'm moving from a bigger city where its almost impossible to move up unless you sell your soul to the company your working for.

Is it different in SD? I'm in Real Estate so I assume my career path and what I want out of it would be different from Rockhet's, but is SD a 60% play 40% work type area?

RE was the gold rush for anyone that had a pulse back in the "good old days" as an agent recently told me.

I know in my industry, the big corps that are outsourcing to temp agencies are working them to the bone. Qualcomm for example doesnt pay overtime for subcontractors and the quality of the work is about on par as if they were employed by Qualcomm. Why bother paying out benefits for projects that have an end of life in R&D?

[loveautumn]

To make money here you have to work hard, do whatever it takes. It doesn't have the intensity of DC area but it is competitive because everybody wants to stay here. I'd say it's 85% work, 15% play (weekends). Especially in RE industry (is there anybody out there still doing that???), you'll have to work nights, weekends.

In DC people ask "where did you go to school"...nobody here will ask you that, but they will ask "where do you live".

[NYSD1995]

I am an entry-level executive in a small consulting firm. In my current role, if I was to lose my job, I would have to either accept a major pay, role, and opportunity cut to stay here. There are maybe 3 or 4 other companies in San Diego I could work for at this pay and title. In LA, SF, NY, there are hundreds. If I lost this job, I would have to move out of state. We interview people all the time in this position. Most move to LA.

[deuce35]

Originally Posted by loveautumn

To make money here you have to work hard, do whatever it takes. It doesn't have the intensity of DC area but it is competitive because everybody wants to stay here. I'd say it's 85% work, 15% play (weekends). Especially in RE industry (is there anybody out there still doing that???), you'll have to work nights, weekends.

In DC people ask "where did you go to school"...nobody here will ask you that, but they will ask "where do you live".

Yes RE is still alive and kick and coming back! Like it always does. Yes you are right loveautumn, they do ask where you went to school...

Why in SD, would they ask where do you live?

[mlarsen23]

For any given individual, it may be possible for that individual to hit his or her career potential in most any city. Warren Buffet did it in Omaha (after studying in in NYC). For most of us, the key is matching what you want your career to be with the right organizations. If you have a PhD in biochemistry or radio physics, San Diego may be the ideal place for you to maximize your career potential. San Diego has great companies in those fields. If you want to build a career in finance, not so much. As a general rule, for someone wanting to start out in business but without highly defined career aspirations, your best bet is to go for a major metropolis - NYC, Chicago, LA - generally bigger is better. Those places have sophisticated, more dynamic economies with many large corporations. Careerwise, San Diego is best suited for someone who has specialized expertise in biotech or wireless, or who has built his or her career somewhere else, wants the San Diego lifestyle, and is lucky enough to find the right job here. Even then, if you quit or lose your job, there's a good chance you'll have to broaden your search beyond the county.

[MovingAloha]

I do RE in Hawaii and will continue at my new location. At least in Hawaii and Texas the housing market is picking up (Condos are stagnant). Not sure what is happening in California.