Trying to relocate from St. Louis. (San Diego: 2009, apartments, to rent)

[whatanerd]

Yes, another person trying to get to the San Diego area. I've been lurking for a little while and reading, but now I feel the need to ask questions; my attempts to get there are starting to feel futile, and I'm growing rather frustrated (I think anyone would, too).

My current situation is that I recently graduated from a school in the Cincinnati area with two BAs (History and Anthropology); because of the job situation in that area (as in, there aren't any), I was forced to relocate back to the St. Louis area and live at home. I've been trying for the better part of two months (I came back at the end of July) to find a job in either San Diego and St. Louis.

Over the past week, I've gotten four or five offers for "immediate interviews" in San Diego; the problem is that they want me there around their schedule, which doesn't work so well for me (distance and cost of a plane ticket are the two primary concerns). I have not heard anything for similar jobs in my current area; I haven't found anything, and I'm growing restless.

I've been looking for jobs in a few similar fields (some sort of work until I can go back to school for either a JD or a teaching certification in secondary social sciences). I've been looking for work as either a paralegal/legal assistant/secretary, receptionist/secretary/administrative assistant, or something similar. Occasionally I try to find something in a museum, but those jobs are far and few between regardless of where you go (and especially if you don't have a Master's or higher).

I'm really sort of perplexed about how to go about things; I'd like to move as soon as possible, but I'm not sure how to start. With certain situations, I don't know where I would live. To rent, you generally need a job; I don't have a job so renting would be difficult. It's difficult to get a job out of the area because people want to do "immediate interviews" (and are not inclined to do phone screenings prior to in-person meetings, and they aren't too willing to participate in video chats online despite the ease it has presented for people to work in telecommunications or even globally). It's completely understandable for employers to be apprehensive, but it's also frustrating to the potential employee. I hate the idea of moving without something lined up, but I don't like the idea that I can get interviews there that I can't attend instead of in my own local area (I was planning on getting a job here temporarily to build up a larger savings).

My primary reason behind moving is that it brings me closer to my boyfriend, who is from the San Diego area. Along with it, it allows me the chance to find new experiences and have a more culturally diverse arena (for a person with an anthropology degree, the areas with more cultural diversity are better). The weather is far better (humidity there is not comparable to either area I've lived in; even my boyfriend complained of the humidity here when he came to visit). And, as a plus side, the larger cities tend to have things I'm far more interested in (if you have an interest in music, stage productions, and other similar activities... good luck finding them in the midwest outside of Chicago; more people identify with concerts than the other, so just look at almost any band's tour roster... it's almost always the outer edges of the United States, with very few exceptions).

What options are available? If I can't afford to stay in a motel until I got a job or a place to live, what other living accommodations are there? If there is any advice you can offer me, I would love to hear it (and if it happens to be "don't move here" or "move somewhere else," that's not really going to help). I still plan on waiting a bit longer (hopefully to secure more funding). If anything, I want to be able to get there before this year is over or within the first two months of 2009.

Also, I know the easiest way to find employment outside of the area is to network. Where would I begin networking? Who could help me with this? I'm not really sure where to find recruiters, how to contact them, or how to go about anything from such a distance. The whole concept is confusing to me. Considering I'm a recent graduate and still relatively young, I really don't know where to start or go about this. Any help in this aspect would be wonderful, too.

[f_m]

Does your school have a career department? It should, and they should be able to answer many of your questions. Aside from that, when I had to interview in another place, the company paid for the visit. This is typical among the people I know, even out of college. However, it may not be for some job positions.

You may also want to apply to temp agencies, so at least if you don't have a job when you get here, you could have some temp work.

You talk about your boyfriend, but does he live in SD, and could you stay there?

If not, you will need to line up a roommate or rent a room situation, that's the only way to save money really. There are weekly places to rent, etc... but it will be more than renting.

You should look in craigslist.com for the housing market, or maybe couchsurfing.com.

Linkedin.com is useful for networking, it is basically a networking site for career instead of social purposes.

[whatanerd]

In regards to staying with my boyfriend, we'd both love that. Unfortunately, as I mentioned "certain circumstances," there are personal reasons that wouldn't let me stay with him; I probably wouldn't be able to stay with him until they're dealt with, but by the time that happens... I'd probably have a place of my own. He lives about a half hour out, which doesn't really bother me.

I'd been looking at Craigslist for awhile, especially for jobs. I had looked at the apartments, but a lot of them are so far out of my range (I know I'm going to have to get used to higher rent; I've seen a lot for $795-950, which works for me... it still shocks me to see $1300+, but that's a midwesterner for you); I'm sort of leery about living with someone I don't know (again, rural midwesterner), but I guess I'm going to have to do whatever works to get there.

My school had a career development center; I suppose I can check into again. However, it made me want to slap someone when I went there for jobs local to the Cincinnati metro; it was a joke when I was looking for employment there (or even things to boost my potential, like co-ops or internships). However, if it may help me or improve my chances, I'm definitely willing to give it a chance.

I hadn't heard of LinkedIn.com, but I'll definitely check that out. If there's anything else, I'm definitely all ears!