How's everything??? (San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley: rentals, home, job market)

[Mack wild]

Hey guys and gals

I am a 27 year old male looking to move off the east coast, have never been to the west coast. I was looking at Las Vegas, San fran, and Colorado. I really am zoning in on San fran as it seems like a really fun place for me in my travels.

There are a few caveats though and I want to make sure that I account for them:

1) I like working in restaurants (bar-back, running, bussing, serving) or the service industry period (mostly restaurants or customer service). Will I be able to make enough money at these types of places to afford the high rent in San Fransisco?? Keep in mind I am low maintanance and would move in with roomates -- so I would be paying around 600 plus utilities a month if I moved to the bay area. Would I be able to find a job that would afford that?

2) Would I be able to find a job somewhat quickly if I looked every day and was not picky-- like within a month? In other words is there a lot of help wanted -- or is there little help wanted and tons of competition?

3) I don't have a car. I lived on Martha's vinyard island off the cape of mass and walked most places, I did this 48 hours after getting the idea to go there -- so I am a bit adventurous to say the least. Thing is though they have a bus system that comes every 30 minutes -- and I would plan accordingly -- walking for a total of about 30 minutes to get to the bus and then to work, and then doing the same on my way home to get to the bus and then home. Would I be able to do that sort of thing in Frisco -- or is the downtown and businesses so spread out and out of whack -- that I would have to have a car to set myself up? (A car is NOT an option what so ever). If I couldn't make the public transportation work -- it would be a bust for me to move to Frisco.

Anyways if someone would be cool enough to answer these questions for me, that would be awesome. Thanks man.

[redwoodlvr]

Mackwild,

1) The restaurant industry is diverse here and you should be able to find a position to make ends meet. However, keep in mind most people share rentals and you may need to get a roommate or 2. I don't know what your background looks like, but if you have a lot of industry experience and it's been diverse (store, restaurant etc) you may be able to nail down a corporate position with a chain for example...Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Peets and some of the others. They all have regional offices in the Bay Area or are headquartered here. It all depends if you're strictly referring to working in a restaurant or are open to exploring your options.


2) I would put my resume on Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and scour craigslist daily. Monster is a well known database that the restaurant industry and recruiters in that world utilize. I would check also recommend checking in with the managers you've worked with on the East Coast to see if they're connected to anyone here. The very best way to hook up a position is based who you know irregardless of the industry. You tap into the hidden job market this way and you come with a good reference already.

Monster - Search Jobs


3) I eventually sold my car when I lived in SF and the last 4 years I was without. I could never remember to move my car for street cleaning and those tickets add up. Anyway, there are many people in the city who get by without a car. I was also a member of CityCarShare which was fantastic and they have pods all over the city and east bay cities, like Berkeley. Great for short excursions across the bay and errand running.

City CarShare - San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, CA USA


Best wishes on your upcoming adventure.

[redwoodlvr]

Mackwild,
Forgot to add public transporation is good in SF and surrounding areas. MUNI in SF used to be better, but it still worked for me. You just need to learn the nuances and you'll be okay.

There's also BART of course and CalTrans. They're are probably other public transportation systems, but those are the main ones.

Transit (SF Muni / SFMTA)

BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit District

[DMenscha]

<cringe> PLEASE don't call it "frisco"

[redwoodlvr]

Originally Posted by DMenscha

<cringe> PLEASE don't call it "frisco"

ha, you have to tell him why