Moving To Seattle from Georgia! Need some advice about Job Seeking! (house, find a job)

[TheCDoc]

I am currently living in Atlanta, and I'm about two months away from being entirely done with my BA in Applied Anthropology. I want to attend the University of Washington for my Master's Degree by 2017. I want to become a UX Researcher eventually, and I think that Seattle will be a great place for me to begin networking with people in the tech industry. I have around three years experience working as an Administrative Assistant, so I had the bright idea of making a move up there by the time I graduate (I have a friend who's willing to house me until I get on my feet).


So I thought I should hit up some recruiters before I come up to Seattle in August- most likely starting in June- so that I could position myself to have interviews set up by the time of my visit. My questions are:


1) How difficult is it to find a job in Seattle?
2) Will I have enough experience + credentials to get a decent paying job there? (I heard that Seattle is the most educated city in America, so naturally I'm a little intimidated by the competition :/ )
3) Since I have a lot of experience as an Admin. Asst. but want to do UX Research, should I search for admin positions in tech companies? Is it a part of Seattle work culture to hire people for positions internally?
4) Does my plan of finding recruiters before I visit Seattle make sense? Or does it make more sense to get a job in something like food service 1st, make connections, and look for a job once I'm truly living there?


Any advice or suggestions concerning the 4 questions above are welcome. Also if you have any general advice about moving from Atlanta to Seattle, I would appreciate that too.

[tobester]

Don't wanna burst your bubble, but I'm guessing there are hundreds of folks here in Seattle looking for the same jobs you are. If you really want to live here, move as soon as possible, live with your friend (a big plus in saving money) and start hitting the pavement. I just don't think recruiters or businesses have to look as far as Georgia to find someone to work for them.

And I'll throw in one more thing ... have you ever been to Seattle - weather is a big issue with many folks - don't fall in love with Seattle based on August weather (that's the nicest month of the year). It's definitely different climate than the rest of the country - gray and cloudy 70 percent of the time.

[noah]

That may have been true in the past but unemployment is 3%. There have been other recent threads on this board from ppl who have made the move from Atlanta and those that have offers in hand. I am among those that accepted an offer from Atlanta before relocating. Of course their luck will depend on their skills, experience etc but more than ever recruiters and companies are having to look afar to find qualified candidates.

Originally Posted by tobester

Don't wanna burst your bubble, but I'm guessing there are hundreds of folks here in Seattle looking for the same jobs you are. If you really want to live here, move as soon as possible, live with your friend (a big plus in saving money) and start hitting the pavement. I just don't think recruiters or businesses have to look as far as Georgia to find someone to work for them.

And I'll throw in one more thing ... have you ever been to Seattle - weather is a big issue with many folks - don't fall in love with Seattle based on August weather (that's the nicest month of the year). It's definitely different climate than the rest of the country - gray and cloudy 70 percent of the time.

[tobester]

Originally Posted by noah

Of course their luck will depend on their skills, experience etc but more than ever recruiters and companies are having to look afar to find qualified candidates.

I was referring to the op's skills and experience - essentially nondescript a BA right out of school. I agree if you have a computer science degree with experience, recruiters will find you.

[Hemlock140]

For jobs requiring experience we are definitely in a different situation here. Just 4 years ago I'd get over 100 applicants, now just 20-30 and of those maybe 10 that actually meet the minimum requirements. You would probably have a good shot at an Admin position if you are here, then maybe look for the ideal job after you settle in.

[Ruth4Truth]

Will your MA also be in Anthropology? If so, you could apply for a teaching assisstantship in the Anthro Dept. That would pay more than an Admin Assistant. Or you might be able to get a work-study job or internship in the campus anthro museum, the Burke Museum.

To find a job prior to beginning your program, you could look online at job listings at the UW, Seattle Univ., and the City of Seattle, for admin work, for starters.

[TheCDoc]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think that everyone so far has presented valid things to consider.

tobester, I agree that companies may not have to look as far as Georgia to find candidates. However, I'm in a position where I don't need any monetary assistance to relocate, so couldn't that change how recruiters/companies view me as a candidate?

Also, to shed more light on my skills/exposure, I'm 25, I have worked in a corporate office for the past 3 years supporting several business units, spent 1 year prior to that as a paid marketing intern for the company i currently work for, 1.5 years as library assistant at my university, and I once had a summer gig as a receptionist at an engineering firm. I see myself as someone having qualified work experience in a diverse range of environments, something that could potentially give me an edge over someone who just graduated with their bach. Is this a realistic mindset?

Ruth4Truth, I'm planning on getting my degree in Human Centered Design and Engineering. I love anthropology, will definitely use up all my electives on anthropology classes, but because I want to be a UX Researcher I want to position myself to learn more about what I plan to do + make my education path a bit more recognizable to future employers. To be frank, most people know little if anything about anthropology. However, your advice about looking for job openings in the college system out there makes a lot of sense.