Atlanta is cool but where are the jobs? (Boston: for rent, mortgage)

[dwayne00]

I've lived here for 3 years now and I have a job but its part time and a dead end job. Ive been looking since before I lived here and I have not gotten a call for a job yet. Maybe it could be me but I know many people in the same position here looking and no luck for them also. GA has an unemployment rate around 10%. I honestly moved here for the music but a job is my number source of income and im always looking too do better. Atl has so much out in the world as if its this golden place of opportunity but hearing about it and being here are completely different. I know the movie industry and music is bug here but we know it is almost impossible to score in those parts. Im not putting GA down but with all the boast about the music, film and party town this is there is nothing out saying that economy for jobs are great. I know the economy period sucks but after 3 yrs there should be a little light. Im thinking about relocating to Texas although everywhere is bad but Texas economy has been the one to keep up a little more then a lot of others.

[tonygeorgia]

What is your educational background?

[nyte3k]

Originally Posted by dwayne00

I've lived here for 3 years now and I have a job but its part time and a dead end job. Ive been looking since before I lived here and I have not gotten a call for a job yet. Maybe it could be me but I know many people in the same position here looking and no luck for them also. GA has an unemployment rate around 10%. I honestly moved here for the music but a job is my number source of income and im always looking too do better. Atl has so much out in the world as if its this golden place of opportunity but hearing about it and being here are completely different. I know the movie industry and music is bug here but we know it is almost impossible to score in those parts. Im not putting GA down but with all the boast about the music, film and party town this is there is nothing out saying that economy for jobs are great. I know the economy period sucks but after 3 yrs there should be a little light. Im thinking about relocating to Texas although everywhere is bad but Texas economy has been the one to keep up a little more then a lot of others.

It really depends on what industry you're in. And this hold true no matter where you live. Luckily, i'm in software engineering, and I constantly get job opportunities both locally in Atlanta, and other places in the US. This of course wasn't the case when the .com bust happened.

If you don't mind me asking, what industry are you trying to find a job in? If it's something like entertainment, that's going to be very hard no matter where you live.

[Atlguy39]

Well, I'm in financial services, or used to be, and I can tell you Atlanta is horrible for my field. I'm looking to leave asap.

[nyte3k]

Originally Posted by Atlguy39

Well, I'm in financial services, or used to be, and I can tell you Atlanta is horrible for my field. I'm looking to leave asap.

I'm guessing the mortgage scenario has really dismantled this industry here.

Even though my field seems to be doing well here, I'm seriously considering a move to SF/SV, simply to be in the heart of where my industry thrives. If I can just get over the mental blockade of paying $2000/mo for rent lol

[dwayne00]

I am an African American and I've received an Associates Degree so far and working on my Bachelors. My field of study is Information Technology. I've applied for IT jobs and others.

[Novadhd5150]

So why are you referring to the entertainment industry then? If you go into IT there should be plenty of opportunities for you.

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by dwayne00

I am an African American and I've received an Associates Degree so far and working on my Bachelors. My field of study is Information Technology. I've applied for IT jobs and others.

Take this advice. Atlanta is a well educated city. I think we are ranked with Boston study the number of educated people here. That being said, you can't complain unless u have at least a BA. You do.not deserve those job until u are finished school. You are qualified to work at burger king or u can pick onions in south ga. The world does not owe u anything. Finish school first and then complain about jobs. People out here have Masters.degrees that u r competing against. Why should they hire someone with just an Associates degree?

[nyte3k]

Not sure why race matters, but I am also AA without a degree and there is no shortage of IT opportunities here. I'm not sure what part of IT you're in, but in my field it comes down to two routes (with the latter being the growing trend):

1)get a bachelors degree and land a job somewhere to build up your experience
2) Build something on your own...a business, a somewhat successful website or mobile app. Use that experience to get you foot in the door at a company.

You will probably benefit more from doing something on the side in addition to school as anything you learn in class is or will be outdated by the time you graduate.

[nyte3k]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Take this advice. Atlanta is a well educated city. I think we are ranked with Boston study the number of educated people here. That being said, you can't complain unless u have at least a BA. You do.not deserve those job until u are finished school. You are qualified to work at burger king or u can pick onions in south ga. The world does not owe u anything. Finish school first and then complain about jobs. People out here have Masters.degrees that u r competing against. Why should they hire someone with just an Associates degree?

I will agree that Atlanta is a well educated city, and I will also add that since Atlanta is dominated by traditional big-business, the requirement for a degree may be higher than say... Silicon Valley or the NYC tech scene. But I will have to differ on the fact that traditional schooling isn't necessarily a requirement for success in the IT field. Even if he gets his BA, he'll be competing with folks who already have 2-3 years of shipping a product/managing a small startup without a degree. And honestly, that skill set is more valuable in today's market. (one article supporting this theory: Turn On, Code In, Drop Out: Tech Programmers Don?t Need College Diplomas - Technology - GOOD)