Relocating to ATLANTA: No Lined up Job/Few $Thousands in my Pocket (unemployed, school)

[ABQ1]

Originally Posted by LovelySummer

I'm astonished. OP, it seems really risky to move a 6 month old baby, a small child an unemployed wife and yourself (also unemployed) with a few thousand. Gotta take into account the unexpected. For example, what if your wife's supply dries up and you have to go to formula? What if a landlord won't rent to you bc you are unemployed? What if the cost of living in Atlanta where schools are good (this is something that you are looking for per your post) is higher than where you live now? Maybe launch a multi-city search and move to the place where you can provide stability for your family. Atlanta will be here.

ETA: just saw a posting on here (another thread) about jobs opening at Ernst and Young in Alpharetta. Check it out.

LovelySummer,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! You pointed out very valid concerns and I have analyzed and over-analyzed them all and came to your conclusian of very high risk. My decision is to visit for a month, get a cheap extended stay hotel, take a temp position immediately (if I can find one),while hunting for a fulltime gig. If it works out we then move, if not I move back.

[ABQ1]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Houston has the best economy in the country and is big in Meds. But I don't think you should move anywhere without a job waiting for you.

Thank you! I am also exploring Houston and Dallas. I have done many phone interviews in those places but none have translated to a job yet. I have phone-interviewed with Emory Healthcare & Piedmont and no translations to a job yet.

[Atlanta_BD]

I will co-sign with everyone else about not moving here without a job. My family moved to Dallas in December without jobs. They don't have the background you have and my brother found a job in Dallas after being there for only two weeks, my mom got a job there after only three, but they went there, stayed with friends or hotels and used a rented mail box for their address. If you are considering Dallas and since you are willing to relocate without a job, you'd probably be better off going to Dallas than coming to Atlanta in terms of finding work.

Jobs are pretty hard to get here. I have my third direct-hire interview this week after applying for jobs for four years in Atlanta. If this interview doesn't turn into a job, I will have no choice but to move to Dallas with my family because my mom can get me a job where she works paying more than what I would make in Atlanta.

The schools here are not good unless you live in the really wealthy areas (even then some of the schools still aren't that great) and with you not having a job and only a few months savings, your saving would go quick trying to afford a place for a family of four in the best areas with the great schools. You could find cheaper apartments in these areas but they will be small and in very old buildings without any amenities. As long as you can do without the bells and whistles and less space, you can manage. In parts of Buckhead you can find small two-bedrooms in old buildings for $745 to $900 a month and you will have to pay all utilities, including water which averages between $30 and $55 a month.

Unless you can get a job in advance, don't come here.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by ABQ1

LovelySummer,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! You pointed out very valid concerns and I have analyzed and over-analyzed them all and came to your conclusian of very high risk. My decision is to visit for a month, get a cheap extended stay hotel, take a temp position immediately (if I can find one),while hunting for a fulltime gig. If it works out we then move, if not I move back.

EEK. The really cheap extended stay hotels are quick icky. Are you planning on bringing your family with you?

[erick295]

I'm still not understanding how living in Atlanta without a job is any different than living somewhere else without a job.

[GeorgiatoChina]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I will co-sign with everyone else about not moving here without a job. My family moved to Dallas in December without jobs. They don't have the background you have and my brother found a job in Dallas after being there for only two weeks, my mom got a job there after only three, but they went there, stayed with friends or hotels and used a rented mail box for their address. If you are considering Dallas and since you are willing to relocate without a job, you'd probably be better off going to Dallas than coming to Atlanta in terms of finding work.

Jobs are pretty hard to get here. I have my third direct-hire interview this week after applying for jobs for four years in Atlanta. If this interview doesn't turn into a job, I will have no choice but to move to Dallas with my family because my mom can get me a job where she works paying more than what I would make in Atlanta.

The schools here are not good unless you live in the really wealthy areas (even then some of the schools still aren't that great) and with you not having a job and only a few months savings, your saving would go quick trying to afford a place for a family of four in the best areas with the great schools. You could find cheaper apartments in these areas but they will be small and in very old buildings without any amenities. As long as you can do without the bells and whistles and less space, you can manage. In parts of Buckhead you can find small two-bedrooms in old buildings for $745 to $900 a month and you will have to pay all utilities, including water which averages between $30 and $55 a month.

Unless you can get a job in advance, don't come here.

Sounds like we need to directing all these job seekers to Dallas.

[kasuga888]

My friends have been able to score a FA contract job after looking for a few months, but the whole process from interview till employment will still take 2-4 weeks. If you have looked for a year in your area with little luck, your best bet is to try looking in another location. If you have the money and resource, maybe you can try to rent a room/beg to sleep at a friend's place in Atlanta while you search for a job before moving your family.

[ABQ1]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

EEK. The really cheap extended stay hotels are quick icky. Are you planning on bringing your family with you?

No. I will come on my own first and try to secure a job and then the family will come.

[joey86]

Originally Posted by ABQ1

No. I will come on my own first and try to secure a job and then the family will come.

I think you have the right idea. Best of luck to you and your family.

[Kgreenel]

I moved here in 2009 without a job. I applied for jobs for months down here before I moved and nothing panned out. When I did get an interview I couldn't just jump on a plane for an interview (for a receptionist/office type of job).
I was unemployed for a long time already and finishing school (online so where I lived didn't matter). It was the smartest thing and stupidest thing I've done in my life.
It took me a year and a half to find a full time permanent job. I worked temp jobs and did some freelance stuff while searching for a full time job.
Good Luck!