How Hard is it to Find a Job in Austin?

[Jameson999]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

The primary question that comes to mind - how old are you and what is your 'baseline' for living?

If you are young (i.e. you don't have to be saving for retirement) and single (no one to support), it doesn't have to be a scary proposition. Can you live with a roommate? Can you survive with no cable TV and minimal mobile phone plan? Do you have a car that you can manage to keep running for a while? Can you survive by entertaining yourself at the green belt or playing disc golf instead of playing 'real' golf and going to expensive sporting events? Can you live by buying your own food instead of eating out?

Um, well...I'm well past young, but I do meet your young person criteria. Being poor, I've always had roommates, I've never been able to afford to live alone in any city. I live very frugally. Tell me more about these cable TV and "eating out" things? Just a joke.

[Jameson999]

Originally Posted by Denver303TJC

If you want to live in a place where you can have better earning opportunities, I think DFW or Houston would be better bets, but if you want to have fun and live here short-term, it can be done.

I've considered Dallas. I was initially drawn to Austin for its film culture. Austin Film School seemed like a viable option for learned the industry. Dallas doesn't have much of a film culture by comparison and no continuing education classes for film-- except for that Film Connection chain, but that outfit reeks for used car salesman snake juice...and it's well out of my price range anyway.
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[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by Jameson999

I've considered Dallas. I was initially drawn to Austin for its film culture. Austin Film School seemed like a viable option for learned the industry. Dallas doesn't have much of a film culture by comparison and no continuing education classes for film-- except for that Film Connection chain, but that outfit reeks for used car salesman snake juice...and it's well out of my price range anyway.
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Okay, please don't move to Austin for the film industry, Texas has cut WAY back on its incentive program for films and TV and much of the production has moved out, Atlanta is very hot right now for production outside of LA/NYC.

There are student films and indie projects, UT's department of Radio, Television, Film, the Austin Film Society, etc but almost everything is volunteer these days, any big production coming through will use professional crews. 10-15 years ago, Austin was a better place for what you are looking for but not now.

If you want to learn the industry, go to LA. Pretty much all stand-alone "learn the film industry" program are snake oil, about as useful as the for-profit culinary schools that put people $30K in debt for kitchen jobs that barely pay $10 an hour!

[Jameson999]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Okay, please don't move to Austin for the film industry, Texas has cut WAY back on its incentive program for films and TV and much of the production has moved out, Atlanta is very hot right now for production outside of LA/NYC.

There are student films and indie projects, UT's department of Radio, Television, Film, the Austin Film Society, etc but almost everything is volunteer these days, any big production coming through will use professional crews. 10-15 years ago, Austin was a better place for what you are looking for but not now.

If you want to learn the industry, go to LA. Pretty much all stand-alone "learn the film industry" program are snake oil, about as useful as the for-profit culinary schools that put people $30K in debt for kitchen jobs that barely pay $10 an hour!

Thanks for all that. Atlanta seems to be the best option here. I could never afford to live in L.A. Looks like Austin is pretty much out.

[ScoPro]

One of my sons got laid off from his lower level tech job on the 31st, but got another one today. It ain't hard.

[Jameson999]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

One of my sons got laid off from his lower level tech job on the 31st, but got another one today. It ain't hard.

Did he have zero experience in the field and is he not a college graduate?

[ScoPro]

No college or technical degree and about 12 years experience in the blue collar tech assembly field. (Building desktops, laptops, servers, ATM machines, cable installation, and the like). When he started he had zero experience in the tech industry and was an ACC dropout. He got into it via a temp agency then full time with Dell.
He's making a living and is happy with his situation, but that's about it career-wise.

Other folks obviously have a tough time if their field is pretty narrow. And it depends what your goals are.

My oldest son has a BBA in finance from Texas State - he is a senior VP with a major agricultural bank that operates in 5 or 6 states. 25 years there.

My middle son has a 2 year biology diploma from ACC - but 25 years ago he quit school when he decided against going into marine biology at A&M/Galveston. He's been a jack of all trades house renovator ever since - doing quite well with just word of mouth business. He's also loving the Austin hippy lifestyle. lol

All three are homeowners in the Austin area and plan to stay, as they were born here.

Good luck.

[JH6]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

No college or technical degree and about 12 years experience in the blue collar tech assembly field. (Building desktops, laptops, servers, ATM machines, cable installation, and the like). When he started he had zero experience in the tech industry and was an ACC dropout. He got into it via a temp agency then full time with Dell.
He's making a living and is happy with his situation, but that's about it career-wise.

Other folks obviously have a tough time if their field is pretty narrow. And it depends what your goals are.

My oldest son has a BBA in finance from Texas State - he is a senior VP with a major agricultural bank that operates in 5 or 6 states. 25 years there.

My middle son has a 2 year biology diploma from ACC - but 25 years ago he quit school when he decided against going into marine biology at A&M/Galveston. He's been a jack of all trades house renovator ever since - doing quite well with just word of mouth business. He's also loving the Austin hippy lifestyle. lol

All three are homeowners in the Austin area and plan to stay, as they were born here.

Good luck.

Yep hard work pays off. A little initiative, and a good attitude goes a long way. I came out here with nothing but a technical degree, and a good attitude and have been working IT for five years with more and more responsibility each year.