Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 04-02-2012, 04:17 PM
 
79 posts, read 150,840 times
Reputation: 65

Advertisements

Hello everyone this is my first post on this forum. I was hoping to get some advice here from the people who live and work in Santa Barbara. A quick back story. I'm currently 25 and was born in San Diego but grew up in SB and went to UCSB as well and got a degree in global studies which is basically a political science degree. After college I decided to move to SD due to the lack of jobs in SB (I never really bothered looking for a job there though).

Anyways leaving SB was the biggest mistake ever. I didn't realize how badly I would miss it and how much I would want to move back. Though San Diego is nice as far as big cities go, imo it is too big and I much prefer the smaller, cleaner, no traffic and more local laid back feel of Santa Barbara, not to mention it feels like home up there (my family and friends are all there as well) and to me it is the greatest city in the world and I would do almost anything to live there again. I genuinely couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Unfortunately, the lack of jobs and the high prices to buy a house has made it a real struggle to figure out a way to move back up there and live a half way decent lifestyle.

I worked for about a year out of college selling insurance for State Farm but realized that was a dead end job and sales is not for me anyways. I recently decided to go back to grad school to pursue a degree in accounting for a few reasons, one is it appears to be a job that is in real demand and is continuing to grow in demand, it seems to pay decently and can turn in to a 6 figure job fairly quickly and it appears to be one of the few things a person can do up there for work.

Now for the question. I haven't fully committed to accounting as I don't exactly find it to be my calling. I have am taking a couple accounting classes as pre reqs and though I don't love it I don't hate it either but I am more in to hands on physical type jobs but none of those types of jobs pay that well. I had considered firefighting but there is so much competition for those jobs that it isn't realistic since it takes 2-3 years to get hired after another 2 years of schooling. So there is a trade off. So for those of you who live and work in SB what do you do and do you have any suggestions of jobs to look in to or pursue with either my current qualifications or qualifications that I can obtain through schooling?? I'm even willing to commute to ventura/oxnard as my dad commutes to camarillo currently. I'm just looking for a jobs that can I can realistically do yet make enough to afford to live there and purchase a house one day. BTW it's not realistic for me to try to become and engineer or doctor despite those being other in demand jobs there.

Cliffs
-want to live in SB but don't know what to do in order to afford it due to small job market there.
-need job suggestions from those who live in SB and work either in SB or surrounding area.

Thanks everyone for your input
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 04-02-2012, 05:02 PM
 
Location: Full Time: N.NJ Part Time: S.CA, ID
6,116 posts, read 12,588,476 times
Reputation: 8687
SB has many industries, just like every other part of the state..... I think the question you should be asking yourself is what do i want to do? Living in SB and being in an unhappy job/career will be just as crappy as living in SD.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2012, 05:08 PM
 
79 posts, read 150,840 times
Reputation: 65
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1200RT View Post
SB has many industries, just like every other part of the state..... I think the question you should be asking yourself is what do i want to do? Living in SB and being in an unhappy job/career will be just as crappy as living in SD.
I completely agree. I guess that is part of why I posted was to figure out what other options there are as far as careers in SB. I just currently don't know what I exactly want to do and was hoping to here of what others do there to see if there is something that sparks my interest.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2012, 05:21 PM
 
Location: South Korea
5,242 posts, read 13,074,702 times
Reputation: 2958
I imagine SB has the same problem that small coastal towns all over California have--no jobs other than low-paying retail and food service, but expensive housing costs.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2012, 08:40 PM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,390,321 times
Reputation: 11042
SB's problem has always been the lack of mid to upper mid income jobs. It's a Catch 22, the SB "brand" depends on a quaintness that would be ruined by big high tech business parks and high rises, however, without at least some growth, there will never be these sorts of jobs.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2012, 08:48 PM
 
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,679,297 times
Reputation: 2622
Quote:
SB's problem has always been the lack of mid to upper mid income jobs. It's a Catch 22, the SB "brand" depends on a quaintness that would be ruined by big high tech business parks and high rises, however, without at least some growth, there will never be these sorts of jobs.
Huh,,,,,,,,


Quote:
High technology enterprises are flourishing in Santa Barbara. Just some of the exciting companies are listed below.

If you feel you should be listed here, please e-mail marketing@sbtechnology.com.

»
360 Systems
»
5square Systems
»
724 Solutions
»
ABC-Clio, Inc.
»
Academy 123
»
Accordance Music Systems
»
Acroamatics Inc.
»
ACT Networks
»
Advanced Information Management
»
Advanced Matrix Technology
»
Advanced Motion Controls
»
Advanced Photonix
»
Advantage Cellular and Paging
»
AEC-ABLE Engineering Co. Inc.
»
Aerotech World Trade USA
»
Aerotek
»
AeroVironment
»
Agile Materials and Technologies, Inc.
»
Agility Communications
»
Allen Osborne Associates, Inc.
»
Alliance Manufacturing Software International, Inc.
»
Alpha Digital Applied Micro Systems, Inc.
»
American Communications
»
Amgen
»
AML Communications, Inc.
»
Amtec systems Corporation
»
Anacapa Sciences, Inc.
»
Animated Designs, LLC.
»
Antigua Web Designs
»
Applied Silicone Corporation
»
AQUABOND TECHNOLOGIES
»
Asylum Research
»
Atomate
»
Authoria
»
Automated Applications
»
AVITAL
»
Axxcelera Broadband Wireless
»
B2 Systems, Inc.
»
Bargain Network, Inc.
»
BEI Technologies
»
Benchmark Portal
»
Benefit Software
»
BioDiesel Industries
»
BioSource International
»
Bitwise
»
BizCrafter Corporation
»
Blue Casa Communications, LLC
»
BrainX, Inc.
»
C/S Solutions, Inc.
»
CalAmp Corp.
»
Calient Networks
»
CallWave
»
CaminoSoft Corp.
»
CareDecision, Inc.
»
CarrierComm, Inc.
»
CBIZ Benefits&Insurance Svcs
»
CCaccess
»
Celebros
»
Celerus Diagnostics
»
Celetronix
»
Century Electronics
»
Channel Data Systems
»
Cheetah Software Systems
»
Chemtrol/Aquasense
»
CIO Solutions
»
Cisco Systems
»
Citrix Online
»
Clever Concepts
»
Coastal Computers
»
Comm Power
»
Commission Junction
»
Communication Machinery Corporation
»
Computer Stuff
»
Compuvision
»
CompuWave
»
Comware International
»
Condor D.C. Power Supplies
»
Condor Engineering Inc.
»
coolmaps.com inc.
»
Cooperating Systems, Inc.
»
Crystal Voice
»
Cyber Link
»
D2 Technologies
»
DAC Vision
»
DAKO Corporation
»
Data Exchange
»
DataTran Network Systems
»
Demarc Security, Inc.
»
Dezine House
»
Digital Imagination
»
Digital Insight
»
Digital Solutions Computers
»
Diodes Inc.
»
DKB Resources
»
DMA Technologies, Inc.
»
dock.net
»
DowKey Microwave
»
DTS - Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
»
Dynsys Technologies
»
E*Fax
»
E-Beam
»
Ectogenic, Inc.
»
EdenTree Technologies, Inc.
»
Eiffel Software
»
Eifrid Systems Development
»
eLabor.com
»
ELC Technologies
»
Electro Optical Industries, Inc.
»
Electronic Clearing House, Inc.
»
Electronic Imaging Systems
»
Elian Web Services
»
Elseware
»
Envenergy
»
EOS
»
Escend Technologies
»
e-SYNERGIES
»
Eternal Systems
»
Euvis
»
Event Electronics
»
EZ-Apps
»
Fastclick.com
»
FirstCrescent Designs
»
FLIR Systems
»
Frontier Technology
»
G&H Technologies
»
Gavial Engineering & Manufacturing Inc.
»
Genoa Technology
»
Geo InSight International, Inc.
»
Global Performance Technologies
»
Grayphics
»
Green Hills Software, Inc.
»
HAAS Automation
»
Harris Communications
»
Helix Medical, Inc.
»
Hendry Telephone Products
»
Hewlett-Packard company
»
Homestore.com
»
HyPerComp, Inc.
»
IdeaWork Studios
»
Image Net -- Internet Solutions
»
Image-X
»
Imago Internet Marketing
»
Impluse Internet Services
»
Impossible.com
»
Inamed
»
InfoGenesis
»
Innovative Survivability Technologies, Inc.
»
Inogen Corp.
»
Integrix
»
Interactive Software Engineering
»
Interface Sciences Corporation
»
Interlink Electronics Inc.
»
International Transducer Corporation
»
Internet Dynamics
»
InTouch Technologies, Inc.
»
Intri-plex
»
Invenios
»
IPO Moniter
»
Isera Group
»
ISX
»
IXIA Communications
»
Izalex
»
Izalex Incorporated
»
Johanson Dielectircs
»
Joslyn Electronic Systems
»
Karl Storz Imaging
»
Katz and Mouse
»
Kimbell Design Lab
»
Knowledge DNA
»
Knurr
»
Lanspeed Systems, Inc.
»
Laser Systems
»
Linvatec
»
Logix Development Corp.
»
Lumitron, Inc.
»
Lumonics
»
Lynx Photonic Networks
»
M & M Industries
»
Machine Talker
»
MacLeod Computer Systems
»
Magellan Geographics
»
Make It Work, LLC
»
Malibu Research
»
Manufacturing Technology, Inc.
»
Marshall Arts Creative Web Services
»
McGhan Medical
»
Media 27
»
Medical Works, Inc.
»
MedSeek Inc.
»
Medtronic
»
MegaVision
»
MEI (Motion Egineering, Inc.)
»
Mentor Corporation
»
MicroMLS
»
Microwave Monolithics
»
MindBody
»
Miranova Systems Inc.
»
Miravant Medical Technologies
»
Mission Research Corp. (MRC)
»
Mixed Grill
»
Moseley Associates
»
MultiProbe
»
N2Power
»
Naryx Pharma
»
National Technical Systems
»
NCC Executive Search
»
Net Concept, Inc.
»
Netlojix Corporation, Inc.
»
Network Hardware
»
NetZero
»
Neversoft
»
New Directions in Computing
»
New Image Technologies
»
Nlynx
»
Nomadix
»
Norris Associates
»
Norton-Lambert Corp.
»
Nova Coast
»
Nova Development
»
NovaStar
»
NovaStor Corporation
»
NuSil Technology
»
Nutricate
»
Occam Networks
»
OnFile
»
Openwave
»
Optical Communication Products
»
Optics 1
»
Pacific Magic
»
Pacinfo Technologies
»
Paris Precision Products
»
Paxonix
»
Plainwrap Solutions
»
Point of Sales Systems
»
Polyfet RF Devices
»
Powercom
»
Power-One Inc.
»
Presentek, Inc.
»
Procore Technologies
»
Protocol Agency
»
QAD, Inc.
»
Quadron Corporation
»
QualityLogic
»
Qualstar Corporation
»
R.C. Electronics, Inc.
»
R.G. Hansen & Associates
»
Raytheon
»
RealSelect
»
Relate Software
»
RENCO Encoders
»
Reson Inc.
»
Roaming Messenger
»
Robert Ramey Software
»
Santa Barbara Applied Research
»
Santa Barbara Control Systems
»
Santa Barbara Electric Bus Project
»
Santa Barbara Infrared
»
Santa Barbara Instrument Group (SBIG)
»
Santa Barbara Medco
»
Santa Barbara Network
»
Sbnet
»
Science of Light, Inc
»
Scientific Applications International Corp. (SAIC)
»
SE-IR Corporation
»
Semiconductor Equipment Corp.
»
Semtech Corp.
»
Sensus Technologies Inc
»
Siemens Solar Technologies
»
SignalCom, Inc.
»
Signum Systems
»
Silicon Beach Communications, Inc.
»
Silverlake Communications
»
SiriGen
»
Slider & Associates
»
Softshare Information Services
»
Solid Oak Software
»
Somera Communications, LLC
»
Sonatech Inc.
»
Sonos, Inc.
»
Special Technologies Laboratory
»
SpecTIR
»
Sputtered Films
»
Steel Card
»
Strix Systems
»
Superconductor Technologies
»
Surfware
»
Synectic Systems Inc.
»
Synergy Computing
»
SYV.COM
»
Tandberg Data
»
Technomics, Inc.
»
TechXpress
»
Tecolote Research, Inc.
»
Telair International
»
Telecoast
»
Tenon Intersystems
»
ThinGap
»
THQ
»
TMC Communications
»
Toyon Research Corporation
»
Troika Networks
»
TrueLink
»
Truston
»
Turbodyne
»
Typhoon Software, Inc.
»
UCSB Art Studio, College of Letters and Science
»
UCSB Computer Science Department
»
UCSB Extended Learning Services
»
United States Virtual Reality
»
Veeco
»
Versora
»
Vetronix
»
Video Products Group
»
View Engineering
»
Vision Communications
»
Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation
»
Warp 9 Inc.
»
Warren & Selbert, Inc.
»
Web Associates
»
West Coast Network Solutions
»
West.Net Communications, Inc.
»
Western Electronic Components Corp
»
Will Designs
»
Wyatt Technology Corporation
»
Wynd Communications
»
Xplain Corporation
»
Yardi Systems, Inc.
»
Zebra Technologies Corporation
»
Zinc Matrix Power
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-02-2012, 09:48 PM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,390,321 times
Reputation: 11042
Quote:
Originally Posted by .highnlite View Post
Huh,,,,,,,,
Mostly small places with little hiring, and depressed salaries vs the Bay Area and LA/OC.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-03-2012, 09:16 AM
 
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,679,297 times
Reputation: 2622
Quote:
Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly View Post
Mostly small places with little hiring, and depressed salaries vs the Bay Area and LA/OC.


How gracious

Based on what I know of my friends who work in hi tech in SB, they would disagree with you, and...... they get to live in Santa Barbara instead of some urban megaslobopolis.

One friend, builds telescopes, the big guys, the ones that go into observatorys like Mauna Loa, Chile, Mt Hamilton etc.

Very precise, and a very big deal, if you are an astronomer.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-03-2012, 09:24 AM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,390,321 times
Reputation: 11042
Quote:
Originally Posted by .highnlite View Post
How gracious

Based on what I know of my friends who work in hi tech in SB, they would disagree with you, and...... they get to live in Santa Barbara instead of some urban megaslobopolis.

One friend, builds telescopes, the big guys, the ones that go into observatorys like Mauna Loa, Chile, Mt Hamilton etc.

Very precise, and a very big deal, if you are an astronomer.
The telescope business, why, that must be a 1B / year revenue stream?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-03-2012, 10:15 AM
 
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,679,297 times
Reputation: 2622
Quote:
Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly View Post
The telescope business, why, that must be a 1B / year revenue stream?
To some people, size is everything, to others, quality and performance is more important.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:19 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top