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Location: Mid-Michigan by way of Northern New Hampshire
239 posts, read 350,298 times
Reputation: 322
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cryinbaby
This sometimes doesn't fly because local candidates are preferenced. I wouldn't move to a city based on cost of living but the opportunities it has for your field. If you're in tech, live with roommates in the Bay Area until you get that job you want.
I also wouldn't agree with it because of the happiness factor. You can have a great job but if you're living somewhere that makes you miserable, it's not worth it. Move to a city with the opportunities you want AND that makes you happy.
I also wouldn't agree with it because of the happiness factor. You can have a great job but if you're living somewhere that makes you miserable, it's not worth it. Move to a city with the opportunities you want AND that makes you happy.
He's a recent graduate; sometimes it's a good move to get your feet wet in a place that may not be ideal but allows you to get a foothold in your field and move up.
Would so appreciate if you could elaborate WHY a certain city is best,
or which ones I should eliminate completely based on these criteria:
-#1 safety
-job opportunities: marketing, event planning, international relations, conservation
-thriving twentysomething young professionals (not strictly college students, families, or retirees, not so expensive that a single recent grad can't afford an apartment, car payment, and food)
-I'm not into drinking/bar scene, would rather have hiking, biking, festivals, community groups, professional clubs, fun day-trips, just normal friendly people
-EXTRAS would be awesome: walkable downtown, great library, healthy grocery stores, near a good zoo, not endless "vanilla" sprawl of highways and strip malls
Options: (North to South)
Frederick MD
Arlington VA
Charlottesville VA
Chapel Hill NC
Raleigh NC
Charlotte NC
Greenville SC
Charleston SC
Jacksonville FL
Boulder CO (the geographic outlier...)
Thank you!!
Most of those aren't small cities!! Lol.
Anyway, overall I'd say Arlington, VA will have the most opportunities for all the things you list, but it's also perhaps unaffordable. Boulder is also a great option.
Now, I'll answer you specifically about Jax. It's ok for young professionals…not an overabundance of opportunities but there are plenty of us and the number is quickly growing as the economy here is recovering rapidly. Job opportunities for the industries you mentioned, however, aren't very great. For the EXTRAS, Jax is mostly vanilla sprawl and it doesn't have a very walkable downtown, however if you go to the right neighborhoods you can find everything you were looking for. The city is very affordable and all-in-all if you're someone looking for a small city (i.e. not seeking a NYC, Chicago, DC, or even Atlanta type of lifestyle) then Jax is often a nice compromise. People who want a smaller city feel usually are a good fit for Jax.
Location: Mid-Michigan by way of Northern New Hampshire
239 posts, read 350,298 times
Reputation: 322
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutiny77
He's a recent graduate; sometimes it's a good move to get your feet wet in a place that may not be ideal but allows you to get a foothold in your field and move up.
I did exactly that after graduation and found myself in a city that I was not particularly happy in. It got me the job experience I needed for grad school but I don't know how well it would work if I had tried to apply for another job in my preferred market. A lot of jobs prefer regional candidates and I would absolutely hate to be stuck in my current market.
I did exactly that after graduation and found myself in a city that I was not particularly happy in. It got me the job experience I needed for grad school but I don't know how well it would work if I had tried to apply for another job in my preferred market. A lot of jobs prefer regional candidates and I would absolutely hate to be stuck in my current market.
And on top of that, these days some companies will only hire you if you're currently employed. So it can be a catch-22 in some cases.
This sometimes doesn't fly because local candidates are preferenced. I wouldn't move to a city based on cost of living but the opportunities it has for your field.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutiny77
And on top of that, these days some companies will only hire you if you're currently employed. So it can be a catch-22 in some cases.
I am definitely facing these catch-22s:
-Need to move in order to find full-time career opportunities, yet can't/shouldn't move without having a job in place first.
-Need more experience (fresh out of college), yet can't get hired due to lack of related experience.
Also, not being local means it's difficult to interview. Of course I can start with phone and Skype, but at some point it will be necessary to meet in person, possibly multiple times on separate dates.
I realize networking is the number one way to find a job, so I have been contacting many friends and family members to spread the word about my resume and availability (and thanking them for their time).
It's a difficult situation because I'm trying to stay proactive and constantly send cover letters/resumes, but without a single response so far, it sometimes feels like I'm just spinning my wheels and not making any progress. That's why I started focusing on where to live instead of what specific job, so at least I can attempt to forge ahead with my own life decisions instead of waiting on job offers that are not forthcoming...
Location: Mid-Michigan by way of Northern New Hampshire
239 posts, read 350,298 times
Reputation: 322
Here's an interesting interviewing tidbit:
I once applied for a job back home in New Hampshire. After one year in Michigan, I was already home sick and just wanted to go home. Well.............
I got an interview but they wouldn't do a phone interview, they wanted to me to go out there for the interview. I take off work Thursday and Friday. I woke up early Thursday morning, drove to NH, stayed Thursday night, interviewed on Friday morning, spent the weekend with family and then drove back to Michigan. I ended up not getting the job.
Speaking from personal experience, do not move somewhere for "experience" hoping that you'll one day be able to go to your market of choice. I'm lucky that I got a scholarship for an advanced degree that puts me back in my home/preferred market. Others aren't so lucky and OP, that could be you. Speaking as a millenial who has had to job search in the modern economy and made an 800 mile move with the same mindset of "apply and go where the job is, experience is all that matters," I urge you to apply to a job somewhere you can see yourself living long-term. Your "short term" move could end up being long term.
Would so appreciate if you could elaborate WHY a certain city is best,
or which ones I should eliminate completely based on these criteria:
-#1 safety
-job opportunities: marketing, event planning, international relations, conservation
-thriving twentysomething young professionals (not strictly college students, families, or retirees, not so expensive that a single recent grad can't afford an apartment, car payment, and food)
-I'm not into drinking/bar scene, would rather have hiking, biking, festivals, community groups, professional clubs, fun day-trips, just normal friendly people
-EXTRAS would be awesome: walkable downtown, great library, healthy grocery stores, near a good zoo, not endless "vanilla" sprawl of highways and strip malls
Options: (North to South)
Frederick MD
Arlington VA
Charlottesville VA
Chapel Hill NC
Raleigh NC
Charlotte NC
Greenville SC
Charleston SC
Jacksonville FL
Boulder CO (the geographic outlier...)
Thank you!!
young crowd then charlotte for sure...but for safety charlotte would be at the bottom with jacksonville, greenville, and charlottesville. as for your extras, the south is really not full of extra's...the ultra conservatives do not pump money into those type of things...
I once applied for a job back home in New Hampshire. After one year in Michigan, I was already home sick and just wanted to go home. Well.............
I got an interview but they wouldn't do a phone interview, they wanted to me to go out there for the interview. I take off work Thursday and Friday. I woke up early Thursday morning, drove to NH, stayed Thursday night, interviewed on Friday morning, spent the weekend with family and then drove back to Michigan. I ended up not getting the job.
Speaking from personal experience, do not move somewhere for "experience" hoping that you'll one day be able to go to your market of choice. I'm lucky that I got a scholarship for an advanced degree that puts me back in my home/preferred market. Others aren't so lucky and OP, that could be you. Speaking as a millenial who has had to job search in the modern economy and made an 800 mile move with the same mindset of "apply and go where the job is, experience is all that matters," I urge you to apply to a job somewhere you can see yourself living long-term. Your "short term" move could end up being long term.
well said...if you live somewhere it should be a place you would live long-term...not a place you would deal with short-term...why be somewhere you have no intention of living long-term...makes no sense.
young crowd then charlotte for sure...but for safety charlotte would be at the bottom with jacksonville, greenville, and charlottesville. as for your extras, the south is really not full of extra's...the ultra conservatives do not pump money into those type of things...
Huh? The South has plenty of cities with walkable downtowns, great libraries, healthy grocery stores, and good zoos.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TypicalSituation77
well said...if you live somewhere it should be a place you would live long-term...not a place you would deal with short-term...why be somewhere you have no intention of living long-term...makes no sense.
It depends on career field. For instance, a lot of federal government agencies have offices and duty stations located all across the country, and being promoted may require moving somewhere else for a while and then eventually getting to a city you truly desire to be in.
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Not Charlotte
