2 1/2 weeks to find job/apt. Possible? (Burbank, West Hollywood: transplants, sublets, apartment)

[readymade]

My sister, who's 25, wants to move to LA from Boston and I want to encourage her.

She's visiting me for 2 1/2 weeks, next month, and we're going to try to find her a job & apartment (or, rather, a roommate situation) during that time. I live in Burbank and therefore I think she should move to North Hollywood as we're still not entirely sure she'll have a car out here. (because it's cheap, near me, and has the red/orange line)

She's worked as a hostess/waitress at a high-end restaurant in Boston (Legal's), so she has experience doing that. She's also worked as an employment coordinator for people with mental illness. And she's done a lot of admin work. She's also smart, beautiful, and charming. She's been in school, but doesn't have her degree. She has no interest in being an actress.

I had the thought that we'd get started by her actually going into a bunch of high-end restaurants and trying to charm her way into a job. And, of course, sending out resumes & stuff like that before she comes, using my address. She's willing to do almost anything reasonable and live cheaply (especially at first).

If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. She'll just go back home. (i.e. it's not like she'll end up homeless/doing porn) But we both REALLY want it to work out. She loves LA. We're super close, and we miss each other a lot. I want her & my daughter to be close, too. And my mom said she'll move out here in a couple of years if we're both out here.

Thoughts? I've found a lot of roommate sharing situations on Craigslist that range from about $650/mo and up. Is Craigslist (and word of mouth, of course, I'm doing that too) the best way to find an apartment? Or is there something else, like westsiderentals, that we should be looking at?

How difficult is it to get a waitressing job here? How much do waitresses make? What about admin jobs? I guess I'm looking for a bit of guidance, here, if you have any advice. (other than "Tell her not to move here")

I want to help her as much as I can.

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by readymade

My sister, who's 25, wants to move to LA from Boston and I want to encourage her.

She's visiting me for 2 1/2 weeks, next month, and we're going to try to find her a job & apartment (or, rather, a roommate situation) during that time. I live in Burbank and therefore I think she should move to North Hollywood as we're still not entirely sure she'll have a car out here. (because it's cheap, near me, and has the red/orange line)

She's worked as a hostess/waitress at a high-end restaurant in Boston (Legal's), so she has experience doing that. She's also worked as an employment coordinator for people with mental illness. And she's done a lot of admin work. She's also smart, beautiful, and charming. She's been in school, but doesn't have her degree. She has no interest in being an actress.

I had the thought that we'd get started by her actually going into a bunch of high-end restaurants and trying to charm her way into a job. And, of course, sending out resumes & stuff like that before she comes, using my address. She's willing to do almost anything reasonable and live cheaply (especially at first).

If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. She'll just go back home. (i.e. it's not like she'll end up homeless/doing porn) But we both REALLY want it to work out. She loves LA. We're super close, and we miss each other a lot. I want her & my daughter to be close, too. And my mom said she'll move out here in a couple of years if we're both out here.

Thoughts? I've found a lot of roommate sharing situations on Craigslist that range from about $650/mo and up. Is Craigslist (and word of mouth, of course, I'm doing that too) the best way to find an apartment? Or is there something else, like westsiderentals, that we should be looking at?

How difficult is it to get a waitressing job here? How much do waitresses make? What about admin jobs? I guess I'm looking for a bit of guidance, here, if you have any advice. (other than "Tell her not to move here")

I want to help her as much as I can.

I read on other threads where people had appointments made with recruiters while they were out there (for just a few days).
One girl got a job offer on the spot, so it does work.
Good luck and update us!

[Joe Van Fossen]

I'd second the recruiter suggestion. They can help you find a job fast.

I know several women who are waitressing in OC and LA. The amount you can make really depends on the place. Considering the average tip is around 18-20% these days, you can do really well on a busy weekend.

I've found people on craigslist to be very flaky. Everything from employers to sellers, and once I even tried to give away furniture and was flaked on twice. Not to mention the strike outs in casual encounters (just kidding)... i'd recommend a website that specializes in roommates, rentals or sublets.

Sounds like an exciting time for you and your sister. Best of luck to you both!

[jaypee]

I think it's doable if she's able to get around in LA. Start with a temp agency.

[Elle Oh Elle]

Sorry to crush your dreams, but it may take just a little longer than that. I had a classmate who came from Georgia and he didn't land a job for almost three months after making the big move! He had tons of experience, too. Granted, he wasn't applying for waitressing jobs.

I would still give it a shot, some places do hire on the spot.

[readymade]

Thanks guys. I'll have her try recruiters & temp agencies.

I think it's harder for niche people to find jobs. I mean, I could be wrong. But, for example, I'm a web designer and it's been HELL to find a job! But I'm not willing to be someone's assistant or waitress. Or make $20K or $30K a year. I'm HOPING that my sister's willingness to do anything (she could be a barista! Or work in a bookstore!) works in her favor as is the fact that she's great with people and extremely personable.

Any thoughts on which recruiters? I only know the design/tech ones.

IS there a website that specializes in roommates? Like, other than Craigslist?

Obviously we'll Google this stuff, too (no need to "Google that for me," heh). But first (or second)-hand experience always helps, too. i.e. "My friend had great luck with the Robert Half agency on Melrose!"

[moonsparkle]

Originally Posted by Elle Oh Elle

Sorry to crush your dreams, but it may take just a little longer than that. I had a classmate who came from Georgia and he didn't land a job for almost three months after making the big move! He had tons of experience, too. Granted, he wasn't applying for waitressing jobs.

I would still give it a shot, some places do hire on the spot.

It's also easier for attractive women to get hired on the spot than attractive men. It would be an interesting study. Almost everytime I've heard of someone being hired on the spot in a restaurant it has been at least a semi-attractive women.

Men might have an advantage at bars in West Hollywood.

[Mr_Geek]

Originally Posted by readymade

Thanks guys. I'll have her try recruiters & temp agencies.

I think it's harder for niche people to find jobs. I mean, I could be wrong. But, for example, I'm a web designer and it's been HELL to find a job! But I'm not willing to be someone's assistant or waitress. Or make $20K or $30K a year. I'm HOPING that my sister's willingness to do anything (she could be a barista! Or work in a bookstore!) works in her favor as is the fact that she's great with people and extremely personable.

Any thoughts on which recruiters? I only know the design/tech ones.

IS there a website that specializes in roommates? Like, other than Craigslist?

Obviously we'll Google this stuff, too (no need to "Google that for me," heh). But first (or second)-hand experience always helps, too. i.e. "My friend had great luck with the Robert Half agency on Melrose!"

Roommates, roommate finder and roommate search service is a good site

Many people don't want to have to pay but it's worth it to spend a few bucks to find a normal (or we hope) roommate.

[Elle Oh Elle]

Originally Posted by trancedout

It's also easier for attractive women to get hired on the spot than attractive men. It would be an interesting study. Almost everytime I've heard of someone being hired on the spot in a restaurant it has been at least a semi-attractive women.

Men might have an advantage at bars in West Hollywood.

Sounds good. I do recall seeing many out-of-state transplants who found work as waitresses, ex. Hooters girls. I don't know how long it took for them to get hired, though.

[drshang]

Yeah, if you are an executive, or higher level, it can take 6-12 months to find a job, even if you are awesome, and even if the market is good. Just fewer opportunities and longer hiring cycles. Generally for anyone who has even an analyst/sr. analyst level biz job you would budget 3-6 months to find a job in a GOOD economy (if you are like Director/VP assume longer), between the time you start applying to the time your start date. But quite frankly, for higher level jobs, the situation isn't that much worse, but you would still extend that budget out probably another 3 months. For low level "do anything" type jobs, should only take a few weeks, depending how hard you hustle. By hustle I mean apply for 20-30 jobs a DAY.

One really good thing about waitresses in CA is they are required to make minimum wage, not the 2.xx an hour like most states, so their base pay is pretty damn good. Keep that in mind. There is no crediting tips against the minimum wage either.

My wife has hired some people who became waiters/waitresses at those cheap Chinese restaurants in the SGV after being fresh off the boat from Asia, and most of them were pulling in minimum 2500-3000 a month all in working full time hours. Obviously many jobs pay more, but if you can get 40 hours a week as a waiter, you are going to make pretty much ~1200-1300 a month plus tips. Even if you only pull in 10 bucks an hour in tips you are going to be at ~2800 a month. Don't think you exactly need a great gig to earn 10 bucks an hour in tips. I have met waiters and waitresses in higher end places that can pull 80k a year and above, but obviously those jobs are hard to get, and are generally the top of the totem pole for wait staff jobs.