Moving back to LA...JOBS??? (Los Angeles, Glendale: home, job market, private schools)

[Azuos]

Ok, I used to live in Glendale a few years ago, and now that I'm back on the East Coast, I miss Southern CA so much. Primarily because of the weather and the fact that there is a ton of stuff to do out there, as opposed to the East Coast - it's so boring.
I've heard from a lot of people a year or so ago that the job market was awful and near impossible to find work in LA, which is not good to hear, but I don't want to make that a reason for me to stay in CT.
Currently I work at Yale and will be looking to remain in the field of Human Resources, or if it comes down to it, will do whatever I have to do once I get out there.
Does anyone feel that the job market in the LA area has improved?
What about temp agencies? Are they even placing people in positions anymore?
What about jobs at the Entertainment companies or Studios - like Disney? WarnerBros? etc...
Any insight anyone can provide would be extremely helpful and much appreciated...thank you!!!

[BRinSM]

unless you have significant experience that will put you head and shoulders above the rest of the job seekers out there, i would stay put. it's not good here as far as jobs go.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

unless you have significant experience that will put you head and shoulders above the rest of the job seekers out there, i would stay put. it's not good here as far as jobs go.

And due to the high cost of living, you'll burn through savings very quickly while looking for work. Better bring a giant pile of cash.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Azuos

Ok, I used to live in Glendale a few years ago, and now that I'm back on the East Coast, I miss Southern CA so much. Primarily because of the weather and the fact that there is a ton of stuff to do out there, as opposed to the East Coast - it's so boring.
I've heard from a lot of people a year or so ago that the job market was awful and near impossible to find work in LA, which is not good to hear, but I don't want to make that a reason for me to stay in CT.
Currently I work at Yale and will be looking to remain in the field of Human Resources, or if it comes down to it, will do whatever I have to do once I get out there.
Does anyone feel that the job market in the LA area has improved?
What about temp agencies? Are they even placing people in positions anymore?
What about jobs at the Entertainment companies or Studios - like Disney? WarnerBros? etc...
Any insight anyone can provide would be extremely helpful and much appreciated...thank you!!!

The market is probably worse, not better. I am surprised to hear you say, living on the east coast is boring. We found it just the opposite, what types of activities do you like and what do you have in So Ca you don't have in the east other than good weather? I am just asking, not criticizing.. I have heard that for every job that comes avail in So Cal there might be 50 to 100 or more applicants..

Nita

[Lafferty Daniel]

There's still plenty of jobs in the entertainment industry, but it's probably tough to find H.R. careers for the studios/networks/production companies because of hiring freezes and the fact that most people that have steady careers are less likely leave compared to a few years ago.

Check entertainmentcareers.net for H.R. related careers in the entertainment industry.

[Azuos]

Originally Posted by nmnita

The market is probably worse, not better. I am surprised to hear you say, living on the east coast is boring. We found it just the opposite, what types of activities do you like and what do you have in So Ca you don't have in the east other than good weather? I am just asking, not criticizing.. I have heard that for every job that comes avail in So Cal there might be 50 to 100 or more applicants..

Nita

Hi Nita,
I've lived on the East Coast, CT to be exact for 30 years now. I'm tainted and need a change. Some people love CT, I don't. To me it's just boring. Weather is a huge factor, you can never plan anything for outside most times, the winters are cold and always overcast, gray, and rainy - I swear we get more rain than Seattle. The summers are so humid that you don't even want to be outside, you just want to be indoors in AC. I know LA is hot too, but humid - hot is completely different than dry - hot. People have this impression of CT as all of it being like Greenwich and Westport... and it's not at all. There are a lot of run down areas. Plus I like more healthy food alternatives, such a grocery stores and restaurants and in CT they're very few and far between.
Being close to NYC is great, and Boston is a couple hours away...but in 20 degree weather, it's awful.
I'm tainted I know. I just need a change. I need the SUN.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Azuos

Does anyone feel that the job market in the LA area has improved?

No, its getting worse.

Originally Posted by Azuos

What about temp agencies? Are they even placing people in positions anymore?

Probably, there is need for temp workers even during a recession.

Originally Posted by Azuos

What about jobs at the Entertainment companies or Studios - like Disney? WarnerBros? etc...

You mean some of the most desired jobs in the area? Yeah, sure you'll get one of those the day you get here.

[SoCaliTrojan]

Originally Posted by Azuos

Does anyone feel that the job market in the LA area has improved?
What about temp agencies? Are they even placing people in positions anymore?
What about jobs at the Entertainment companies or Studios - like Disney? WarnerBros? etc...
Any insight anyone can provide would be extremely helpful and much appreciated...thank you!!!

The job market is bad. It's so bad, the City of LA is even planning to lay off employees and impose more furloughs on employees who are already furloughed.

For temp agencies, you can be on the payroll of several agencies. When they call you to offer you a job, you can accept or decline them. If you get a better offer than what you're doing now, you can switch with ease. I don't know how well temp agencies are doing at the moment, though. Companies do pay a lot for each temp. I would be paid $10-$11 per hour, but the company I was working for was paying $25 per hour (the temp agency gets a huge chunk).

My brother works for Warner Bros, but he has been on military leave since he's a reserve. He has seen several co-workers laid off already. My brother would have probably been laid off already if he wasn't on military leave.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Azuos

Hi Nita,
I've lived on the East Coast, CT to be exact for 30 years now. I'm tainted and need a change. Some people love CT, I don't. To me it's just boring. Weather is a huge factor, you can never plan anything for outside most times, the winters are cold and always overcast, gray, and rainy - I swear we get more rain than Seattle. The summers are so humid that you don't even want to be outside, you just want to be indoors in AC. I know LA is hot too, but humid - hot is completely different than dry - hot. People have this impression of CT as all of it being like Greenwich and Westport... and it's not at all. There are a lot of run down areas. Plus I like more healthy food alternatives, such a grocery stores and restaurants and in CT they're very few and far between.
Being close to NYC is great, and Boston is a couple hours away...but in 20 degree weather, it's awful.
I'm tainted I know. I just need a change. I need the SUN.

Well if good weather is what you want, you certainly will find it in So Calif and yes, not nearly the humidity as in CT. It isn't as dry as you may thing either, but nothing like the east coast. That was our first shock when we moved. Heck, I didn't even want to do housework after about 9am in the summer. (of course I don't like to do housework anythime)

Wanting a change is understandable, we all need variety in our lives. Just make sure you have a job before you make the move..

Nita

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Azuos: I hear you loud and clear. My situation was slightly different yet similar.

I grew up in LA County and moved away to the east coast for about 5 years (NYC/DC). Enjoyed my time there. That said, I didn't enjoy the winters but I REALLY COULD NOT STAND the HUMID SUMMERS. Just ate at me the more I was there. Suffice it to say I was VERY HAPPY to come home in 2002 (also a recession year). Of course, the '02 recession was not NEARLY as bad as this one and I had family/friends I could count on if things didn't work out.

You might take a look at the website for the LA County Economic Development Corp. It's a non-profit group that studies the LA area economy. They just released a report saying they think ENTERTAINMENT employment will modestly increase in 2010. Here's a link:

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

Good luck.

You also might try some of the PRIVATE educational insitutions around LA for human resources jobs. The public shcools are squeezed right now (UCLA, Cal State, etc). Some private schools to look into: USC, Cal Tech in Pasadena, Occidential College (Obama attended for 2 yrs), Woodbury College (Burbank), Loyola Marymount University, and Pepperdine Univ (Malibu).