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I am debating whether or not I should stay here in New York City, or if I should move back home to Michigan. I came here in April, after completing my bachelor's in psychology and getting paralegal certification. I have been waiting tables since then, making about $2K per month after taxes. My living expenses are about $1250 a month total, but I have no quality of life and am basically just "scraping by". I keep applying for paralegal positions, executive assistant positions, etc. and have been on about a dozen interviews. I had one offer, for the princely sum of 20K a year, no benefits, at a real estate firm downtown. Yes, I am not making this up. 20K a year for a job that requires education in the most expensive city in the country. I am just really sick of waiting tables and living this miserable, half-assed lifestyle where I'm not sure how much I'm making from one week to the next, having uppity Manhattanite women look at me like I'm scum on the bottom of their Manolos. I miss my family. I miss my dog. But there are no jobs in Michigan either, so I really don't know what I would be going back to. I just feel so... lost. Hopeless. What should I do?
My advice is go back home. I'm in NJ and it's just as bad so I can't imagine NYC. There is nothing wrong with going back home and waiting a couple of years before you try coming back. At least that way you have your family, you could save some money, and gain experience. I don't care what anyone says but to me NYC is a myth and everyone is trying to get in on it. I had this problem right after graduation. It will be difficult for anyone to hire you because you have no experience.
This past summer I visited Milwaukee and Chicago and I thought they were such great cities that I've thought about moving up there. WHy not try those places? Get some experience up there and then head back to NYC if that is what you really want. I wouldn't stay one more month in a miserable job if I had options.
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