Risk vs. reward

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

Here's the latest unemployment figures by metro areas. There many places that are worse off than SD right now. LA, Chicago, NYC, Atlanta, Vegas.....just to name a few.

Unemployment Rates for Metropolitan Areas

Oh NO doubt there are worse places than San Diego. Still, I would take a grain of salt with any of those published figures. When you add in underemployment or people that totally gave up on finding jobs the numbers across the board are all much higher.

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by earlyretirement

Oh NO doubt there are worse places than San Diego. Still, I would take a grain of salt with any of those published figures. When you add in underemployment or people that totally gave up on finding jobs the numbers across the board are all much higher.

Very true about what the true numbers are, but at least it gives a starting point on where things are in all metros areas.

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

Very true about what the true numbers are, but at least it gives a starting point on where things are in all metros areas.

Oh yeah..definitely you gotta start from somewhere.

I'm just really leery about government statistics like this. I don't care what the country, the data is typically massaged quite a bit. Some places are more than others.

Absolutely there are worse places to live or work. I wouldn't live in Vegas if you paid me 7 figure salary.

[Walkthetalk]

Originally Posted by earlyretirement

Hey Bostonhealth,

Thanks for taking the time and courtesy to post back. There is nothing worse than these "1 post wonders" that post asking for advice and never post anything else back after they quickly realize that moving out here to San Diego probably isn't a good idea.

First the positives.................

Fantastic post.

[Walkthetalk]

Originally Posted by shmoov_groovzsd

Bostonhealth,

One thing I noticed on the 'Isle of San Diego' is that my international credentials working, going to school, internships etc were basically worthless here. We are from the east coast and I went to east coast schools and international schools. Interviews I went on, people I met from around here, unless they spent time out east could absolutely care less or even acknowledge these credentials as something to be noted. USC, UCLA, UCSD are probably far more impressive on a resume as there are likely far more alumni locally for obvious reasons.
I am not saying what happened to me will happen to you, but I remember growing up out there. Going to school was a pretty big deal and between going to a place like UMASS Amhearst vs UMASS Lowell its sort of a status thing, just as an example.

Sorry to go off on a tangent, but I think its worth noting as a cultural/social norm difference. You just might not receive some kind of acknowledgement in conversation, thats all.

Good to know. However, does that mean that good schools like NYU, Columbia, Brooklyn College or Penn State will go unrecognized in SD?

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by Walkthetalk

Good to know. However, does that mean that good schools like NYU, Columbia, Brooklyn College or Penn State will go unrecognized in SD?

Not necessarily. I do agree with Shmoov that out here it's not as important as other cities. Locals tend to have more of an almost "connection" if you are from here. But it's not so in many jobs. I guess it depends on the position and level and sector.

I have met several C-Suite type executives that got recruited from other areas in the past few years. These are people that were not educated in California and have NO networking contacts here. However, what they bring to the table is a LOT of experience and record of achievement in other positions they were in.

I just had dinner last 2 nights ago with a guy that got recruited here from somewhere else. He is in the aerospace industry and he was recruited to lead an entire company here. Rather than even promote within, this company recruited him from another company in another State.

But I do agree networking is more key here vs. other cities I've lived in. I don't necessarily think it matters which university you went to. I think more important is record of achievement. I've been asked to be on the Board of Directors of a few different organizations here in San Diego and I didn't go to school here in California nor know anyone on these boards. Nor did I even seek to be on these Boards. Just based on my past background and achievements.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by Walkthetalk

Good to know. However, does that mean that good schools like NYU, Columbia, Brooklyn College or Penn State will go unrecognized in SD?

Not necessarily. But they won't be considered any better than USC, UCSD, et al. And an interviewer here is likely to be more familiar with the west coast good schools than the east coast good schools, so someone from the east coast might do well to slightly emphasize the quality of the east coast school to balance that out.