Studio or 1br in San Jose/Santa Clara for <1000 & jobs (San Francisco: apartment complexes)

[Radical347]

I'm looking at moving down to San Jose or Santa Clara (From SF) around June. I have a pretty much generic Liberal Arts BA. I'll be looking for work in the South Bay.

Right now I'm hoping to find a good 1br or studio for under 1000. I've seen many of these on craigslist but an unsure of the quality. I looked at a few 1br's in downtown San Jose in the 8-900 range but they were kind of junky and didn't seem very well kept. Is it possible to find a good, clean apt. for this price? (If not a 1br, a studio is fine.) I am interested in downtown SJ because I would like to be in a walkable neighborhood but I have also been browing SJ Japantown, SJ West, Santa Clara, and Saratoga. I'd also like to have good restaurants nearby but I don't care so much about bars or clubs.

I've heard you shouldn't move until you have a job, but I don't have a job up here either (I was up here for culinary school, and for reasons not worth getting into this sadly isn't going to work as a career for me...but I'm finished in May in any case) and rent here is significantly more expensive (especially for your own place; right now I'm living with roommates and looking to get out of this situation) Also it's not like the economy in SF is any better.

Also...I know from past experience that there's no point in applying for jobs until after you move because if you're not local 99% of employers will not give you the time of day. But since it's only ~1 hr away, is it worth it to start applying for jobs before I move? Or would it be better to wait until I have a San Jose address before applying for jobs around Silicon Valley?

[milnivlek]

I don't know much that can help you much with the apartment search, as coincidentally I'm in a similar situation myself (looking to move to San Jose around June), meaning we're both in the same boat. I've been told that Craigslist is an excellent resource, so you might want to look there.

But I may be able to help a little with your job hunt questions. Which industry are you planning to seek employment in?

For white collar / professional jobs, I highly doubt that living in SF will be seen as a disadvantage by any employer. Lots of people commute daily from SF to Silicon Valley for work every single day. In fact, on the contrary, if you're applying to a major firm (which recruits nationwide or even worldwide), then living in SF might actually give you an advantage over other candidates who don't live in the area.

[sonarrat]

Rent is expensive in SF, yes, but so is moving. Plus, people commute from everyfreakingwhere to the Silicon Valley. Your address isn't going to matter to them.

[mdwstrnkid]

Originally Posted by Radical347

Also...I know from past experience that there's no point in applying for jobs until after you move because if you're not local 99% of employers will not give you the time of day. But since it's only ~1 hr away, is it worth it to start applying for jobs before I move? Or would it be better to wait until I have a San Jose address before applying for jobs around Silicon Valley?

Not sure why you think that SF is not "local" to Silicon Valley. I work in the heart of the Valley and my colleagues come from all over the Bay Area. A lot of people, including myself, commute from San Francisco. Another co-worker of mine commutes from Aptos.

[mrzod]

I had to Google where Aptos is ... (Aptos - Google Maps)

[Radical347]

Moving isn't expensive unless you have a lot of stuff, which I don't. Last time I moved I fit everything into my Honda Civic - 1 trip. (Yes, really.) Since this would be fairly close I can take a few trips if need be.

I know people commute all over the place but my concerns about SF not being exactly "local" to the South Bay is from:
1) A few of the ads on craigslist I've seen say something along the lines of "local candidates only (~15 miles)"
2) There does seem to be an animosity from people in SF about 20-somethings who move there because it's "cool" and then go get techie jobs in Silicon Valley. (Not from everyone, but it's definitely noticeable.) I don't care about that, but I was wondering the flipside could be true -- companies in SV getting irritated about people moving to SF because it's more exciting/etc and then trying to find work in SV because they can't in SF.

But from the previous posts, it doesn't seem like it would be an issue most of the time.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Radical347

I'm looking at moving down to San Jose or Santa Clara (From SF) around June. I have a pretty much generic Liberal Arts BA. I'll be looking for work in the South Bay.

Right now I'm hoping to find a good 1br or studio for under 1000. I've seen many of these on craigslist but an unsure of the quality. I looked at a few 1br's in downtown San Jose in the 8-900 range but they were kind of junky and didn't seem very well kept. Is it possible to find a good, clean apt. for this price? (If not a 1br, a studio is fine.) I am interested in downtown SJ because I would like to be in a walkable neighborhood but I have also been browing SJ Japantown, SJ West, Santa Clara, and Saratoga. I'd also like to have good restaurants nearby but I don't care so much about bars or clubs.

I've heard you shouldn't move until you have a job, but I don't have a job up here either (I was up here for culinary school, and for reasons not worth getting into this sadly isn't going to work as a career for me...but I'm finished in May in any case) and rent here is significantly more expensive (especially for your own place; right now I'm living with roommates and looking to get out of this situation) Also it's not like the economy in SF is any better.

Also...I know from past experience that there's no point in applying for jobs until after you move because if you're not local 99% of employers will not give you the time of day. But since it's only ~1 hr away, is it worth it to start applying for jobs before I move? Or would it be better to wait until I have a San Jose address before applying for jobs around Silicon Valley?

Google Westwood Properties. They are my landlord and I'm happy with them. They own stuff in downtown SJ and have vacancies available. Their properties aren't luxury by any means, but they do keep them up decently. They are a local landlord and don't gouge people as much as the landlords who own the large, cookie cutter apartment complexes.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think Silicon Valley people/employers would have any hang ups about you looking for work down here and living up there.

[mdwstrnkid]

Originally Posted by mrzod

I had to Google where Aptos is ... (Aptos - Google Maps)

Yeah, it's a bit off the beaten path...