Moving to LA to job-hunt. Appropriate areas?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/AlexHaitch]

So far my best experience has been to search the entire internet for every job I qualify for that pays at or above a set amount for me to afford the average rent (I use an income calculator to be more accurate). Now that Christmas is over, I'm going to be cold calling these places and submitting applications online.

Unfortunately, with how crap the job market seems to be, you just gotta start applying everywhere you can and hope for the best. As another commenter said, having a cushion in savings is a really good idea but you gotta do what you gotta do 🤷‍♂️

[u/pasak1987]

What types of jobs?

[u/stoolprimeminister]

personally i think the OP is being cautiously optimistic. i kinda agree with the whole concept of “it’s big enough so i’ll find something” mindset. having a lot of people wouldn’t be an issue if no one could find a job.

i don’t really think the OP needs advice. wanting it is fine, but it’s not needed. i’ve seen way dumber posts all around the reaches of the internet…. not to mention this sub….. and this seems like someone who should be successful. of course, success means different things to different people, but whatever. at the very least it’ll be good life experience and hopefully something you’ll look back on as the right thing to do.

[u/Bigster20]

Affordability and LA don't belong in the same sentence.

[u/secretslutonline → u/[deleted]]

Still doesn’t exist lol moving to LA without a job is basically a one way ticket to homeless or leaving after a few months. If locals are struggling to get jobs, what skills do you bring that you believe Angelenos don’t?

[u/secretslutonline → u/[deleted]]

Lol no bud I’m not. I live in LA now, do you? LA is not affordable. You may be able to find something cheaper than other neighborhoods but affordable is not a thing in LA.

You holding a job in other locations doesn’t mean shit if you don’t have the unique skills to be hired over a local. Good luck, you sound pleasant :)

[u/guydeborg]

I don't advise to do this. I'm from Kansas and moved here with everything in my car in 1989. I had two jobs lined up and I still ended up couch surfing after a year because I couldn't find an affordable place to live when my roommate moved back home and my lease ran out. I stayed and eventually made it work and the difference between myself and other people I knew who went back home was how resilient you are. Are you willing to work a crappy job with a 2.hour commute just to barely pay the bills for 3-5 years? During this time it was really hard to have friends and have a peer group because of the long hours I was working.When I eventually decided to finish my degree and become a teacher (which led to 2 more years of extreme poverty) my life started to pick up because at least I had a promise of stability with a long term job ahead. LA is the land of broken dreams and I have seen too many kids with a half-baked plan come out here and run back home when their dreams don't quite work out

[u/guydeborg → u/[deleted]]

Your best options are to move someplace where you know people and have a support system or move someplace with a job and a plan of how to advance. Do you have a career plan? Just moving for a job to pay the bills and no support system is really challenging. Moving someplace to start a career is much different. I have been a teacher in LA for 30 years and even when people move out here for teaching jobs many end up leaving because they haven't done the research about what they are getting into. the bottom line is moving someplace without a support system is really tough. People move here all the time thinking they are going to leave their problems behind and LA is going to be a great fresh start when what they really need to do is get work on themselves and get some therapy first. Leaving everything behind doesn't fix your problems, but just makes it more difficult and complicated. With the high cost of living and challenging commutes in SoCal you would be better served to figure out your life goals and career before you started moving around the world

[u/Herbie3469 → u/[deleted]]

Have you considered joining the military? I only offer because you’re already interested in CJ and the military can sometimes help with immigration status as well as support career advancement, higher ed, etc. so it might give you some stability it seems you’re searching for.

If you want to get into Cannabis (which may be an indication the military is anon-starter for you), I’d suggest looking at Northern CA, specifically around Eureka and Humboldt State University. Or moving further north to Oregon.

If you’re looking to get closer to LA but still need lower col, check out Palmdale and Lancaster. High desert so a different vibe than LA, but I know there’s warehouse type work, lower rent, and a step closer to LA proper to make some connections. Good luck!

[u/mirvge → u/Herbie3469]

Many thanks for your input. Definitely have considered, however, with the current state in the world which only seems to be getting worse military almost feels like a one-way ticket to an active war zone. I am also very fit which only makes me feel even more likely to be a candidate for active duty. The stability that comes with military is something I desire, but fighting abroad is not. Am I wrong? Also I am fully naturalized citizen now so if anything it would be for stability. Cannabis being in the picture likely not an obstacle, while I used to smoke a lot I currently do not for some time. I just spent years working various iobs in the industry and took some classes relating to the topic as well. I really appreciate your advice and I will look into these avenues as well.

[u/DarthRaider559]

If you're moving to LA without a job, Don't

[u/itsathrowawayXYZ]

Last I heard the job market is still trash at the moment and no one is hiring… I’m in the same boat too but it seems no one wants to hire.

I say save a lot for a cushion, that’ll get you far and network in the city.

EDIT: Reddit for effin’ sake OP does not deserve to get downvoted. You downvote if it doesn’t contribute to the discussion not whatever hivemind yall have going on. OP is in good faith and being very honest about this. Chill.

[u/itsathrowawayXYZ → u/[deleted]]

I believe you can make it, but the fight is literally hard. Keep in mind, we’re still in a very bad economy so you are fighting tooth and nail. Start applying and firing away and hope for the best and if you get an offer take and run with it.

[u/itsathrowawayXYZ → u/[deleted]]

Trust me I’m going to make a post about my plans as well but from what I am seeing so far it should be par for the course. 

[u/dislikesfences → u/[deleted]]

Problem is the competition. You have college graduates competing for min wage jobs. My friend is a manager for a cafe and she can fill a position in an afternoon and gets to pick from hundreds of qualified people with years of experience/bilingual skills/all week availability etc.

[u/mirvge → u/dislikesfences]

Wow. That's crazy. I knew things were bad but it's sad how so many overqualified cannot find work. Thanks for your input.

[u/imasitegazer]

AirBnB for a whole place is more expensive than coliving. Coliving can definitely suck depending on the landlord and people, but if you interview them you should be able to find a decent place. You don’t need a corporate coliving space, lots of people have rooms for rent in their apartment or house with other renters. You’re looking at $950-1800 depending on how nice and whether it includes parking.

You’re right that being in the city will make it easier to get work, many places are same day interviews and job offers. If I was you, I’d research ahead of time with Indeed and Google Jobs what kinds of jobs have fast hiring to figure out what kind of money you might be able to bring in quickly.

Koreatown and that area has decent public transportation (not perfect but it’s there) and it is sort of centrally located.