The Goboyfriend and I visited New York City a couple of weeks ago, and we were so taken with its cultural riches that we decided we want to move there. The only catch is the mechanics and the fiances.
How does one go about finding a job there when one lives in the Virginia suburbs of DC, plus the concomitant task of finding a place to live? The bf is absolutely set on living on Manhattan, although I’d be happy to commute from Staten Island, Brooklyn, or New Jersey. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
You could try Monster.com, HotJobs.com, etc. or look up employment recruiter websites on the web, and there’s always the online New York Times classifieds. Be warned that he job market in NYC is pretty crappy right now.
Regarding searching for an apartment, your best bet might be taking a short sublet here, since it’s much easier to find an apartment while you’re actually living here rather than from out of state.
You can search for sublets on the Village Voice, NY Times, or CraigsList websites. Apartments in Manhattan are very expensive and probably much smaller than you’re used to.
As far as where to live, rents are certainly a helluva lot cheaper (and apts. more available) than a few years ago, but still . . . I commute from a lovely little town in northern NJ—I can see the Empire State Bldg. from my living room, have a half-hour commute, and pay half the rent of my NYC (and even Brooklyn) friends.
In what area are your respective jobs? IT is dead in NY. There also seems to be a dip in the legal field. Healthcare is booming and there never seems to be enough office support people here.
Wow, you must’ve tapped into some different cultural riches. I got back Sunday and my companion and I both came to the conclusion that while we would definitely visit again we wouldn’t ever want to live there.
Luckily, my field is in office support–specifically writing and editing, with a background in working for textbook publishers. The BF is an accountant, so he should be able to find something.
I told the bf we’re going to have to wait three years, after I get my MA and he gets his CPA and we have enough savings stashed away to afford the move.
I wouldn’t expect to pay any less than, oh, $1,200 per month for an apartment in Manhattan. On the other hand, if you don’t mind commuting a little bit, I pay a little more than $500 for my Brooklyn pad.
Yes, finding a job is a little difficult now, but by no means impossible. I don’t really know what job you have in mind. Are you hell-bent on getting an office job? Or can you see yourself working a counter? It would be best if you knew someone in NY who could hook you up.
By “office support” I think they mean “receptionists” not professional staff like editors. With the contraction of several major publishing houses there is a glut of qualified editorial staff floating around right now from what I understand. Why, I was talking to Ukelele Ike about this very subject just the other day.
For both apartments and jobs, it is hard to beat Craig’s List.
Eve is sadly correct. There are few jobs here. The economic situation is extremely depressing.
However, this has caused rents to shrink in many parts of Manhattan that are more sensitive to these kinds of fluctuations. You can do quite a bit better than $1200/month for an apartment if you are willing to live in a more marginal area, or if you are particularly good at nosing out deals on the Upper West Side or Morningside Heights.
You’re not impressing me folks. I’m moving to your city, which I have never even visited, and you’re saying I won’t be able to find excellent work? That’s no fun. I’ll end up sharpening knives in Central park or something. Or <gasp> living off my wife’s income :eek:
But “midtown Manhattan” certainly does look better in answer to location than “Jersey”.
I always said I would move back to New York the day after I win the lottery. As much as I truly love that city, I don’t think there is anywhere more depressing to be than NYC if you are poor - and trust me, you have to earn quite a bit in NYC not to be poor.
Granted, when you are 22 years old it doesn’t make a speck of difference…but after a certain age, it’s no fun to have to count every penny just to go out for night on the town.
More power to ya, and trust me, I totally understand the allure!!!
::…if you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere…::
As others have mentioned, Craigslist and the Villagevoice have some good listings, so check them out online. As far as housing, I’ve always thought a $600 a bedroom multiplier was a good deal, but now it seems like the nice (not super cribs, nice like no rats) apts go for $800 a bedroom multiplier. ($1600 2 bdrm, $2,400 3 bdrm, etc). Some nice yet affordable areas in Brooklyn include Fort Greene, Clintonhill, and the outskirts of Williamsburg.
Sorry Eve, it’s just that I always envisioned you leaning out of the window of your brownstone apt. near Chelsea, taunting the barechested boys on the stoop while you watered the geraniums in your window box.
Back to the OP…
Tip: I found my first sublet back in those days by going through Equity bulletin board (lots of actors on tours need to sublet) and got a great deal! Gave me the time to find a place on my own.
You can do that in New Jersey, too, DMark . . . But if you taunt them too much, the boys on the stoop get their Uncle Vito to take you for a ride . . .
Be prepared for your standard of living to plummet. Also for some reason many actual New Yorkers rarely take advantage of the cultural things here.
So correct me if I’m wrong but DC has some museums and stuff. Do you visit them on a regular basis? I’m only asking because if you think moving to NYC means you will automatically be more cultural than you may be dissappointed to find that living here is not like vacationing here.
