San Francisco
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- ninjasavant0
I live and work in San Jose (south bay). Love the city and would live there in a heartbeat if it were more practical.
If you're coming from Boston the cost of living shouldn't be too much of a shock. Also consider expanding your job hunt to the peninsula. There's a ton of stuff going on in Palo Alto and Mountain View from what I hear.
Any current Bay Area peeps want to organize a drinks night?
- robotron3k0
most of the office close at 5pm and raves are still big there because most everyone is a DJ.
- material-10
most of my work came from people I knew, either from college or personal friends then referrals so yeah, networking was good. There are plenty of placement agencies as well and craigslist(for bottom feeding).
I did well because I could pitch design work and then do the dev as well. Print work is a little harder since it doesn't pay as much and you can't add on dev time etc.
great town though, one of the best, and there plenty of other Bostonians for some reason
- blastofv0
thanks saint - yeah I'll drop you an email after work. i appreciate it
- version30
2 Job offers there in the past year, I don't think you can pay me to deal with that weather again. I was there in 04-05 and it rained every 3rd day it seemed. rent was 1800 at golden gate and baker
- hugelogo0
Move to the city first, if it's too much for you move to the outskirts later, otherwise your gonna miss out on the experience.
In SF expect to pay from 1200-1500 for a small /decent size 1 bedroom. Of course there is always that one guy who has some wacked out deal. Anything above 1500 will surely be good.
Keep in mind they pay more. It's not at all unheard of to ask for 3000 a week freelance. At worst they will knock you back to 2000.
Parking can be fucked. Unless you enjoy moving your car on street cleaning days and circling the block for 15 minutes. You'll find that you don't need it after a while except for grocery shopping and exploring the outskirts. Some places have parking spots for an extra 100-200.
Interactive work is a dime a dozen. It's back with a vengeance. Print work is here but not a prevalent unless you take a full time gig. Many reputable shops too.
Super city. It will take at least 3 years to soak it all up. Beautiful weather, culture, nature and food.
Start packing!
- blastofv0
i'll be out there to scope it out in a few weeks, so if you all haven't hooked up a drinks night yet, I'll post for it//
so would the Aquent route be a good approach for a foot in the door? I'm definitely picking up on the 'know someone and you're good' theme.
- Typographica0
From my office window this morn:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steā¦This is why I like SF.
- blastofv0
right on hugelogo - that's the plan. thanks for the info.
- arthur0
come to think of it, I don't know that I've ever seen SF mentioned on here. No San Francisco representatives on NT then?
blastofv
(Feb 2 07, 06:49)It's been talked about at length, but it's been awhile.
I lived there for 28 years, but was finally happy to leave 6 years ago. I was back there a couple weeks ago visiting friends.
The only thing I envy about the place is the climate because I like to garden, otherwise, I am always happy to get out of there. I'm bitter - I miss the SF of the 80's and early 90's.
- material-10
20 minutes in any direction and you're usually in the sun. Marin, east bay, etc. but yeah summer in the city just isn't. Of course I prefer mild temps to hot so it was good for me.
- Typographica0
Don't have job advice, but as for living:
I live in Oakland, work in downtown SF. Rent is far cheaper and takes only 20 mins to get there on BART. If you don't need to live in the heat of it, I'd recommend looking for a place in the East Bay. Best neighborhoods are Berkeley, No. Oakland, Piedmont, Lake Merritt.
- acescence0
i lived there for 8 years and really miss it. it's expensive, but not as expensive as nyc! was there recently for a friends wedding and he got a nice place just over the bay bridge, kind of no mans land, but it's developing fast. it's such a beautiful place, and you have a variety of climates all fairly close together. come july/august you might be thinking wtf, where's summer? but it's usually super nice in september/october when it's getting cold elsewhere. as far as the job situation, i had no problems picking up freelance work, but then post dot-com fallout it was rough. i'm sure things have bounced back by now. it's very laid back, so if you're on top of things you can really dominate, but i did get frustrated at times with the "it's all good bro" attitude. i'll probably end up back there at some point in the future though.
- Typographica0
Hilariously, this season is the driest winter ever. So you picket the wrong year to move!
- negropolitan0
i'm oakland born and raised. i've been doing freelance and contract work (mostly print) since '01. i'd rather be working for a big wig, but i manage with a part-time hustle with a major shipping company, whose name rhymes with FedEx (excellent benefits!). everyones got to have a plan b, right? i think the job market's ripe, especially if you're into the interactive thang. me? i just hate writing cover letters. easy lounge, luka's taproom, and willie mays skybox lounge (emeryville) are some places where i get my andy capp on.
- blastofv0
thanks for the soccer leads subversive
and effort, I'll check out that Creative Circle company
thanks for the info
- kld0
C C Yea(AC)! represent.
- gramme0
Interviewed there before taking a job here smack in the middle of the country. Cool town, prolly not the best place to live if you plan on having kids as it's sort of the Amsterdam of the US west coast...
- same0
moved away last year.
I liked the city, lots to do.
But in the end I am not a city guy and really hated renting. Also the people in SF are pretty much either...... Yuppie Snobs, Secret Sex perverts and homeless. Or a combo.One thing I dont miss is the attitude of people in SF. Lots of people there have this attitude that if you dont live in SF and live in the heartland, you are a moron.
God you have no idea the countless times I heard people bash so many decent hard working folks of America... SF is full of SMUG.
Another thing I noticed about people in Cali was the, I will be nice to you only if it benefits me attitude.
Watch the Southpark episode where they move to SF, it is over the top.. but honestly it is so true.
But anyway. There are some decent good people in SF, lots to do, lots to eat, good agencies... I would recommend moving there.. even if it is for a few years.
Do i miss it.. somewhat, but I love living in the Northwest now.. Owning a home.., living affordably, and being around people who are still trendy and cool, but genuinely nice and not smug.
- blastofv0
yeah, I'm looking forward to some nice nippy July sun.
but I'll be running towards the fog after this week's Noreaster up here in Boston.