business climate in Austin (find a job, salary, live)

[Midwest runner]

Wondering about the business climate in Austin. Austin is very laid back, but what about in the corporate world? Every larger city has its own identity business-wise. I'm coming from Chicago and would like to know what to expect.

Thanks

[EzPeterson]

It is a very differnet world in many respects. Some of the primary differences are likely driven by the types of businesses found in Austin (Software Dev, Creative, etc.) as opposed to some of the more traditional business you find in the Great Lakes (tend to be more financials).

Obviously, that's a wide generalization. What specifically are you looking for in differences between the two?

[hoffdano]

The business climate in Austin is mostly sunny.

[atxcio]

I was gonna say, the business climate is like the regular climate. Hot!

But since you are asking about whether it is formal/laid back.... It is generally very laid back and casual. It's not a big corporate town, most of the workforce works for small businesses or the government. Perhaps there is a bit less ambition generally among employees, although not as much so as 20 years ago when this was truly a town full of slackers (I mean that in the nicest way , I was probably one of them). Hard to initially find a job in Austin because there are a lot of people competing in a small market (hence lower salary), and there is a bit of an "Austin Network" of folks who live here who will hire their friends from job to job. But once you are actually employed a good work ethic will keep you there easily. Unless the small business you work for goes under.

I imagine it's extremely different from Chicago which comes from a big corporate and financial background.

[Midwest runner]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds less formal. But, definitely a place where one needs an in.

Any other comments?