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Yup, way back in 1988. I had about $5K in the bank and a paid-off car, rented a modest apartment w/ a college roommate.
Grabbed a 20 hr/wk retail job right away and applied for jobs, mostly from Washington Post ads (which are still good quality job ads, many city newspapers only post crap jobs, talkin' about you Chicago Tribune). In a couple months I was hired by a govt contractor, long-term temp job, rather dull job but it gave me valuable experience.
Then I got into the private sector, 2-3 different roles and industries for about 20 years before getting into the govt after the internet damaged two of those industries.
Anyway, one of the keys was not being choosy about those early jobs (had a 4 yr degree in Mgt), not in duties or salary. Take something, work at it and almost every job can lead to another job or field.
Meanwhile, the aformentioned roommate left the area 2 years later to return to Massachusetts after his FT retail mgt job was cut. Was he homesick, broke, or unwilling to handle some uncomfortable situations (like new jobs in new fields, or new types of people socially), I'll never know.
I moved here with a journalism degree and a year of "catalog writing" experience. I found a job in less than two weeks as a catalog writer (WA Post classifieds). $20,000/year in 1994. I should have asked for a lot more! (hindsight is 20/20).
You should be able to start at a temp agency when you get here. Though I don't know how steady temp work is right now.
I got to DC in 2002 with 80 bucks in my pocket. I was able to land a job my second day here at the convention center doing conventioneer registration. I'm in IT and was able to pick up contracts frequently until I found a full time job that I liked about a year later. Things have turned out well. I bought a house, have a couple cars, kids, dogs, and a wife,
Definately look into temping. You make money and get an idea of how things work around here. DC is is what you make of it. Play your cards right and you can make a lot of it. This isn't the place to play small.
I had a friend who moved to DC without a job and he could only find temp work (with a masters degree). He's now interning for 40 hours a week for free. It really depends what your background is in.
Good to hear all those stories. I'm prepared to dig ditches if I have to starting out.
I have a degree too but I'm not picky about taking what I can to start. Gotta start somewhere. The goal is to get my bearings, get settled then look for that ideal job.
I tell people that you if are going to move to another city without landing a job first, you better have a career that is in demand in every major metropolitan market in the United States.
Unfortunately, only a narrow segment of the entire working-age population has this advantage. Companies and government agencies are looking for people with strong analytical, logical and problem-solving skills. This means professionals in the Information Technology business, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, basically any job involving advanced mathematics and applying calculations to reach a finished product.
Health care workers can jump from city to city without much problem. Nurses with hospital and clinic experience, home-care nursing aids, pharmacists, dental hygienists, dentists and physician specialists.
Engineering and health care professionals are in demand everywhere. They have low-risk and high-reward because of the structure of our global capitalist system. If you were not good at math and science when you were in grade school then you will realize how employers have little use for you. Sad but true.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PinkBunny
I had a friend who moved to DC without a job and he could only find temp work (with a masters degree). He's now interning for 40 hours a week for free. It really depends what your background is in.
I work for FedEx......they're always hiring. There are 75 locations for FedEx Office alone in DC area. Although I can't transfer my job that's a good place to start applying again. I get hiring preference.
Your question is pretty vague, but I moved here without a job and a grad degree. I speak 5 languages and figured, this will be a match made in heaven. After temping for about 2 years at various different jobs, from researcher to analyst. I finally was employed full time at a job that I despise. Know what your end goal is, and don' just jump in headfirst. I could swear that unpaid internships in DC are abused.
Your question is pretty vague, but I moved here without a job and a grad degree. I speak 5 languages and figured, this will be a match made in heaven. After temping for about 2 years at various different jobs, from researcher to analyst. I finally was employed full time at a job that I despise. Know what your end goal is, and don' just jump in headfirst. I could swear that unpaid internships in DC are abused.
Yeah, when I was living in DC as a student, internships were seriously slave labor (a few years ago). I remember I was interviewing for an unpaid position on the Hill and the guy asked me at the end how many hours I could contribute. I said 20 (which was actually more than I wanted to). He was completely shocked and asked if I could work 40. I said no. I had 5 classes. How would I manage that?
But for every person that doesn't want to do it for free, there is a line of desperate people that will.
I think it's completely messed up though. I mean imagine giving up your life to work for free, while paying to live in such an expensive city!
Oh and about the 5 languages. When I first came to DC, my taxi driver spoke 4-5 languages. That's when I knew the fact that I was fluent in multiple languages as well would be kindof useless.
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