SavvySugar

Your Two Cents: Would You Move to China For Work?

SavvySugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:30:55 -0700

A global job search isn't everyone's bag, but some recent college graduates have had success with finding jobs in China. According to the New York Times, China's economy is expanding and the cost of living is lower, so a new wave of college graduates are moving there to bravely begin their careers.

There are big risks and preparation involved with moving to another country that primarily speaks a different language, but if it's where the jobs are, the reward could be worth it. Would you consider moving to China for work?

8 Tips For Saving Money on Your Move

SavvySugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:30:57 -0700

Relocation has become an appealing option for job seekers who haven't had much luck locally. While moving often makes the most sense, the cost of uprooting yourself and your spouse or family can be off-putting. It's nearly impossible to move cheaply, but there are several ways to reduce your relocation expenses. Follow my eight tips to have money left over for those new home accessories.

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The Best Places For Entry-Level Job Candidates

SavvySugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:30:58 -0700

Recent college graduates are ready to spread their wings and fly, but the weak economy means many will spend an extended time flapping their wings before landing a job offer. There are a lot of ways recession grads can boost the probability of finding work, and one of them is being open to relocating to a place where the job market is more welcoming.

Forbes developed a list of the best places for first-time job seekers using a variety of data and adjusting for population so big and small cities could compete. If you're looking for a good bet for starting your career, consider these 20 cities.

Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis)
San Diego, CA (San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos)
Denver, CO (Denver-Aurora)
Baltimore, MD (Baltimore-Towson)
Charlotte, NC (Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord)
St. Louis, MO
Orange County, CA (Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine)
Nashville, TN (Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro)
Chicago, IL (Chicago-Naperville-Joliet)
Seattle, WA (Seattle-Bellevue-Everett)

See the rest of the list when you read more.

Dallas, TX (Dallas-Plano-Irving)
Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington)
Philadelphia, PA
New York (New York-White Plains-Wayne)
Boston, MA (Boston-Quincy)
Washington, D.C. (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria)
San Francisco, CA (San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City)
Houston, TX (Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown)
Cambridge, MA (Cambridge-Newton-Framingham)
San Jose, CA (San-Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara)

10 Most Affordable Big Cities For Renters Looking to Relocate

SavvySugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:15 -0700

Job hunting is a more tedious process than ever, and if you're living in an expensive city your rent may be increasingly unmanageable the longer you're unemployed. Relocation is one way to cast a wider net on available jobs and it's possible you'll score a job in a city that's less expensive than your current address. A tough job market is all about compromise, so ruling out a move probably isn't the smartest decision.

BusinessWeek claims that we're in a renters market and teamed up with real estate data firm Reis to determine the 25 most affordable large metro areas. They made their ordered selections by evaluating rents as a portion of local income. Here are the top ten cities on their list of the most affordable big cities for renters.

Oklahoma City
Indianapolis
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina
Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, Texas
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Oregon / Washington
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
St. Louis
Richmond, Virginia

Source

The 25 Best Cities For Finding a New Job

SavvySugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:15:04 -0800

Relocation might be the last resort for job seekers attached to their hometowns, but ideal opportunities are few and far between these days and moving could be the best solution in this job market. While national unemployment has skyrocketed, the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that several cities still report low unemployment numbers. One thing is clear: The Midwest dominates this list of the best 25 cities for finding work.

Sioux City, Iowa
Pocatello, Idaho
Odessa, Texas
Provo, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Missoula, Montana
Des Moines, Iowa
Charlestown, West Virginia
Great Falls, Montana
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Lincoln, Nebraska
Iowa City, Iowa
Midland, Texas
Lafayette, Louisiana
Ames, Iowa

See the top 10 when you read more.

Billings, Montana
Casper, Wyoming
Fargo, North Dakota
Logan, Utah
Morgantown, West Virginia
Houma, Louisiana
Bismarck, North Dakota
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Rapid City, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Source

I'm Asking: Would You Rather Job Search or Be Relocated?

SavvySugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:00:38 -0700

Consider this lesser-of-two-evils scenario: Your boss offers you the opportunity to relocate to a new city where you know nobody, or else you lose your job. Both of the options have their possible positives (maybe you want a new job anyway and just need the push, or you've been craving a move) but there are obvious negatives, too. Job searching and relocation are both surrounded by clouds of uncertainty - if you had to choose, which would you take?

Source

Insurent Helps First-Time Renters Get Decent Apartments

SavvySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:29:42 -0700

Adventure and possibility push new grads to move to a new city and many (including yours truly) do so with low entry-level salary offers in hand. While you're sure of your ability to pay monthly rent and are willing to fork over a high percentage of your salary, searching for an apartment without a certain level of income can be an incredibly frustrating process.

Many landlords require a renter's income to be as much as 45 times monthly rent, so new grads without that pedigree might find themselves as I did: moving in to a tiny apartment in a walk-up building with steep stairs, a blocked fire escape, windows that didn't fully close, and a charming water heater taking up half the closet-sized kitchen. Find out how one company is helping new grads and relocated international workers when you read more.

Insurent is a new company that basically insures the rent on a unit when a landlord's requirements block an apartment hunter from being considered. Renters pay a fee for the service as with any other type of insurance, and a background check is done before eligibility is granted.

Similar to landlords, Insurent requires identification, employment verification, and a credit score higher than 630. But where landlords may pass over an applicant whose rent isn't about 45 times monthly rent ($90,000 for a $2,000 place), Insurent extends its service to applicants who make 27 and a half times their monthly rent ($55,000 for a $2,000 place).

The company is targeting new grads with job offers and professionals relocating to the US without American credit history. Depending on credit score, Insurent's fee can be from 58 to 110 percent of monthly rent. It can be a hefty price to pay to get a secure roof over your head, but so far 35 renters have their rent guaranteed by the company.

Source

Ask Savvy: I Relocated and Was Laid Off After Two Weeks, What Are My Rights?

SavvySugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:58:53 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I have a major dilemma that I'm hoping you can help me with. I moved to Seattle for a job that seemed great on paper but turned out to be a total nightmare. They actually let me go after 2 weeks, without any reason given other than "you weren't the right one" - this is after I just moved several states away from home, and before I was given a chance to perform my job! Because of the lovely legal agreement known as a contract, I now have to pay $3,700 to break my lease.

Sad, this has been an absolute nightmare and I want to know - what are my rights? I have only had the keys to the apartment for a week! If I absolutely have no rights and must pay that ridiculous fee to break my lease, can I write the $3,700 (plus the first month's rent and deposit) off as a relocation/job-search expense? Thanks so much for your help, I am truly devastated by this turn of events.

See my answer when you read more.

What a terrible situation you're in - I'm so sorry that you're going through such a difficult and overwhelming time. Relocating from your home is an emotional move and when the one thing you're looking forward to turns sour, you begin questioning your decision. While it doesn't seem like anything positive could come from this situation, try not to resent your new city. Seattle has a lot to offer both culturally and job-wise, so why not give it a chance?

If you're totally against the idea of trying to make it work there, here's what I would suggest in terms of your apartment fiasco. You signed a lease and your rights are whatever is stated in those papers. Have you tried discussing your situation with your landlord? It's worth approaching her, but do so without any expectations or sense of entitlement to get out of your lease because you've been served a raw deal. She may be sympathetic, but she may simply tell you what you already know about the terms of your lease.

So, what should you do if she says sorry, but a deal is a deal? Request that you be allowed to find someone to take over your lease. The apartment where I currently reside became available for that very reason: the tenants wanted to move back to their hometown but were only six months into their year-long lease. The owner agreed to let them find new tenants that would take over their lease, they placed an ad on Craigslist, and the only involvement the owner had was running a credit check and reviewing our rental application.

While you're searching for new tenants, consider taking a temporary job to bring in some money in case it takes longer than you anticipate. Hopefully, your luck will change very soon!

Source

I'm Asking: What's Your Back-Up Plan?

SavvySugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:30:44 -0700

My dad always says, "Hope for the best but plan for the worst." More and more people are adopting this philosophy and creating back-up plans in case an unwelcome surprise comes along - they're brainstorming about alternate careers, considering relocation options, and investing in education to support future opportunities. What back-up plan(s) do you have in mind?

Weekend Dose of Savvy

SavvySugar — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:00:35 -0700

Sexual harassment in the office is usually a little more subtle these days compared to the blatant skirt-chasing on Mad Men, but there's no question it still exists. Have you been harassed by a co-worker?
Find out if your bases are truly covered when you discover the tricky ways some hiring managers evaluate applicants.
We can all use helpful reminders about how to establish and achieve a better financial life.
A new study has led researchers to conclude that women are responsible for their own glass ceiling.
While moving often makes the most sense, the cost of uprooting yourself and your spouse or family can be off-putting. Follow my tips for relocating on the cheap.
Planning a trip? Take an Obama-inspired vacation.

Photo courtesy of AMC