So true, ER! I’m one of those people who moved here on a Friday and thought I’d have a job on Monday. Up in L.A., I had headhunters calling me all the time and at least one or two good job offers a month, even during the early 90s recession, and I wasn’t in the market for a new job. Down here, after trying for a month or two with no luck, I decided I could get in at a lower level and quickly work my way back up (always worked before!), so started applying for lower-level jobs at ~1/3 less than my previous salary…and STILL couldn’t find anything! Some interviewers would actually say, “that’s a pretty high salary, isn’t it?” (referring to the lower salary). It was unreal.
I’ve met a lot of other people who’ve moved here from L.A. and other large cities who’ve had exactly the same experience. It’s crazy to see how much people are willing to pay for housing given the job market down here.
