New York is one of the most wonderful cities in the world, so the question many people ask themselves is, where do I go to find New York employment so that I can actually afford to live in this great city? In truth, the cost of living in New York can be prohibitively high. On the other hand, the allure of creative or lucrative jobs that one would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere continues to draw in a diverse, ambitious crowd of new residents each year. If you have goals to accomplish in New York and the tenacity to achieve them, opportunities abound for success.
New York City, comprised of the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx, is the center of commerce and industry in the state of New York, and New York employment therefore revolves around it. Fashion, media, and finance are industries that thrive here to a degree unparalleled in other states in the U.S. Due to the global recession, current unemployment rates hover at approximately 9% for New York City and 8% for New York state, both slightly below the national average of 9.5%. New York City and its banking sectors were hit especially hard during the recession, however, and the stereotypical cultural ideas of Manhattan investment bankers versus Brooklyn “hipster” artistic types have changed slightly to reflect it, though the same dynamics linger. New York employment opportunities in finance remain extremely competitive and are well-compensated, while jobs in media and fashion retain a mystique while also paying significantly less overall. The restaurant industry has been particularly hard-hit due to their previous reliance on business lunches, expense accounts, and spending by well-paid executives, but finding New York employment remains the final proving ground for chefs and restaurateurs hoping to establish their reputability. When job-searching in New York, using personal connections often proves to be the most effective technique for landing a job. There are certainly plenty of online resources, though, ranging from sites such as LinkedIn to industry-specific job boards, such as vault.com, iwantmedia.com, fashioncareercenter.com starchefs.com, dice.com and more.
When seeking New York employment, it is common for experienced and entry-level job seekers to seek access through headhunters and headhunting agencies. Check out directories at sites such as http://www.jobbankusa.com/jobs/new_york_ny/recruiters_headhunters.html and http://www.alistassociates.com. Face-to-face contact and networking is almost always the best technique to use in searching for New York employment, however. Sites such as Csquaredgroup.com often hold networking and mixer events targeted at specific segments of the population and provide an excellent opportunity to meet with established professionals. Access to job boards at schools in the area, such as Columbia University, New York University, CUNY, SUNY, and Baruch, is limited to alumni and current students, but ask around and see if friends can help you access these resources, as they are excellent. Umbrella sites and normal job boards such as Monster.com, Indeed.com, and Simplyhired.com will also list the majority of positions available, although of course the competition will be greater on those sites. For getting a foot in the door quickly, craigslist.org is an often-used resource. If interested in pursuing New York employment in the civil sector, http://www.cs.state.ny.us/jobseeker/public/ provides a departure point for your search. While looking for your dream job, you might need to pay the bills by working for a temp agency. Adeccousa.com, Kellyservices.com, and Manpower.com are all reputable choices for piecing together temporary work with the possibility of shifting into a permanent role.
New York is a very different place from much of the rest of the country, and if you are considering New York employment, it is important to keep in mind certain economic and cultural factors. Rent in New York has dropped recently, but many young urban professionals living in Manhattan pay approximately $1,000 a month to rent a share, or one bedroom, of an apartment. A studio apartment could cost upwards of $1,500 a month, and the area may not be the most central or convenient. Housing is cheaper in the boroughs, but rent will be significantly more than one would be accustomed to from outside of New York. Daily living costs are also substantially more, with a regular movie ticket ringing in at more than $15. Luckily, one does not need to drive a car in the city, which can provide substantial savings. A one month unlimited pass on the subway now costs $89, a pittance compared to insuring, registering, and paying parking fees for a car. If you do bring a car with you and plan to live in Manhattan after finding New York employment, take into consideration the inconveniences of free street parking or the possibility of paying $400+ in monthly parking garage fees. Once again, parking situations are substantially easier in the outer boroughs. Public transit is for the most part very efficient and reliable, and the majority of New Yorkers use it every day for their commute. If you are worried, it would be worthwhile to check out calculators such as http://swz.salary.com/CostOfLivingWizard/layouthtmls/coll_metrodetail_119.html to determine how much money you would need to make to maintain a comparable standard of living after finding New York employment, as opposed to your previous locale.
If you are truly committed to achieving New York employment, it is certainly a possible and attainable goal. New York has a very strong community feeling of its own, as everyone is facing the same unique environment together. There are huge upsides to living in New York, and its reputation in that sense precedes itself. Try to prepare yourself as much as possible beforehand, if you can, though. Look at Craiglist.org to get a sense of housing costs and short-term job situations. Talk with as many people as you can before taking on any New York employment opportunities, whether they are apartment brokers, staffing agencies, or friends of friends. There are always positions opening up and new opportunities, no matter what the economic state. Don’t allow yourself to get discouraged in your job search, as finding New York employment is an exciting window of opportunity to a new lifestyle!
