HCOL Locations Can Be Bad for Your Job Search

"Secured a new offer in 6 weeks [after a layoff]. My key advantage was a willingness to relocate to LCOL markets." - Fishbowl, September 2023 

That is the dirty secret to landing good jobs, no matter what is happening in the economy in general or in your specific industry such as law, management consulting or communications: Be willing to relocate to uncool sections of the United States or the world.

In addition, the money you will save because you're not in the HCOL neck of the woods can accelerate your building of wealth. Also, your lifestyle could be enhanced. 

For instance, here in not-status-location Northeast Ohio there is plenty of no-fee outdoor activities. 


Think about it. There is no charge for access to Lake Erie or the beaches for swimming. That includes no charge for parking. The resort areas do not exploit or have seasonal surge pricing. Compare that to the East Coast.

During the deep recession of the 1980s, I had been laid off in the New York Metro area. One of the Big Three in Detroit, Michigan (which then hadn't been gentrified yet) made me an offer. It was for $20k more than I was pulling down in New York metro. Of course, it was LCOL. I began investing. Currently I am operating my most recent startup in, you got it, LCOL Youngstown, OH. You bet, I "got over" New York. 

Takeway: Never say you can't "adjust" to a non-buzzy location. All you need is one friend. If you take along your family you are all-set.

Data or the gut for your careers and communications? Both of course. Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach, content-creator, and Tarot reader Jane Genova (text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kirkland & Ellis Reported to Be Building Moat Around Firm to Deter Poaching of Stars

  "Kirkland gives partners more than half their pay after the end of the year in which they earn it. For partners who depart to other firms, the new policy gives the firm discretion to withhold that pay, according to a person familiar with the change."   Bloomberg Law , July 18, 2024 Scrapper Kirkland & Ellis is no slouch when it comes to protecting its business - known as the most successful law firm in the world.  Paul Weiss  certainly got in the way by launching not one but two high-profile raids on its London office stars. Gone were brandnames ranging from Neel Sachdev to Roger Johnson. In addition, Latham poached Matthew Cohn. If there is such a policy, as reported, then Kirkland & Ellis has created what could be an effective deterrent for both partners' leaving and potential poachers' approaching the star lawyers. And it all comes downs to money - big money: That is, both what partners would leave behind which they have already earned and how much ...
Read more

Akin Gump Julia Ghahramani's March 2021 Cocaine+ Death - So?

   It had been way back more than a year ago that first-year associate at law firm Akin Gump Julia Ghahramani died from cocaine laced with fentanyl. Yet that story keeps resurfacing.  This week  RollonFriday  revisits it. And  Reddit Big Law  considers the issue if the energy from cocaine is what's making possible those 2,500 hours billed in law firms.  Is what's keeping this on the radar the hunch that use of the illegal substance cocaine is common among those practicing law? After all, in addition to being an energy-booster, it provides a nice reward for such hard-working lawyers. Also, they have the earnings to afford it. Most of the rest of gunners have to stick with boozing. So, why not?  The reality might be setting in that the death could simply have been an aberration. Think about it this way: Ghahramani had bad luck in her alleged choice of dealers. Others might be able to exert more scrutiny in overseeing the content of the il...
Read more

Up-or-Out: McKinsey Raises the Pressure, In Contrast Some Law Firms Ease It through Nonequity Partner Tier

" McKinsey & Co.  warned some US consultants last week they are running out of time to win promotion, raising the 'up or out' pressure on staff as the global consulting industry struggles." - Abovethefold Article in Bloomberg , March 27, 2024 This is yet another sign that once-iconic McKinsey is a professional services firm in trouble. One challenge is overcapacity of manpower. It has also warned about 3,000 consultants about "concerns" regarding their performance.  In addition to the overall slowdown in management consulting, McKinsey faces scrutiny from myriad sources about its client list including assignments with China and Saudi Arabia. There also has been that hatchet-job book "When McKinsey Comes to Town." The most damning aspect of the expose is that former employees dump on it. Posts on the professional anonymous network Fishbowl Consulting aren't optimistic about a turnaround at McKinsey or at other players in that sector. In cont...
Read more