Randy Said:

What are my chances of finding a job in Los Angeles?

We Answered:

STAY in Iowa. You will have EXTREME difficulty finding any type of work in Los Angeles. Unemployment here is through the roof. Some people have been unable to find work for more that a year. We are telling you this so you won't move here, cannot find a job and your money is running out, and you wonder why. You have been put on notice. STAY in Iowa.

Cathy Said:

Are there any positives about moving to Los Angeles?

We Answered:

For a number of reasons, we get a bunch of questions asking what it’s really like in Los Angeles.

First of all, I'll tell you what it's NOT like: It's not like anything on TV. People watch shows on TV and think that’s what it’s like out here. The “Real OC”, Newport Beach, The Hills, etc. Ever wonder why people in those shows never have to pay bills, do laundry, and are NEVER stuck in traffic? Because it’s FAKE. And the news doesn’t help either, since they know that sex and sensationalism sells. News flash: There aren’t running gun battles in the street. There aren’t shootouts every day. Also, you don’t see celebrities just walking down the street, all glammed up, or sipping a cappuccino at Starbucks waiting to sign autographs. We don't go surfing during lunch hour.

Some sections are REALLY nice, others are “ghetto”. Too many people have this vision in their head that LA is one or the other (either Beverly Hills or Compton). They either think LA is a fairy tale fantasy or an apocalyptic ghetto. In fact, most of it is working class and middle class stiffs working to pay the bills. Like me.

You NEED a car to live in Southern California. We don’t have an effective public transportation like New York or San Francisco. One reason is that LA is larger in area than either of those, without a central hub where everything is. Back in the 1960’s, we might have done it. But by the time local governments got their act together, it was much more difficult to make a working public transit system. Also, unlike NY, we have earthquakes, which make it a little more difficult to build underground.

The freeway traffic is probably the worst thing about living here. The 405 is the worst. Know why they call it the 405? Because you go 4 o' 5 miles per hour, and it takes 4 o' 5 hours to get where you're going. Freeway Traffic is bad from 6-10 AM and bad from 3-7 PM. I don't know why they call it rush hour. It's more than an hour, and nobody's rushing, that's for sure.

The gangs are the cause of many rumors. Keep in mind that there are gangs in any large town, in every part of the country. In LA, the gangs aren't really downtown, they are in South LA, East LA, and north Long Beach (an extension of the South LA gangs, actually). And here's the deal: Mostly, they just kill each other.

Gas is expensive in California. It’s about 20-30 cents above the national average.

Yes, gas and real estate are very expensive in SoCal. However, this would be the best time to BUY a house because it's a buyer's market right now. There are a lot of foreclosures, and too many houses on the market.

Yep, freeways are a drag, it's smoggy in summer, and expensive to live here. Yet, if it's so bad, why do we have thousands and thousands of people moving here?

Weather, Activities, Plenty of jobs, Beaches, mountains, deserts all within driving distance, and plenty of opportunity for those who have the skills and tenacity.

In colder parts of the country, people keep their cars in their garages all winter. Kids get snow toys for Christmas. Here, kids get BIKES, scooters, and skateboards. 10 AM Christmas morning, the streets are FULL of kids on their new bikes, scooters, etc.

The job market is good here, mainly because there are SO many people here that it creates its own job market. Then there are MANY industries, including tourism, entertainment, shipping, manufacturing, etc. It’s an incredible economy.

However, it is not for everyone. Every time someone posts this question, you get the LA haters who post their bile and venom. A lot of them don’t know what they are talking about. Some people never even visit, and hate it on principle and stereotypes. Some actually visited once, and found out it wasn’t like it was on TV, and it certainly wasn’t Mayberry. And some actually lived here, and couldn’t deal with the expense, the traffic, or the somewhat impersonal nature of living in a large metropolis. To those I would say “good luck” to you wherever you are, but please don’t spew your hatred in this forum.

As for lifestyle, it’s rather casual. You work during the week, and then go do something fun on the weekend, so that you can impress your coworkers around the water cooler on Monday.

To summarize, LA a HUGE metropolis that really defies easy description. I live in one of the nicer suburbs, but the commute is no fun, often 1-2 hours each way each day. However, 340+ days of sunshine really helps. Yeah, it's expensive. Mrs. Obviousman and I both have to work to pay the mortgage. But is it worth it? You bet!

If you are qualified, you can make it here.

Jon Said:

Job hunting advice for a big city person with a degree.?

We Answered:

I know it isn't any fun, but have you registered with the big temp agencies like Kelly or Administaff?

I don't know what your background/degree/experience is in. But, if you can get some current temp positions in your field you may be able to roll that into some "regular" work.

Also, have you been networking with your professional peers? Are there groups you can join which will hook you into what is going on in the area in your field? Sometimes national organizations also have local chapters.

Finally, do any of the schools in the area teach what you do? While you might not be interested in going back to school, often you can connect with some of the professors. You may be able to ask them if you can trade coming in and speaking to students for leads and connections that they have in the industry.

Best of luck & DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Jill Said:

Have you used employment agencies in Los Angeles, and if so can you recommend them from your experience?

We Answered:

I would definitely list with multiple companies in this market. Try dice, cyber coders, and I know it sounds really weird, for someone with your experience, but try AppleOne as well. We use them to acquire geologists and engineers. they hire for all types of jobs, not just admin.

Felix Said:

why is the sales tax in Los Angeles County so much higher than that of Orange County or San Bernedino?

We Answered:

If you are doing an internship for a state senator you should know the appropriate thing to do is to contact the Board of Equalization to get the official answer rather than coming to a place like Yahoo answers.

Counties and other municipalities can impose their own taxes that are included with the general sales tax rate.