Best cities for 2010 grads

captivating idea, I was recommended to this in the perfect time. I'm for sure gonna save this post for future reference. :).

If you are serious about your last comment, then you obviously have not actually researched any apartment buildings in Atlanta. There are many apartments you could find in midtown or buckhead Atlanta in the 700/month range, including Solice on Peachtree, City View, Post Properties, and dozens of others.

It's interesting that you try to act like you know what you're talking about, by speculating, when I actually have real life experience to prove you wrong. Several of the apartments that I have found in the 700 range, including the one I am currently living in, are extremely nice and not "cockroach infested" at all. It's also in a nice neighborhood. I have also found a VERY well paying job. It's really too bad that the only person you could find to hire you is your mother...

The comments about needing to be black or pay a black official to work in Atlanta is a bit odd and difficult to believe. Perhaps the person is to young to remember or care about how things worked in Atlanta before segregation when whites were the majority...it was difficult for anyone othere than white(s) to find a desecent job...read your history!

If you're looking for smaller cities, I would suggest Jacksonville, Florida!

From what I've seen and heard, people move to Jacksonville because it's a big city but not TOO BIG, as far as the population is concerned. Obviously, since it's Florida, there is warm weather year round.

I'll admit, jobs are as difficult to find here as they are anywhere else. Other than that, probably one of the biggest disadvantages is that Jacksonville is so spread out that you need a car to get anywhere because everything's at least 20 minutes away from everything else!.

As for me, I think I'll stick with my hometown. :)

I agree with Gail Daly. Charlotte, NC is a very good city to start out in. I think new graduates have a really good chance in the Charlotte area of North Carolina or Raleigh, North Carolina. Good luck new grads! You deserve every chance and opportunity you get because you earned it.

DENVER ROCKS!!!!

Joey,

I completely agree with you there! I live in NJ about 25 mins from Manhattan NY...And, let me tell you that $1366 rent is unheard of. Just about everyone I know that lives in NY shares an apartment or lives outside the city.
And if you happen to grab a good deal in an apt which rarely drops below $1200 outside of the city,you will be spending a fortune on your commuting. Because your monthly metro card is outragously expensive!

I worked in Manhattan and have been laid off, and know many people in my situation who are struggling to find a job in the big apple...

Therefore, I believe this survey is completely wrong...Also NYC is one of the most expensive cities to live in, in the country!
I just can't imagine these poor college students trying to survive on an entry level salary by themselves in NYC.

Dee.

Atl is the home of the blacks. Its like a black beacon calling all educated and uneducated blacks to the city from the entire USA.If you cant find a job here you must be white not black. Atl corruption starts with the all black city officicials and county officials. If you are black and are confortable cheating and stealing from the taxpayers you can find a job. You just are not be offering enough money to the right black people to get hired. That is the way it works here in ATL.

I suppose since Dallas is on here, it's not "fair" to list other cities in Texas. I am very surprised that Houston did not make the list (as a few other people have said). It has the strongest economy in Texas, and is a booming, affordable, lively international city filled with young professionals. Plus, great weather. The city has a liberal female mayor (who is openly gay). The arts are amazing (several world class museums). Not many cities can boast all of these qualities.

thanks so much for your comment sgtjoebear..i was really getting desperate.i am a recent graduate in computer science and i cant believe there is so little mention of computer jobs anywhere i try to search.anwy thanks for the info...

go to canada lots of good jobs

After reading the comments, there are a few I would like to touch on. First, I am a minority who lives in Atlanta. Atlanta can still be a good starting point for new graduates who are willing to start at a company ground level. As far as the who you know not what you know theory. I think that is true across the board. The most EFFECTIVE way to find a job these days is through NETWORKING. So let's can the whole and "I cant find a job because I'm black sob story"..and guess what..Im black!!

Second. There are very nice and affordable apartments in the Atlanta area. True as previously stated, they are outside in the Perimeter, at least 30 mins from downtown Atlanta, the nicer areas being in the north...and guess what folks, alot of the major companies in the Atlanta area are north of downtown anyway. You can get a very good quality of life if you are smart about and take your time and do your research.

Third. I like Atlanta. The city has alot to offer as far as arts, culture, etc. I personally feel Atlanta is great entreprenurial city. But Atlanta does have a vast, and deep pool of well qualified educated people, so it may be tougher to find that first job here, than in smaller cites such as Raliegh, Nashville, Tampa, etc. The key is be flexible and not just concentrate on one city because you think "its the place to be".

"Most companies ask about your sex, race, and military information at the end. Although it is for the companies’ records for other stated reasons, I feel this is one of the easiest methods companies use this information to discriminate."

There is an easy answer to this dilemma: Don't answer this question if you feel companies use it to discriminate!!! Why is it so difficult for you to comprehend this?

Also, I disagree with you that your race factors into your job-hunting struggles. Atlanta has a very large Black population -- one of the largest in the nation, in fact -- so to suggest that you face a disadvantage because you are black is a bunch of BS. Try looking for a job in Phoenix, where the population is either White or Hispanic. There are a handful of Blacks in Phoenix. The fact is, the jobs come to those who are educated, experienced, and sell themselves. Just sending out resumes is not going to get you a job; if anything, your resume will end up in a pile of hundreds of other resumes. You need to find a way to make your pitch to the person who is doing the hiring.
I'm sorry, NoworkinATLifBlack, but you haven't gotten hired because you aren't taking the right approach to this task. Job hunting should be a full-time job for you -- and you cannot give up, no matter how frustrating things become. Instead, you have this "woe is me" attitude. Your screen name is indicative of this.

Don't forget water and heat in Atlanta as wells as a car.YOU CAN NOT GET TO POINT A FROM POINT B WITHOUT ONE unless of course if you live and work in town.and trust me there is no housing for 753.00

$723.00 rent in Atlanta? yea - if you want to live in crack-ville....

If you live in Oklahoma,I would highly suggest Dallas since it would be close to home,but Texas also has other great cities with lots of opportunities like Houston and if you like smaller cities Austin and San Antonio are great.How is the cost of living inthese cities.Also cities on this list like Denver and Phoenix are close

What about the cities in Florida? Fort Lauderdale,Tampa,Orlando and Jacksonville? weathear alone,then lifestyle,cost of living and if you are studying marketing and international business wouldn't you want to be close to your markets? Also I hear Canadian cities such as Toronto or Vancouver are very safe ,how is the cost of living in Canada? salaries?
what about Panama City,Panama .I hear it is a great city for internacional business and marketing ,I guess you can work in an all English speaking company or does Spanish help?

Hello USA i was surprised that Norfolk, Virginia wasn't amonst the list. Hampton Roads, Virginia is amongst the best and most affordable cities to live. $1300 for a new grad is ridiculous. Another place that should have been mentioned is Charlotte, NC. The places i have mentioned are based on Jobs and cost of living which are a whole lot better than the top ranked cities you have here, not to mention the competition to get a job!

@NoworkinATLifBlack: I'm sorry, but race has nothing to do with it. I'm white and haven't found a job in my almost 2 years of searching in ATL except for working for my mother's company. I do have "connections", am fluent in 3 languages, have ample international experience, etc, etc. None of this seems to matter as the only jobs I've seen available are for commission only sales. Only a handful of sales positions I've seen open up here in ATL offer a negligible base + commission. Most of these offer no benefits. Of all my friends that graduated with me, regardless of experience, GPA's, or connections, ended up in grad school, working for their parents, or waiting tables. The rest have only found jobs teaching English in a foreign country. Atlanta is hardly the city for recent grads unless they want to work for no pay or benefits, or go back to what they were doing in high school (ie. wait tables, catering, Home Depot retail NOT corporate). Out of 100's of submitted resumes and cover letters, I got offered 2 jobs... one that was strictly commission with no benefits, and one that was $25k with some benefits. Quite frankly, my internship after my second year of college paid me more than that. Also, it is ILLEGAL to ask about sex, race, age, etc. on a job app or to not make an offer of employment to someone based on those factors. Yes, I'm sure the unemployment rates are higher for certain races in Atlanta, but let's compare level of education and experience before you throw out the "I'm not getting hired simply because I'm black card". NO ONE is getting hired. Ask my white, black, Jewish, Indian, Brazilian, European and Asian friends, male and female, gay or straight, bilingual, polyglot or not, raised in Atlanta or from elsewhere.

@Amanda - Mike is actually very much right. A DECENT 1 bedroom apartment will run you $1000-$1400. $720 a month will get you a cockaroach infested apartment where you feel like your neighbors are actually roommates and can even there their phones ring on vibrate. These are also located in not so safe neighborhoods where you can't walk on the street after dark. $720 a month per person will get a you very decent 2 bedroom apartment. I'll take my $1150 apartment over a $720 apartment anyday as long as I don't have to live next to drug dealers and fear that my car will get broken into while parked in the parking lot. I've lived here for 13 years and I know most of the neighborhoods throughout the Metro area and their respective rents/home values and safety levels. I can rent a great 3 bedroom house for around $800... if I can deal with living in the West End and keep a loaded gun on my kitchen table and significanlty raise the rates of my car and renter's insurance. That and dealing with over an hour of traffic each way to my job.

This author clearly knows not of what she writes when she placed Atlanta as number one. It's only number one if you don't want to actually get paid for the time and work you put in on the job. My boyfriend (who gets paid on a strict commission-only basis) and I (who, luckily, had my mom's company to take an HOURLY job with) had to move in together into a 1 bedroom to be able to even afford to move out of our parents' houses. My sister is farring off much better in Denver.

I wish people would stop trying to push people to Atlanta! There are way too many people coming already under an illusion that they'll find a job! The freakin traffic and smog is beyond sick. It's to a point where even back and side streets are clogged because everyone woke up with the exact same idea. And unless you want to live in the hood, you'll need to double that "$723" average rent.

Your complaints about Atlanta seem insignificant. Try Chicago, New York, or LA and that will look like a cake walk.

I suggest Atlanta for the young, gay/lesbian college grad. It is a fabulous city. However, if you are young hetersexual female with hopes of marriage and finding Mr. Right your chances will be slim but not impossible. It is a young heterosexual male paradise as well because there are so many single female. It is not a rumor but it is the truth and I can attest. However, now 30 something I have learned just to embrass life and enjoy it. Marriage isn't for everyone and besides FOREVER I WILL LOVE ATLANTA!!!!

I find it astounding that everyone is talking about the cost of living and not about the actual jobs! Every one of these list sales as #1!!! SALES ! and health care. I have noticed recently IT and computer jobs have not been on any list even though they are expected to be a stable and rapidly growing part of the economy (even the U.S. govt despite outsourcing is expecting this part of the job market to boom for the next 30 years) . If you not most of these other jobs is if there is NO change in any condition and the U.S. continues on an upward climb out of the recession.

I am a programmer and have been for 3 years now. There is a huge market for us right now esp in CA, and TX. These companies even pay for moving expenses with a decent salary (45-70k) senior programmers can make over 90k (also depending on location and ability to obtain security clearance).

Places like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman do not outsource at all due to security issues, pay well, and are and have been hiring out the wazoo for new grads and exp programmers etc. So do not think your jobs are limited to sales or healthcare.

LMAO!! that is funny saying it is hard to find a job if your a minority. Funny because the Majority of factory, union and jobs at places like the airports are held by who? Minorities... (African American) to be exact, the city bolsters one of the largest African American populations in SE U.S. so use your excuse somewhere else.

I live in Atlanta and if you just plan to spend $723 on rent, plan also on spending money for bars on the windows and doors, a guard dog and an alarm system. Where did you get your info??? Additionally, with unemployment at 10.5% what graduate in their right mind woudl set themselves up for failure by moving here? Thanks for the compliment, but it is not well deserved or earned.

Just wondering why Pittsburgh is not in top 10, given it's recent naming as Best City in America, to live and Best Sports City in America? It has to be the come back city of America, with large University population, highly skilled workforce, and just reported greatest increase in jobs created in April for any city in America! And, relatively lower cost of living for housing, apts. makes the city very affordable vs. many of the cities on your list.

In 1959 I went to work for a fortune 500 company for $400/mo in the laboratory as a Chemical Analyst. I did get some good benefits. I had just gotton out of the Army where I was making $435/mo.

I am not minority by race but I am woman and try to find job in ATL for over three years now. With 400 job applications and I can do a lot of different things from office management to full cycle accounting and no luck. It does not matter who you are and what do you know in ATL it matters who knows you and what scale they belong too.

I am going to have to agree with Amanda, Mike has no idea what he's talking about. No, all Atlanta apartments aren't cheap, but if you are complaining about the prices there, then you just need to move to a small city. The things that you are complaining about, i.e. traffic and more expensive living in the city, are not just limited to Atlanta, but describe damn near every major city in the US. I will agree with you, Atlanta traffic is horrible and the public transportation is not good there, but when you factor in everything that benefits recent grads, it makes sense that Atlanta is number 1 on the list. If these are your complaints about Atlanta, then don't even think about moving to a city like LA...

What happened to making things, are we all going to take care of the old,Market their medicine and serve them coffee. What happened to the engineering jobs that america was great for in the 30's, 40's and 50's. America needs to grow food, make new innovations and educate the masses, instead of putting half of our population in prison, allowing illegales to take over and get a president with a backbone !!!!!

Good luck with Syracuse. Seriously cheap place to live, but absolutely no jobs, and horrible weather. The cost of heating and high taxes more than offsets the cheap rent. And all the industry left decades ago. Probably lost 1/3 of their population in the past 10-15 years.

What great information for me to pass on to my students at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond OK. Thanks.

M J Van Deventer, published author, pr specialist and teacher

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What I received from the article is to expand your options and ideas to verious locations to find work. For graduates, treat it similar to your searching for a college a few years ago: pick 5 cities and apply to work at all of them. If the right offer is made, you can choose to make the move. This will also work for professionals who are back in the search due to the economy.

This is in response to Mike -- You have no idea what you're talking about. I recently found an extremely nice and new apartment in the center of Midtown (inside the parameter..) for 720 a month. It also has parking so I will not be riding the "mediocre Marta" to work. I also found MANY others in Midtown and Buckhead for significantly less than 1000 a month. How could you possibly live there for almost 20 years and still have so little idea of the city itself?

Brad,

Actually, Boston is an excellent city for tech employment, biomedical research, healthcare, the arts, etc. Don't rule it out. The cost of living is high, but so are salaries and the overall quality of life. I moved here from Florida last year and have no regrets, except it does get cold here.

Uh, aren't we missing quality of life? I recently moved out of Atlanta after having lived there almost 20 years. All I can say is this. Yes there are jobs there and you can make a decent salary. However, the 723 rent figure is a joke. I lived in Apartments in 2007 and 2008 and I could not find anything decent for under 900 dollars OUTSIDE 285 and I ended up paying more than 1000 a month. Apartments running 723 for a one bedroom were tiny and run down. 723 a month might get you a 30 year old run down apartment with 600 square feet.

In addition, the traffic in Atlanta is legendary and without a car you will not be able to get anywhere, unless you live inside the perimeter. Oh, and did I mention an apartment in mid-town or Buckhead can run 1500 for a one bedroom? So your choices are live intown and ride the mediocre Marta or live outside the perimeter and pay less rent but spend 1 hour+ in your car each day commuting and driving around.

In addition, the pollution from all the automobiles is horrible and smog is an issue in Atlanta. The "grey" haze hangs over the city especially during the summer.

Sorry, but Atlanta is only for those folks that value money over quality of life, health, and decent living. I wouldn't go back there myself.

Since New York and California were placed on the top ten list, I was surprised that Houston, Tx was not listed as one of the best cities.

I do agree with the blogger NoworkinATLifBlack; it's certainly more about who you know then what you know, even in Houston, Tx. Economically, the truth of the matter is times are difficult for everyone: new grads and for individuals with experience and a degree.

I have a high-rise alcove studio in Murray Hill and pay $1200 including all utilities except wireless. There are plenty of nice apartments in Manhattan that are reasonably priced. Just deal directly with the management company and not an idiot broker/agent.

As a jobseeker living in the Bay Area, it is tough to get a job unless you're an engineer or a nurse. San Jose (part of the Bay Area) should be on the top 10 list since they are ALWAYS in demand of engineers (almost every company needs them) and nurses (shortage in every hospital). There are many sales jobs as well but the pay is relatively low for a place with very high cost of living.

I can see the responses from this article turned a bit unpleasant. Understandable. But the title of the article is, "Best CITIES for grads." Clearly everyone is trying to make it in NYC and LA, as clearly outlined by all the responses.

Truthfully, as a young professional that is starting from scratch already after finishing my degree, there isn't a lot of hope in any city. But as mentioned in the article, these are places with opportunities (although competitive) that would appeal to the young professional. Denver is a great city with potential for young grads with beautiful weather, relatively affordable housing and a great appeal. Im looking into it myself. Cinncinati is a city that I hear nothing but good things from my friends and contacts there. Philadelphia I hear the same.

I was just glad to see NYC, and LA toward the bottom of the list. Atlanta will always be towards the top of the list because there are a ton of companies based out of there. Im sure there are a bunch of entry level jobs there. But there are in Michigan where I live too. Just not the ones your degree will get you into. Thus why I work in a restaurant again and find myself going back to school once more.

It is hard to say just who the minorities are now.... I have had just as hard of a time trying to get a job in Phoenix. Again, it is not what you know, it is who you know. I have been in the printing business for 30 years and I have been looking for a job for a while now. The best thing you can do is try to get some contacts out there to help. Good luck!

Let me just be honest with you. There are no jobs here in ATL, unless you really know someone. It's not what you know, it is who you know in ATL. It is even twice as hard to find a job if you are a minority. I have been here for almost two years, sent out over 100 resumes, applied online with approximately 100 companies (including Assurant, Primerica, Sedgwick, Travelers, Geico, WellPoint, Time Warner, Coca Cola, Robert Half, Express, Adecco, and others) and most of the law firms in the Atlanta area. With over 13 years of legal experience, I cannot understand why it has been difficult to gain employment. Most companies ask about your sex, race, and military information at the end. Although it is for the companies' records for other stated reasons, I feel this is one of the easiest methods companies use this information to discriminate. If you are a minority and are looking for work, I wish you the best. Take a look at the unemployment rates by race and sex and you will probably agree with me. This is very unfair.

In your picture of a map of Atlanta, the pushpin misses the "capitol star" to the right and is actually marking the intersection of I-20 and I-285.

Charlotte NC, great place for new or recent graduates. Check out the job potentials and note the very reasonable cost of living. Both North & South Carolina's urban areas are reasonable.

Our Independent Insurance Agency, located in Georgetown SC, is looking for a Property & Casualty Personal/Commercial Producer and also a CSR with experience in TAM.

Contact me at 843-833-9229 or email your resume with cover letter & contact info to gaildaly@gmail.com

Thank you & good luck!!! Never give up.
Gail Daly

I agree with joey. I live in Detroit and know what it is like to struggle to find a job; and the advice is to not be afraid to move to NY, BOS, PHIL, LA? Co'mon! I'm all for moving if I have to, as a matter of fact, I've accepted the very distinct possibility. But I would think it might be more realistic to move into a smaller city that has successful hiring trends since the recession. I mean, the major cities will always prove to have high revenue for a high number of people but...I'm not convinced that if the goal is to avoid being lost in the shuffle where many potential candidates have more experience than we new graduates, that we should move to a major city where success is often measured by experience.

In addition, just about all these cities' fields of work deal with business mgmt, sales, or healthcare. What about the rest of us...in the arts or sciences, humanities and technology? Should we move to a big city too? Look, we're all ready to work hard for our futures, that's why we went to college in the first place. But this article was disappointing in my opinion, because all it did was confirm the fears which we all have. It brings those questions that were already at the forefront of our minds to a sort of buzzing annoyance in our ears. WE KNOW IT'S TOUGH OUT THERE! I don't mean to be callous, but I would prefer no advice at all if all there is to give is to say that we should roll the dice in NY, or LA!

Why isn't Raleigh on that list? This area is consistently ranked among the best places to live, our unemployment is WAYYYYY below the national average, and rents are a lot cheaper than ALL of those cities you list on your top ten. Listing Manhattan with rents of upwards of $1300 is ridiculous to even mention in the same breath with recent grads, and jobs in customer service and sales. And Atlanta? Give me a break!

$1275 for 1 bedroom apartment in Boston isn't very possible..If you would like to live in downtown you need to pay 1400-1500 for a descent 1 bedroom.If you have a car, you can go to suburbs and deal with the traffic every morning. It is a trade off. Not to mention how much heat costs during the winter. If you are going to move to Boston, I would suggest to get an apartment with heat/hot water included unless you like to live at 20F.