Tech jobs in Cali

Sup Cali,

I currently live in your racist neighbor state of Az. I'm white, but unlike the majority around here I have absolutely no problems with people being mexican, or smoking.

There is one thing that Cali 'appears' to have that Arizona doesn't. Tech savy culture or at least more appealing to the corporate world and alike. Here in Arizona, not so much. I've been working in IT for what will be 9 years in April. I'm looking to move; a variety of reasons mostly, but I like to smoke and I'm not down with the Tea Party or living in the Leave it to Beaver era either.

My intention was to try to get a job at a major university (if possible of course) in IT to open up a discounted quality education track as well. USC is hiring as well as UCLA. However, I'm not entirely set on universities, anywhere that can let me sustain a small apartment and my dog would be sufficient. Like I said, I am coming from Arizona after all.

Would any local residents care to direct me in the right direction for rentals? What area's to stay away from?

I've looked at Google Maps and did apartment searches based on the surrounding cities of UCLA mostly, but I am totally clueless to the demographics so I wouldn't know if I was walking into a trap until it was set. I do plan on making a road trip very soon, spring break is coming in a little over a week So I'm trying to put together a loose plan since I'll be ridin' solo and don't wanna just start wandering around like a tourist.

Lastly, with the current areas (for which I am clueless to their names) I mentioned above could a cali local tell me where I could expect to get my medicine? Costs, and law enforcement friendliness? Here in Az it's about to be legal, but it's still going to your word vs the cops.

well just outside the school grounds of USC and UCLA are the states worst ghettos so thats your choice. If you want to move some place that is " tech savy" then move to where they are all based? "Silicon Valley" The San Jose, Santa Clara area. you have 90% of all the tech giants like Sun systems, Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Youtube, HP, Apple, palm ect.

the price to rent in this area is higher then it is in LA. also know that being in traffic for 45 mins you may only go 15 miles. most people unless they make well over 100k rent / live more then 20-30 miles away from this area to find cheaper housing.

you would get your meds from a local club like the rest of the " legal " people do. it also depends on where you move to. if you come to the bay area then i could name a bunch. if you move to LA i couldnt tell you where to go. but to tell the truth the pot laws are so relaxed here that you need more then an ounce for anything to happen. just a slap on the wrist if busted.

I appreciate the info Cj!

UC Merced is really new and I believe hiring. Places around there should be really cheap. Chico State has cheap rentals nearby a well. San Jose area is where all the tech companies are - there are also private IT schools all over this area and rent is higher but affordable.

ohh if you are looking to work at a college in the bay area you have Santa Clara, San Jose State, Stanford, UC east bay ( hayward) SF state, UC Santa Cruz, UC berkley, UCSF plus about 6-8 JR college's in the greater bay area

There are plenty of tech jobs around if they are hiring.

Well I can't tell you about neighborhoods unless u want to know about San Diego but when u move out to Cali www.weedmaps.com is the best web site to find collectives to get your meds in any area. They have phone numbers, addresses, menus, prices, a lot will tell you about there new patient deals/daily specials, ect. I use it any time I'm looking for a new places to go. Hope that helps. Stay high!

San Diego is as much a possibility as anywhere else in Cali. Is the cost of living and traffic the same like the LA area?

PottnaJL said:

San Diego is as much a possibility as anywhere else in Cali. Is the cost of living and traffic the same like the LA area?

Click to expand...

san diego can be expensive but if you know where to look the you can get nice places for cheap...ie: i lived in a 3 story house on 88 acres...top floor was a private studio w/ own entrance...middle foor had 3 bed 2 bath kitchen and living room....bottom floor was a huge basment/game room with another bedroom also....my rent was 1650.....dont expect to find that everywhere cuz you wont but like i said there are nice places to live for decent prices. also we have awesome beaches, parks, musems, theam parks, shooting ranges, hiking, nightlife, ect...

EDIT: traffic is worse in la i think just from what ive been through when i drive thru la but we do have a lot of traffic

Do a Job search and see whats out here for you.
Then come back and ask, Me? I would stick with N. Calif.
But I have a friend that is going thru alot of changes as to how the
IT guys are like a dime a dozen.
There are fair jobs and Great Places, and Great jobs and fair places to live.
Up around Redding theres lots to do but jobs are offered below what you would make in
the big city. But there's things there, you'll wish you lived there.
I'm stoned so sorry if this doesnt help.. Cheers

What type of job are you looking for? Tell us about your experience, be easier to offer help. The tech capital of the world is silicon valley -- this goes from san jose up to fremont. U Cal Berkeley is close. Stanford is part of the valley --- palo alto

There are a lot of tech jobs but the competition is extremely high. There are so many qualified candidates looking, it's nearly impossible to find work right now. the people with jobs don't leave and the people without have been without for a LONG time. Those university jobs are not easy to get and a lot of them go to alum or friends of employees. i hate to say what you obviously already know but it's all about connection. USC is even more so that way, USC grads hire other USC grads. I worked in a company where a ton of people went to USC. I didn't, so anything is possible...

anyway, places to live if you want to work at UCLA, i think the best are brentwood, westwood, santa monica, west hollywood, bel air. USC is more downtown so you would probably want to live downtown (which kind of sucks in my opinion), not sure exactly where you would want to be over there, I don't go there very often so I can't give great advice. I know silverlake and echo park are kind of hip and more towards downtown but driving here is AWFUL so you want a place CLOSE to where you work. you should post on http://www.city-data.com/forum/