Need some advice regarding California

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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So, here's the deal. I will be graduating in May from Iowa State University. My major is MIS. I've applied to a few different places and had several interviews. One of the companies I interviewed with is located in St. Paul Minneapolis.

<WTF you say? He said Cali, not MN... Calm down - We're getting there...>

So I get a call from the recruiter and he says they would like to bring me out for a second round of 5 interviews. At their office in Temecula, CA...

<Insert OMGWTFBBQ moment here....>

So I say sure I am interested. He says great and I should hear from them next week to schedule travel arrangements.

So here is my issue. I know next to nothing about Cali, and even less about temecula. Anyone have any insight? A quick search of google reveals that housing is going to be around 300-400k... That being the case, how much money should I ask for?

Also, What is Temecula like? I know its an hour or so from San Diego.. Any nice places to live within a reasonable commute that would be less expensive?

Thanks for your help gang. I appreciate it.

-Jaison
 

BSEagle1

Senior member
Oct 28, 2002
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Lucky you I used to live near Temecula, and my mom had a friend there. Temecula was referred to as Wine Country...lots of vineyards there. Also a fair number of people with horses from what I saw. It depends where you go really...the city itself seems like just any other run-of-the-mill city to me, but the outlying area is somewhat distinct.

And this is California...the name of the state is synonymous with 'Overly Priced'. Make sure you're going to be bringing in a reasonable paycheck if you want to own a house in California, much less an area like Temecula.

Not sure about apartments...you might find one reasonably inexpensive. But if by 'nice places to live' you mean away from the city and in a less densely populated area outside of town, no...you probably won't find anything with a good pricetag.

Then again, I have no idea how much someone with a major in MIS makes to start with. For all I know those houses will be pocket change for you.
 

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
uh, i thought they were just bringing you out there for an interview?

They are bringing me there for an interview.. But they want me to work in the california facility.. I am just not sure about cost of living..

For instance, If I take a job in the midwest making 50k/yr, I could buy a 200k house, in a nice neighborhood and be very happy. My fear is taking a job in Cali and working myself to the bone to live in an apt and never be happy.. Just trying to get a grasp on how much people earn and the general cost of living...
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
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Originally posted by: jmolayal
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
uh, i thought they were just bringing you out there for an interview?

They are bringing me there for an interview.. But they want me to work in the california facility.. I am just not sure about cost of living..

For instance, If I take a job in the midwest making 50k/yr, I could buy a 200k house, in a nice neighborhood and be very happy. My fear is taking a job in Cali and working myself to the bone to live in an apt and never be happy.. Just trying to get a grasp on how much people earn and the general cost of living...
Temucula is cheaper compared to the coastal cities like Irvine, Newport, Laguna, etc.
 

apologetic

Senior member
Oct 28, 2000
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Temecula gets most of the fallout from people moving out of San Diego. Housing prices are on the rise there, and the place is growing very fast. Living in San Marcos or Escondido, the commute wouldn't be that bad.

Also, $50-60k a year would be enough to buy your own condo, but not a house, IMO.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
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Originally posted by: jmolayal
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
uh, i thought they were just bringing you out there for an interview?

They are bringing me there for an interview.. But they want me to work in the california facility.. I am just not sure about cost of living..

For instance, If I take a job in the midwest making 50k/yr, I could buy a 200k house, in a nice neighborhood and be very happy. My fear is taking a job in Cali and working myself to the bone to live in an apt and never be happy.. Just trying to get a grasp on how much people earn and the general cost of living...

OMG 200k house. Wow. 500k will only get you a shack here, maybe worse, but definitely no house... Damn..

Remember your salary here does increase to compensate for the cost of living.. maybe not enoough but still. You will maybe need to rent for a bit?
 

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: apologetic
Temecula gets most of the fallout from people moving out of San Diego. Housing prices are on the rise there, and the place is growing very fast. Living in San Marcos or Escondido, the commute wouldn't be that bad.

Also, $50-60k a year would be enough to buy your own condo, but not a house, IMO.

Thanks for these tips. Just what I am looking for. I hadn't even thought of condo living, that might not be so bad....
 

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: apologetic
How much are you thinking of asking for (ballpark)?

Great question - I was asking for 50k here in the midwest. Not sure what I should ask for in cali.. Suggestions?
 

Kaieye

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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If you move to California, you can stop worrying about Tornadoes and start worrying about Earthquakes.
 

KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
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I'm graduating from ISU in may and have been going through the whole interview thing. Here's my advice: dont' worry about anything until the offer comes. Then you will know exactly how much money they're giving you.

Who knows... maybe after working there for a few years you can transfer back to the gold ol' midwest.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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You're asking how much salary you should ask for, but I think I missed the part where you told us what the position was.
 

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
I'm graduating from ISU in may and have been going through the whole interview thing. Here's my advice: dont' worry about anything until the offer comes. Then you will know exactly how much money they're giving you.

Who knows... maybe after working there for a few years you can transfer back to the gold ol' midwest.

Really? What's your major? Have you started interviewing yet? Any prospects?
 

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: mugs
You're asking how much salary you should ask for, but I think I missed the part where you told us what the position was.

Touche'.... I am looking at either project management, or apps engineering...
 

KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
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Originally posted by: jmolayal
Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
I'm graduating from ISU in may and have been going through the whole interview thing. Here's my advice: dont' worry about anything until the offer comes. Then you will know exactly how much money they're giving you.

Who knows... maybe after working there for a few years you can transfer back to the gold ol' midwest.

Really? What's your major? Have you started interviewing yet? Any prospects?


I'm in aerospace engineering. I interned with Boeing last summer and could likely get a job with them again in Seattle. My only other choices are Lockheed and NASA. I interviewed with Lockheed but they have to filter my resume through their company and that takes a while. I just interviewed with NASA in Houston. It'd be a cool job (training astronauts or working with space missions) but I'm not sure I want to do that. I'm also applying to grad schools so basically I have no idea what I'm going to do.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BSEagle1
Lucky you I used to live near Temecula, and my mom had a friend there. Temecula was referred to as Wine Country...lots of vineyards there. Also a fair number of people with horses from what I saw. It depends where you go really...the city itself seems like just any other run-of-the-mill city to me, but the outlying area is somewhat distinct.

And this is California...the name of the state is synonymous with 'Overly Priced'. Make sure you're going to be bringing in a reasonable paycheck if you want to own a house in California, much less an area like Temecula.

Not sure about apartments...you might find one reasonably inexpensive. But if by 'nice places to live' you mean away from the city and in a less densely populated area outside of town, no...you probably won't find anything with a good pricetag.

Then again, I have no idea how much someone with a major in MIS makes to start with. For all I know those houses will be pocket change for you.

Temecula USED to be a great place to live . . . now it is ridiculously overcrowded with an infrastructure that can't handle the unrestraned growth . . . it takes forever to get anyway there and DON'T buy a home along Winchester road [dangerous as hell . . . a TWO-lane road serves where a 6-lane should be].

If you work in SD, i would not go further than Escondido [N]. East of San Diego is cheaper and the commute less severe [but still bad].

Personally, i'd live IN SD and pay the extra bucks for the best weather is the USA [with a minimal comute]. Houses are outta sight . . . look for a condo.

EDIT: oops, i see you are gonna be working in Temecula . . . Escondido is nice . . . Murietta is nearby . . . and i guess you could also live in Temecula [heck, you could live in Riverside, a hour away - houses are less than S400,000 there]
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: jmolayal
Originally posted by: mugs
You're asking how much salary you should ask for, but I think I missed the part where you told us what the position was.

Touche'.... I am looking at either project management, or apps engineering...

Don't count on project management with no experience. I have no idea what apps engineering is.

Have you gotten any interviews or offers in the midwest? Keep in mind that while you may think you're worth $x, you're only worth as much as someone is willing to pay you. ;)
 

anxi80

Lifer
Jul 7, 2002
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Originally posted by: jmolayal
Also, What is Temecula like? I know its an hour or so from San Diego.. Any nice places to live within a reasonable commute that would be less expensive?

-Jaison
thats funny to me. most people move to temecula for the more affordable housing and then make the commute to san diego. but finding a place to commute to temecula? just amusing, thats all. actually, some good suggestions in this thread. if you are looking for an apartment, look towards escondido. if you are looking for a house, id point you towards wildomar which is bordering right on riverside. good luck.
 

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Thanks for the tips guys... I'm just a Guy from Iowa trying to make it in the world. These city names are a big help, and will help me with my research. Keep em coming as you think of them, and I'll update this thread when I get back on the 23rd.

-Jaison