I am an Aussie trying to get my foot in the door in the Bay Area. My main skills are React / JavaScript full stack. I finished a Bachelor degree two years ago. At the moment, I'm looking for companies to apply for from Sydney, that way I will have a job lined up. For any Aussies that have done the move in the past, any advice on what I should have do before making the jump?
When I first moved to SF, I lived in someone's dining room. Four of us lived in a two bedroom apartment because that was all we could afford. All four of us were/are programmers at large tech companies.
The bay area (SF particularly) can be cold and wet. I moved from Canada to SF and assumed the California was uniformly tropical. The best bay area summers are in September. By January and February, the persistent fog means nothing ever really gets dry. Come prepared or you will be cold.
Good luck on your job hunt.
// Living
Lifestyle – the Bay Area experience varies greatly based on where you are. Take the time to find an area that has things, people, lifestyles you’re interested in.
Housing – short term options are abundant in the Bay Area, but vary in price and availability by location. HotPads, Craigslist, AirBnb, Padmapper are all great options for finding housing.
Transportation – most of the Bay Area isn’t easily accessed by public transportation. CalTrain, BART, and Muni will get you to a general area, but you’ll likely need to Lyft or Uber from there.
// Jobs
There are many small startups (<20 employees) that pay well. Don’t hesitate to apply somewhere with a seemingly small presence.
If you’re finding it difficult to get interviews, recruiting agencies would be a solid alternative. If you’re talented and hook up with a good agency, you can find some very good opportunities.
2. Estimate your rent, insurance and bills. Make that a % of your in-hand salary.
3. Look for reasonable stores, food and entertainment options.
Optimize for all.