How do you get a job in another state?

Craigslist. But most of the time you need to pretend or actually live in the state you are moving to in order to get interviews. Many companies aren't paying for relocation these days.

As for 'good housing and job market' you might consider leaving the country. :) Nah, lots of design work on the West or East Coast but the rents the closer you get to the coast are pricey. I pay $1050 for a small 1br apartment about 5 miles from the beach in San Diego.

Check out www.indeed.com to scour ALL websites for job listings. Even the company career pages themselves. Great resource.
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Powerpoint is not a design application

I moved from South Mississippi to Nashville in '93 for work and haven't looked back.

In my case, I chose Nashville for several reasons, but mainly due to the huge publishing hub it is. We also considered Austin, TX, New Orleans, and Chapel Hill NC. All cities (in the southeast) with thriving art and music communities, which are important to us.

My advise, especially since you are single and in your 20s, is to do some homework and find a place that is going to suit your lifestyle and support your chosen career. Then go visit for a few days. Maybe a couple of trips. Talk to the locals there. Hook up with people on the net who live there and share your interests.

Once you do this and narrow it down to 2 or 3 locations, the decision will almost make itself.

Good luck!

Terry Thornhill

e-zign Design Group

Great advice! Kilik, you're so lucky to be young, free as a bird, and full of options. Absolutely find a town or city that fills your social, intellectual, physical and emotional needs first, and the rest will follow. Even markets where rents are high will offer creative options for the young and eager. Don't let that deter you. For one thing, incomes tend to be higher in such communities, too, so it could even out. This is your golden lifetime opportunity to make your dream life come true. Grab it with all your hands. I agree with Terry that it would be worth your while to "test drive" a few potential new home towns before actually moving. Have fun with this!

Mara

figure out where you want to be, first. and he gave some great advice on some ideas about how to start. it's one thing to say, "i want to get out of here." it's a whole 'nother story when you have to figure out where it is you want to go. you have to figure out what your priorities are, what's on your wish list, and, maybe more importantly, what's on your "i don't want this" list. and then figure out which places match up best.

natobasso, I never heard of indeed, it looks pretty helpful, thanks a ton!

thornysaurus, yeah, I need to go on a mini vacation to a couple of the places I'm thinking of moving to.

mara06, yeah, I figured that pay is commensurate with cost-of-living depending on where I move. Thanks for the encouragement.

gwells, I have kinda started doing that. I have a google map that has certain states highlighted and particular areas marked. A little backstory, I read Men's Health and they had a list of the best places for young guys to live, factoring in things like, social scene, jobs, housing etc. So I used that as my basis for areas where I might want to live. I guess I'm taking a gamble using that as my initial guide though. So now I am searching for jobs in those areas but I'm thinking I'll just have to do a little more research on each location and take a trip to the most promising spots.

Before you move to another state you should defiantly do research and the areas you would like to move to before doing so. When you do this research check if your trade would be a good fit in this location because the worst thing would be for you to move somewhere and not succeeded. If you have to fly there or drive there for interviews you should defiantly consider doing so making an impression in person is much greater then one made on the phone. I wish you the best of luck.