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How do you escape "small town" USA?
- Thread starter powderfinger
- Start date
Stay in the small town. I spent half my life trying to get out of Small Town, Missouri, and now I'm in Big City, Arizona, and the rest thus far trying to get back.
Get a second job. If you work days, work evenings. If you work nights, work days. You have no family and friends so you might as well work. Get a job in the food service industry. Put all the money from the second job into the bank. When you think you have enough, move.
You also might meet some cute young waitresses.
You also might meet some cute young waitresses.
NutDog kinda hit it on the head.
I myself moved away from Small town South Carolina. From your post I would imagine your in or around Rock Hill or Lancaster? but that is beside the point.
You have Charlotte or Columbia pretty close to you, both relatively "big" cities. You could start there and not be to far from the few connections you do have. If that isn't far enough away then you need money.
I was really able to move b/c I went back to school to get a masters. The money I saved got me to Albuquerque and school loans are getting me by.If you don't have experience in the restaurant business get it as quick as possible. Also look for jobs in your city with really crappy hours, those tend to have high rollover and are often hiring. Fedex sorting facilities for example.
Craigslist is your friend as well, you can find people with a room for cheap to get you started, this will also get you new connects.
Good Luck
I myself moved away from Small town South Carolina. From your post I would imagine your in or around Rock Hill or Lancaster? but that is beside the point.
You have Charlotte or Columbia pretty close to you, both relatively "big" cities. You could start there and not be to far from the few connections you do have. If that isn't far enough away then you need money.
I was really able to move b/c I went back to school to get a masters. The money I saved got me to Albuquerque and school loans are getting me by.If you don't have experience in the restaurant business get it as quick as possible. Also look for jobs in your city with really crappy hours, those tend to have high rollover and are often hiring. Fedex sorting facilities for example.
Craigslist is your friend as well, you can find people with a room for cheap to get you started, this will also get you new connects.
Good Luck
With all due respect, one thing that jumps out at me as I read your responses is your frustration and how that could be affecting your attitude, and rightfully so. This can really mess up your focus and your perception of things. Also it may come out without you knowing it when trying to form new connections especially for work. You should really try to focus on the positives of what you have for now and what you can achieve in the future. Perhaps you are thinking too big and getting ahead of yourself. Take one step at a time. Your living situation first, then work, then musical connections etc..
I'm in a similar situation of sorts. I am financially strangled and can barely make ends meet at the end of the month. I am unable to work full time so I have very limited options for increasing my income. I'm living in an area where I'm tied to my past after a divorce and I want to leave. So next month I'm moving up north with my griflriend and that will take a huge weight off my shoulders financially since I won't be on my own. From there I'm trying to look for some part time work I enjoy and build connections there to do what I can within my limits. It's a scary prospect since I'm moving to an entirely new area but I know that I need to just take the plunge and do it, but one thing at a time.
Hope this helps.
I'm in a similar situation of sorts. I am financially strangled and can barely make ends meet at the end of the month. I am unable to work full time so I have very limited options for increasing my income. I'm living in an area where I'm tied to my past after a divorce and I want to leave. So next month I'm moving up north with my griflriend and that will take a huge weight off my shoulders financially since I won't be on my own. From there I'm trying to look for some part time work I enjoy and build connections there to do what I can within my limits. It's a scary prospect since I'm moving to an entirely new area but I know that I need to just take the plunge and do it, but one thing at a time.
Hope this helps.
Lets see here... i will make a few sentences to change your life forever... so magically and amazing, tides of happiness will flood your life....
uhhhhh ...what were we talking about..........
oh yahh the big move...or change, something different, escape !! now.
dude make a list of everything you do...seriously ,make a stupid journal or something. then make a list of all the money you spend..every last dime. add up your weekly and monthly spendings. and firgure what the hell it is you really do.
Take notice to whatever is sucking your money away...and stop it.
people are so absorbed in urban life and material things...you need to drink water, eat food and sleep. thats it...your alive easy right...everthing else is just a stupid distraction...otherwise 3 things.. thats it.....
ditch the bull krap...sounds like all your money goes to car payments and meds.
ditch out on rent...takes about 90 days to get evicted...save all the rent you dont pay for 3months....get in your car and freaking leave.....grap your balls and leave
didn't you ever go camping as a kid? think of it as a big, crazy, random camping trip and in 4 months...everything will be different.
uhhhhh ...what were we talking about..........
oh yahh the big move...or change, something different, escape !! now.
dude make a list of everything you do...seriously ,make a stupid journal or something. then make a list of all the money you spend..every last dime. add up your weekly and monthly spendings. and firgure what the hell it is you really do.
Take notice to whatever is sucking your money away...and stop it.
people are so absorbed in urban life and material things...you need to drink water, eat food and sleep. thats it...your alive easy right...everthing else is just a stupid distraction...otherwise 3 things.. thats it.....
ditch the bull krap...sounds like all your money goes to car payments and meds.
ditch out on rent...takes about 90 days to get evicted...save all the rent you dont pay for 3months....get in your car and freaking leave.....grap your balls and leave
didn't you ever go camping as a kid? think of it as a big, crazy, random camping trip and in 4 months...everything will be different.
USA only pal, get out!
-Mike
I'll grab my coat.
Talk about a dick move right there, my folks just had months of grief (and spent a fair amount of money) trying to get a tennant out of (what was) my grandmothers house. Because they decided they didn't want to move out or pay rent . . .
I'll add some stuff:
Sell everything you own that doesn't affect staying alive. Everything but clothes. Anything else is an anchor holkding you to your place.
Have your doctor prescribe 6 months worth of your meds, that way you're covered when you move.
Then take the money you got from the big sell-off, grab a bus ticket and head out, cash in pocket.
Sell everything you own that doesn't affect staying alive. Everything but clothes. Anything else is an anchor holkding you to your place.
Have your doctor prescribe 6 months worth of your meds, that way you're covered when you move.
Then take the money you got from the big sell-off, grab a bus ticket and head out, cash in pocket.
The economy stinks everywhere, and no one is dying to find people to give jobs to. I don't have too clear a sense of what the OP's actual qualifications or experience is other than that he has a college degree.
My $0.02 would be to pick a city that hasn't been hit as hard by the economy, and probably a medium-sized city rather than a huge metropolis. No need to add to the homeless in New York, all he really wants is to get out of Smallville. Use your college career services office and see if they can help. Look up any old school buddies you can think of over facebook. Keep hammering at Monster.com and any other job sites, and follow each application up with a phone call. Be patient.
Another direction to think about -- what about going back to school? Obviously the OP doesn't have a big thick savings account stored up to pay for it, but if he could score a scholarship and a moderate amount of student loans he might be able to pull it off. A year or two in school could mean both better employability, a place to move to, and a fresh opportunity to make contacts.
My $0.02 would be to pick a city that hasn't been hit as hard by the economy, and probably a medium-sized city rather than a huge metropolis. No need to add to the homeless in New York, all he really wants is to get out of Smallville. Use your college career services office and see if they can help. Look up any old school buddies you can think of over facebook. Keep hammering at Monster.com and any other job sites, and follow each application up with a phone call. Be patient.
Another direction to think about -- what about going back to school? Obviously the OP doesn't have a big thick savings account stored up to pay for it, but if he could score a scholarship and a moderate amount of student loans he might be able to pull it off. A year or two in school could mean both better employability, a place to move to, and a fresh opportunity to make contacts.
I really appreciate about 1/3 of the comments/replies here.
The other 2/3 are the usual arrogant, flippant, worthless OT replies that are par for the course. Shame on me, I should have known better before asking advice on *this* bus.
But while we're here...
I am not in debt. I just dont make much money. A 2nd job is on the table for me right now.
I have a BBA from a known University. But I am going to be honest. I never networked in college. All I was focused on was this pipe dream of becoming a famous, touring musician. I wasnt focused on a career the first couple years after graduating. I was working **** jobs so I could travel and tour with my band. Basically, its my own fault, I accept that... I should have been more mature, and more realistic with my expectations.... instead of trying to "make it" in a band.
Ok, so some of you say stay here in small town. Honestly, every town has drawbacks, and I know there isnt some perfect town waiting for me with open arms, but I know there is one with a bit more music, culture, opportunities for young educated adults, and less KKK rallies... yes, I told you I live in a disgusting, small town.
The town I really want to live in is Austin TX.
The other 2/3 are the usual arrogant, flippant, worthless OT replies that are par for the course. Shame on me, I should have known better before asking advice on *this* bus.
But while we're here...
I am not in debt. I just dont make much money. A 2nd job is on the table for me right now.
I have a BBA from a known University. But I am going to be honest. I never networked in college. All I was focused on was this pipe dream of becoming a famous, touring musician. I wasnt focused on a career the first couple years after graduating. I was working **** jobs so I could travel and tour with my band. Basically, its my own fault, I accept that... I should have been more mature, and more realistic with my expectations.... instead of trying to "make it" in a band.
Ok, so some of you say stay here in small town. Honestly, every town has drawbacks, and I know there isnt some perfect town waiting for me with open arms, but I know there is one with a bit more music, culture, opportunities for young educated adults, and less KKK rallies... yes, I told you I live in a disgusting, small town.
The town I really want to live in is Austin TX.
PS- But I know NO ONE in Austin. Ive applied to a gazillion jobs on Monster, Career Builder, etc in Austin. No replies.
And yes, Austin has more for me than Hicktown SC.....
And yes, Austin has more for me than Hicktown SC.....
Have you triend phoning up companies in Austin?
Showing up in a proactive manner can help too.
Have you had someone check out your CV? A big part of CV/resume writing is how it is written, not just what is on it. Especially if you are applying online. Bigger companies will often have applicant data scanned through software looking for keywords before it goes to the next level. Heck, even if the CV is a bit untidy looking or doesn't contain the strongest points at the start, that could be enough to end up in the reject pile.
Showing up in a proactive manner can help too.
Have you had someone check out your CV? A big part of CV/resume writing is how it is written, not just what is on it. Especially if you are applying online. Bigger companies will often have applicant data scanned through software looking for keywords before it goes to the next level. Heck, even if the CV is a bit untidy looking or doesn't contain the strongest points at the start, that could be enough to end up in the reject pile.
Well, I'm sure there's someone on "this bus" who lives in Austin or thereabouts. Why not do some networking here?
And secondly, you're coming across pretty snottily. Noone here has any ill will for you. They are simply saying the hard truths. Use more honey than vinegar in your replies, it will bear more fruit..
And secondly, you're coming across pretty snottily. Noone here has any ill will for you. They are simply saying the hard truths. Use more honey than vinegar in your replies, it will bear more fruit..
+1
My wife has had to rewrite MANY friends CV/resumes because they simply weren't well put together.
I think the vinegar part came after the comments about "living in your car" and "here comes the whambulance".
I can dig it. Sometimes people come across badly on the interwbz. Although, the living in your car, while maybe distasteful to think about, is a reality that MANY folks have done to get to where they want to be. Just sayin'.
I've moved many times, including internationally. It's not that hard. A lot of it is mindset - if you think it's going to be difficult, it will be.
Save money (the hardest bit).
Find work.
Sell stuff if necessary.
Move.
Craigslist, LinkedIn, Twitter (yes, Twitter) and Monster are your friends. And, despite what the naysayers say, there is work out there. You just have to take whatever opportunities present themselves to put yourself ahead of the pack. I also recommend personally contacting companies instead of using agencies - agencies are, more often than not, totally useless. Seriously, use Twitter - doing a search on there for something like "austin jobs" will bring up lots of tweets, and not just from agencies - lots of smaller startup companies down that way use Twitter to get their job vacancies out there directly without having to mess around with agencies. You'll also be able to connect with local companies in a more direct way and start networking using LinkedIn. I'm not sure what your line of work is, but if you work in the IT sector, you'll be well served.
With proper planning and some common sense, you can do this without too many problems, and without having to live in your car. Austin is bustling and not particularly expensive to live in, so I can't see why it wouldn't be doable.
Save money (the hardest bit).
Find work.
Sell stuff if necessary.
Move.
Craigslist, LinkedIn, Twitter (yes, Twitter) and Monster are your friends. And, despite what the naysayers say, there is work out there. You just have to take whatever opportunities present themselves to put yourself ahead of the pack. I also recommend personally contacting companies instead of using agencies - agencies are, more often than not, totally useless. Seriously, use Twitter - doing a search on there for something like "austin jobs" will bring up lots of tweets, and not just from agencies - lots of smaller startup companies down that way use Twitter to get their job vacancies out there directly without having to mess around with agencies. You'll also be able to connect with local companies in a more direct way and start networking using LinkedIn. I'm not sure what your line of work is, but if you work in the IT sector, you'll be well served.
With proper planning and some common sense, you can do this without too many problems, and without having to live in your car. Austin is bustling and not particularly expensive to live in, so I can't see why it wouldn't be doable.
