Advice needed - Moving to Sydney ??

big_pete · 05-02-2007, 12:33 PM

hey,
Ive been thinking of moving out of Wagga to Sydney, the main reason being the lack of job opportunities for what i want to do (Ive just finished uni (last year) doing graphic/web design)
Ive been looking for work here in Wagga and there has been 2 jobs advertised in the past 3 months! so its basically impossible to get a decent job in my field

So a move to greener pastures is inevitable really, so Sydney is looking good.

i just have questions on how much it costs to live and do things up there, as i currently have no job, and little money in the bank. and don't have a job lined up in Syd. so I'm a bit worried about heading up there and having no money at all.

Ive got accommodation lined up already, my brother lives in Dee Why, so rent will be less than if i was to find my own place etc.

What other costs am i looking at?

Is sydney any good anyway?

_2:

Do you think id be better off finding a basic job (nightfill) here in Wagga for a bit to save up some cash or just heading up to Syd with no money???

Advice is much appreciated.

cheers
pete

GXL078 · 05-02-2007, 12:57 PM

You could always open up your own graphic design business in Wagga. Country people love a little competition, not. Here's the website to a company owned by one of my university lecturer's husband.
http://www.hulsbosch.com.au/
They are in Neutral bay which is fairly handy the the Northern Beaches.
They are from the Netherlands and they designed the QANTAS logo apparently, when they first came here.
There is a jobs button with an address that you can forward your CV to.

xe351 · 05-02-2007, 02:16 PM

hey big pete,

yes your chances of work will be better, but you have to weigh up a few things like do you like living in wagga? do you want to live in sydney?

some money would be good to have tho as it can take a while to get work and centrelink is a$$. good luck with it

merlin · 05-02-2007, 02:24 PM

Sydney is massivley expensive especially the Northern Beaches!

However the main cost of living is accomadation and seeing you have that covered you may be OK. Food and drink is OK, fuel would be cheaper than Wagga and Dee Why is very well serviced by public buses so I reckon give it a go - the jobs market is pretty good here at the moment.

big_pete · 05-02-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xe351

yes your chances of work will be better, but you have to weigh up a few things like do you like living in wagga? do you want to live in sydney?

ive been asking myself that alot lately!
im still not sure, i think Sydney would be great for the first 6months or so (the beach for starters!) but i think id soon get sick of it.
but i could always move back to Wagga if it doesnt work out.
Wagga is pretty good, not the most exciting place to live, but ive got good friends and family here so thats what counts.

im thinking a casual job (nightfill) in sydney would be the way to go at the moment

XR Rob · 05-02-2007, 02:30 PM

Get some money together first, mate.

It will cause you to stress less when you get here and find the job you really want.

**Mechan1k** · 05-02-2007, 02:50 PM

Speak to Falcon_Phill ... he is in a similar area and working in Chatswood ... I am pretty sure he is anyway .. also doing animation for games too.

Travelling to work from Dee Why might be fun ... Pittwater can be a nightmare at the best of times ... and public transport up that way isn't the best either.

Try and get work on the north side of the city (North Sydney/St Leonards/Chatswood) as it will be a lot easier to get to/from work.

merlin · 05-02-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Travelling to work from Dee Why might be fun ... Pittwater can be a nightmare at the best of times ... and public transport up that way isn't the best either.

Try and get work on the north side of the city (North Sydney/St Leonards/Chatswood) as it will be a lot easier to get to/from work.

Its an average of a 4 minute frequency in the morning peak to the City from Dee Why via bus.

**Mechan1k** · 05-02-2007, 02:55 PM

They might come every 4 minutes ... but you sit on the bus of ages ... and traffic is still crap through the entire area.

XR Rob · 05-02-2007, 03:01 PM

Yep, I concur.

merlin · 05-02-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

They might come every 4 minutes ... but you sit on the bus of ages ... and traffic is still crap through the entire area.

40 minutes from Dee Why to the city on average. Thats comparible to catching a train from somewhere like Parramatta - both roughly the same distance to the city. Of course its easier from Chatswood or North Sydney but then he has cheap accomodation at Dee Why.

**Mechan1k** · 05-02-2007, 03:43 PM

fair enough ... if he can though ... it'd be better for him to search for work still on the north side though.

merlin · 05-02-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

fair enough ... if he can though ... it'd be better for him to search for work still on the north side though.

I agree - the only thing I dislike about my job is the travelling and lets face it the traffic in Sydney is horrendous. My next job I want to get very close to home.

sfr rob · 05-02-2007, 06:29 PM

Why oh why would anyone want to move or live in Sydney if they had a choice?!
I say, pack your bags and come on down to mexico, it is FAR better than Sydney.

non biased comment....

**Mechan1k** · 05-02-2007, 06:46 PM

Actually ... I prefer to drive in Sydney traffic than Melbourne traffic .... I know Sydney traffic is crap ... but Melbourne's driver's are wayward ... and people love to cut in between you and parked cars where there is no lane. Deadly.

And the bloody trams ... jeesus. hee hee

adrianb · 05-02-2007, 07:29 PM

Look for jobs before you go...

Lots of people are more than happy to do at least a first interview by phone, especially in more tech sort of jobs like you are looking for.

You could always spend a week with your bro doing some interviews and checking things out before you decide.

I'd take melbourne over sydney any day - having said that, I'll always love perth (born and raised).

Yellow_Festiva · 05-02-2007, 07:30 PM

Hey Pete,

If your going to come to Sydney try and gather up some cash before hand. The make the move to your mates place, but only see this as a temp arrangement.

Get the shelf stacking job here, if your a good worker and are willing to do the over time and the crappy hours you will be amazed at what you can pull in.

There is still cheap accomodation in Sydney, just depends where you want to live. Stick to the night job, scan the papers / net during the day and apply for the jobs your interested in. Perhaps put more emphasis on the job description and the pay rather than the location of the job.

Once you have scored a job, pull out a map and draw a circle around the job location that would represent 20-30 minutes of travel time to get there either by car or train. If the job is in the city than perhaps extend your travel time if you dont want to pay a mint for a place.

Good luck, I have helped a few friends doint the same thing and this has worked well for them.

big_pete · 05-02-2007, 08:39 PM

thanks for the advice guys
i think ill do a trial period - head up there for 2 weeks and try and get a nightfill type job, if that works out ill stay and try and get a proper job while working, if not ill head home and save up some money, then head back up when im ready.

the main reason i chose Sydney is because i have family up there, and Melbourne just doesnt interest me (had a few bad experiences with a few melbournites too)

normxb · 06-02-2007, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big_pete

thanks for the advice guys
i think ill do a trial period - head up there for 2 weeks and try and get a nightfill type job, if that works out ill stay and try and get a proper job while working, if not ill head home and save up some money, then head back up when im ready.

Smart move , I know people who've moved Country - City & also City - Country , & have sold up & bought houses only to find it wasn't for them . too late if you make "the big move" .

I was born in the country & moved to the city with my parents in 1970 , was the right move at that time . When it came time to move back to the country , my wife & I came up here 4 times in 1990 to make sure we were doing the right thing . and it was.

Go to Sydney and for a few months (let the novelty wear off) Don't get "tied down " do odd jobs THEN make your decision . Settle in the city if you like it & can handle it or come back to the country .

Believe me , it is a big decision , not to be taken lightly . I don't regret being in Sydney for 20 yrs , but Geesh , it is good to be in the country again .

DOC · 06-02-2007, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big_pete

ive been asking myself that alot lately!
im still not sure, i think Sydney would be great for the first 6months or so (the beach for starters!) but i think id soon get sick of it.
but i could always move back to Wagga if it doesnt work out.
Wagga is pretty good, not the most exciting place to live, but ive got good friends and family here so thats what counts.
im thinking a casual job (nightfill) in sydney would be the way to go at the moment

Pete, my experience of sydney ( worked there for a few years full on ) is it a great city, plenty of hard work followed by hard play and it is one fun time IF you have the $ to play.

Pete what puzzles me a little is with your skills and todays work methods i cant see why you can't have the best of both worlds, many employers these days allow people to work from home, now that home can be anywhere, egypt for all it matters with the internet.

I am employed and work for a Sydney based company still, but i choose to live in Adelaide, work from home etc etc. I still jet to Sydney but maybe only once or twice a year if needed, other than that all i need is the laptop and next week i could be in Perth doing my work by the beach.

So maybe a short trip to sydney with these types of jobs in mind, travel back with your new job and enjoy the country life and your friends, enjoy the odd trip to sydney and do it with style, a win win all round, you have the talent to make it work thats for sure.

Little Pete