by Ted Sherman

Created on: August 21, 2010

Those who seek entry-level employment are typically young and have just basic education and skills. Their expectations of significant income, usually at is typically a first-time job are not very high.

If that’s your situation, you may have little choice of venturing out beyond your hometown to find an entry level job. In many such situations, you’ll need to stay at home or nearby for  financial support from your family.

However, if you can live cheaply and are willing to share living space with other low-paid friends or co-workers, you may just want to consider going out to other locations in the country. Here are some suggestions of where the entry-level jobs may offer better oppportunites for employment, despite the tough economic times.

In these tough economic times, some cities, such as Detroit, are experiencing unemployment rates of up to 15 percent, while others hover around 10 percent or a bit lower. Under those statistics, those seeking entry-level jobs almost anywhere should expect to do some tough searches. However, there are cities that offer better opportunities. Some include:
 
Las Vegas:  Although also feeling some hard times, Vegas keeps opening new hotels, restaurants and clubs. Entry level jobs in the town that boasts it never sleeps, include restaurant and club servers, hotel employees, cabbies and other opportunities for all shifts are always there. Because of overbuilding in recent years, there are many housing vacancies, Vegas has lots of  cheap apartments available.

New York: There’s a similar situation in the Big Apple, with service jobs in good supply. Others may be in finance, entertainment, fashion and retail. The problem is that housing is sky high. An apartment that costs $500 a month in Vegas, is $2,000 in Manhattan, and usually much smaller. If you’ll be looking for a job there, it may be necessary to double or triple up with a bunkmate.

Los Angeles: The City of Angels is the home of most TV, music and film jobs in the country. However, many of the lower-level ones are internships, which pay little or nothing. They’re a good source for career ladder-climbing, but not much immediate help in paying rent or buying groceries. Another difficult Los Angeles situation is that the jobs are spread all over, and unlike Manhattan and Vegas, a car and its costs are necessities.

Of course, some opportunities for new college graduates and recently-released service veterans offer better potential than inexperienced seekers of entry level jobs. They usually begin at a more attractive pay scale and are already considered professionals. This includes the fields of nursing, accounting, engineering, aviation, therapy and law enforcement.    

Before you buy tickets or gas up your car to go to that attractive, but unfamiliar city where a job may be waiting for you, do a thorough search of opportunities on the internet, such as www.jobopenings.net. Additionally, scan Sunday newspaper want ads for immediate local job openings.

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