I'm a college senior who is getting ready to interview for jobs in the Spring.  
With so many potential places to live, what are the factors I should
be considering when I look at a location to move and work?
I already know that crime rate and traffic are biggies for me, but I'm
sure there are many more things I should consider.  Please include
some information or a source that will give me the ability to take two
salary offers, and compare them with respect to the location job (cost
of living, etc..)

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Clarification of Question by parkerjd-ga on 10 May 2006 16:11 PDT

The ability to compare salaries with respect to a geographical
location is the critical skill I need here.  But I would also like a
brief list of the factors I should consider before moving somewhere,
with a short summary or a link to somewhere else that already provides
the info.

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Clarification of Question by parkerjd-ga on 22 May 2006 11:18 PDT

I'm a Computer Information Systems major, who will probably end up in
the IT consulting realm (high travel, close to airport).

My main problem is that if I get an offer for 52K in Raleigh, NC and
50K in Washingon, DC...I can't really quantify the difference.  I
can't find any cost of living tables online, and the only factors I'm
weighting in on my decision spreadsheet are crime and population
density.

Need more clarification?

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Clarification of Question by parkerjd-ga on 22 May 2006 13:15 PDT

Also, its not like I'm "out looking" for these jobs.  The recruiters
come to the school for interviews.  I will know in advance who's
coming and where they want me to move.  I can probably also get the
estimated salary they are offering for the position.

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 22 May 2006 15:22 PDT

Hello parkerjd-ga,

You've asked an interesting question but I don't believe a researcher
will take the time to attempt to answer it because of the extremely
low price you've set. I suggest that you review these links and then
adjust your price. The information is available but it will take a bit
of digging.

http://answers.google.com/answers/faq.html
http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html

Questions at $2 - $5  --  Can be answered with a single link or a
single piece of information. Sometimes, if a researcher is personally
interested in the question's subject, they may provide a longer
answer.

All the best.

~ czh ~

If I were looking for my first fulltime job, I would care more about
the position itself and the employer, recognizing that the job will be
training for the career I am pursuing.  Sure, crime and traffic and
wage are also considerations, but not primary.

Will it be in a genaric profession like accounting (location don't
matter)?  Or something like a lumberjack where you need to go where
there are trees?

Comparing salaries makes no sense - cost of living (?)
- Nett salary matters

It would be sensible to choose a location where you can get another
job if the first does not pan out.

From experience, I suggest you build a negative list
- places you just don't want to work
- in my case Iraq, Iran, New Malden UK etc  (most from revealed preference)

It would help a lot if you told us what you are going in for
- and the type of corporation and 'industry'

A spell in the backwoods with a semi-retired banker who has chosen to
go there, would be gold dust to an aspiring banker, a pleasant
environment, paternal tuition and a number of 'marked Aces' ... always
help.

Incomplete questions get incomplete ... Comments