So you’ve decided to move to New York. Or maybe you’re still in the fantasising stage. Regardless, planning a move to the city that never sleeps is mega exciting.
I’ve been living in New York for almost three months now, and have therefore become one of those obnoxious, self-designated experts on all things Gotham. This doesn’t really fly within the tri-state area, but for anyone who resides outside the US and nurtures a long-held desire to move to NYC, I can offer some tips on how to go about it.
First, a little disclaimer. I am very fortunate in two respects: I am an American citizen, and my family has lived in Manhattan for the last eight years. I am therefore avoiding questions about visas and so forth, because I simply don’t know what it’s like to go through that process. I’ve heard it involves some kind of biometric prodding at the airport.
Right! With that out of the way, let the questions commence.
When should I move?
As in comedy, timing is everything. First off, much as it pains me to say it, now is a really bad time. This boring economic carry-on has wiped out a tonne of jobs. I hate to be a downer, as I enjoy living in a fantasy world where the lamp-posts are made of chocolate, but the job situation really is rather dire. Unless you are crazy rich or have been transferred to a secure role in a stable company, I’d wait a while. Get a financial cushion going. Which brings me to the next question.
How much money should I save?
One of the most common questions for would-be New Yorkers is “How much cash should I have in reserve in order to get established in the city?” Here’s a useful formula to work out how much you’ll need: write down the biggest number you can think of. Then double it. You will now have the dollar target you ought to be aiming for.
Really, just save as much as you can. If the exchange rate becomes very favourable, convert a chunk of cash to guard against future plummets. NYC is an expensive town — rents are obscene, drinks will clean you out, and pretty much everyone expects a tip.
What should I bring?
Yourself. Your passport. A tonne of money. Some clothes. Photos of friends from home. That’s pretty much it. Everything else can be bought. In the meantime, enjoy your newfound zen lifestyle. It’s all just stuff, anyway.
Where should I live?
Assuming you’re as poor as I am, I would recommend Astoria in Queens. It’s much cheaper than Manhattan, the houses are bigger and it’s only a few stops from midtown on the subway. Also, it’s where Sesame Street is filmed. How cool is that?
If you’re lucky enough to be loaded with cashola, I’d go for the Upper West Side or the West Village. Each has a good sense of community, a splash of artsyness and celeb cachet. The UWS also has Fairway, the most magical supermarket in the universe. I’d describe it, but words couldn’t do it justice. I’d have to do some kind of dance.
Also, now is the time to mine any connections you may have in New York — long-lost relatives, ex-colleagues, pre-school classmates — try to ingratiate yourself into their affections and finagle a crash pad for those first crucial weeks. Yes, it feels a bit manipulative, but people who live in New York expect crashers. Just be a good houseguest when you arrive, and don’t stay beyond a fortnight. Use those two weeks to inspect apartments you find on Craigslist.
How do I find a job?
Yeah, good question. It depends on your area of work, but one good way to get started is to join industry groups on Facebook and meetup.com. You can do this before you leave for the US of A. Once you’ve landed and unpacked, focus on attending networking events and social mixers.
Aggregate job sites like indeed.com give you a decent idea of what’s out there. Just type in some keywords to see who’s hiring and what they’re paying. (At the moment, the answer is “no-one” and “nothing”. Boo.)
How do I make friends?
This one’s tricky. Socially, Americans are a bit of a paradox. They’ll confide in you immediately while simultaneously keeping you at arm’s length. You’ll go to drinks and be introduced to a friendly bunch who will compliment your hometown and invite you to stay at their summer cabin. After you leave, you will never see nor hear from any of these people again. It feels weird, and you’ll wonder what you’ve done wrong, but it’s the norm here.
As with any other friend-making situation, the best approach is to be yourself. You will encounter people who don’t get your humour, don’t understand your accent, or just think you’re plain strange, but New York has so many different tribes that you will definitely find some chums who appreciate you.
Also, work your exoticness. It makes you stand out. People will love your accent, even if they constantly misjudge where you’re from. (Everyone thinks I’m British, and New Yorkers tend to think New Zealand and Australia are part of one big archipelago.) It’s a talking point, and you’d be mad not to exploit it.
How do I survive in this fast-paced, ultra-competitive city?
Learn to hustle. Don’t be afraid to be assertive and persistent. Make no mistake: New York is full of relentless overachievers who will stop at nothing to attain their lofty goals. If you want to play that game you need to be driven and confident, or at least be able to fake it convincingly.
The intensity of this city is what makes it alternately thrilling and horrifying. There will be days where you encounter amazing things: an opera singer on the subway, a veteran actor strolling down the sidewalk. There will be days where you feel utterly alone, overwhelmed and like you want to run and hide from the intense city that blares at you when you open your front door. Either way, you’ll never forget what it’s like to live in New York. So come on over.
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