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PaperclipPerfector  9d ago (text post)   2388 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for April 20, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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I'm working in tech. Some questions:

  1. Are there any tech hubs where the COL isn't bananas? SF, NY, NOVA, and PNW are right out. I'm okay with living in Kansas or whatever since everyone has a hard-on for in-office now, I just need a place where 50%+ of my salary doesn't go to rent. It seems like even second tier places are expensive now (Research Triangle, Huntsville)
  2. Any good recruiters or recruiting firms you'd recommend? DMs appreciated.
  3. What's the market like? I don't really know who I'm up against. Posts online seem to be either "things are tough but manageable" or "the tech market is ending, get out now" and I'm not sure which is more true.
  4. Should I just sit tight at my current job for another year? The pay is shit and it's a miserable place, but it's something, and Trump seems indifferent to the economic chaos he's causing, so I imagine tight budgets and hiring freezes will remain for a while.

Dallas/Fort Worth is doing alright. Unlike certain cities, it’s had enough room to keep adding more suburbs. My rent is like 20% of my pay and I have an easily sub-half-hour commute. That would change if I were getting into a house, mind you. I’d have to live a lot further out to avoid competing with the tiger parents fighting over the best schools.

We’re not as much a hub as Austin, but on the other hand, we aren’t Austin.

Thanks, good to know. I think we will be homeschooling anyway, so maybe school district won't be as much of an issue. And DFW is pretty well connected so I suppose it wouldn't be hard to visit home.

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