J1 Help

mulcahse

Hi im going to the U.S this summer. Me and 3 friends.
Im thinking either NY or Boston. We will all be under 21 except one of us.
Any chance can anyone give me some advice where to go or anything etc
Cheers.

Hamiltonion

Not really the forum for this but,

Wages in NY are low. Very low. If you're male aim for construction work, aim for cash in hand. Don't bother with applications, get yourself to the Irish bar and get talking to people. Don't tell them you're on a 3 month J1, say it's the 12 month one. Spent last summer in Cali and jobhunting was an absolute waste of time - straight to the Irish bar / community centre etc etc

If you're female your only real option is bar / waiting work where you WILL rely on tips.

People are reluctant to employ someone for 3 months when they can employ a national indefinitely, any friends of mine in NY / Cali found that when they did land a 'real' job they lost much on tax and many had to spend considerable time on 'training rate'

I don't mean to sound patronizing but you have no idea how expensive life on the coast is. Budget $100 a week on food alone.

If at all possible sort somewhere to stay before you go, ideally with friends or air B&B. Hostels are not like Europe, they're few and far between and v expensive, not far off hotel prices.

Research commute costs. It made more sense for me to move to SF from Berkeley even tho rent was an extra $300 a month as BART (trans bay train) was $8 a day return and took about 40 mins each way.

If you don't have a job lined up arrive with $1k minimum, What I cannot stress enough is network. All my jobs came from lads I met on a J1 as well or older Irish folk settled there. Hate to say it but nationality counts for a lot.

TheBandicoot

... maybe he is just going on a holiday, not looking for a job?

UrbanSea

J1 would imply he is looking for a job.


We were meant to go to NY but not due to how expensive it'll be. We still have our flights into NY but we're gonna get a train and head to Boston. Went to Chicago last summer, avoid too many students and housing is nearly impossible to get

Irish_wolf

Went to Boston last year by myself on a J1 so not sure how much help I can be if you're going with a group. Something I really didn't want to do. Was pretty successful myself. But I only got my job through connections and seeking out people who had emigrated there years ago.

Even still it took me three weeks to get a seasonal job, luckily it was a high quality italian restaurant in the south end. Earned around 70 dollars in tips a night + 4 dollars per hour. Came home with a grand to spare after my trip to new york fell through.

Stella was the name of the place. They usually take on extra staff for the summer so give them a look. But generally any irish bar in boston (and there are loads of them) will usually give you a chance.

Also my accommodation was a sublet and very very reasonably priced because it was tiny. But I was talking to the landlord because he had heard an irish person had moved in and he assumed that meant there was ten of us in the place. So yeah the landlords are getting wise to the whole J1 thing of cramming 5-10 people into a one bedroom apartment so watch yourself and try not to have too many parties and only use the gaf for cooking and sleeping.

Also if you are going to boston there are european like hostels and they'll pretty much exclusively filled with non americans. Especially irish at the start of the summer. Hostel international was where I stayed. Nice place. They have trips and events and stuff and free internet.

I had gone by myself to america cause I wanted a break, felt like my life was monotonous and I'd end up a waster if I didnt do something drastic, wanted to do something new and meet new people. Got to the hostel, threw down my bag and went to the canteen. First people I meet are two people I went to school with :rolleyes: