Full-time job search starts August 1

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Graduation is less than 5 months away, and with that in mind, I will start my full-time job search on August 1. Even when the economy is doing extremely well, it takes, on average, 3 months to land a position. With the recession bottoming out, and recovery around the corner, it may take a bit longer than 3 months.

Here is what I am up against:

1. I live in Texas, which is doing considerably better than most of the rest of the country. San Antonio currently has the lowest unemployment rate of any major city in the U.S., with Austin and Houston not that far behind. I live halfway between San Antonio and Austin, and I am a native Houstonian (plus virtually all of my family and my best friend live there), so I have ties to all three of those cities.

2. While the Texas economy is still adding jobs, I may face stiff competition from people from other parts of the U.S. (particularly California) trying to escape their economic situation, so that's why I am trying to get a head start.

3. I am not limiting myself to Texas, though. But staying in Texas is probably the most likely option right now because:

a) the cost of living is very reasonable.

b) no state income tax.

c) my major is urban/regional planning, and the next nearest state that accurately fits items (a) and (b) is South Dakota, which doesn't really have any urban areas, so to speak. I don't know anything about Sioux Falls, and Rapid City's economy is mainly dependent on hotel revenues from people visiting Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, or Sturgis. Washington State and Florida don't have state income taxes, but have high costs of living, depending on which part of the state.

4. Much of the job search is also contingent on where or if I choose to pursue graduate studies. A master's degree is not required for GIS or urban planning, but I somehow feel compelled to pursue such studies simply because some of the programs I saw looked very interesting. The program that stood out the most was the M.S. in Sustainability at Slippery Rock University, about 50 miles from Pittsburgh, another city that is doing very well economically.

Well, I'm not in a field similar to yours but I can tell you that I started my job search last August and got my job in November, so at least some of us are finding jobs in a few months despite the currently bad circumstances (I got a job in education administration). But I'm mainly responding because I am originally from WA and have lived in Pittsburgh and TX, so I have a few thoughts on the options you listed.

First, while it is true that WA doesn't have a state income tax, you do have to keep in mind that they offset that through other taxes. For example, the sales tax is fairly high and applies to pretty much everything but some food. As an aspie that may not be a bad alternative since you probably aren't a shopping maniac, but still, it can be a pain, especially since WA has a local office for pretty much all of the major online retailers so you can't get around the sales tax that way either. Also, most people want to live on the west side of the state (the side with all of the trees!), and the job market there is a little tight at the moment (as it is everywhere, but still, it's not like TX is right now). My parents live on the east side of the state and apparently the job market where they are is pretty good right now and the cost of living is much lower than the western half of the state, so I would recommend that, but most people get put off when they realize it's actually pretty much a desert and politically conservative (although coming from TX I'd imagine you'd not find it a difficult shift).

As for Pittsburgh, I love that city! I'm surprised to hear that it's doing well economically, however. If you can find a good job there, then I would say go for it, as it's very affordable and the area has real character. Everyone I know who lives there is struggling to stay employed at the moment, but maybe in your field it's doing much better (it certainly does need a structural rehaul).

In the end if I were you I would just look for jobs in all those areas, because the more applications you get out there the better your chances you'll be offered something you want in a reasonable period of time (I applied in WA, OR, ID, UT, and around the DC area, and ended up moving to UT to take my job). Good luck!

Obama's stimulus package is helping as well (even though I back the Republicans).