WHAT MEDILL STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MOVING TO NEW YORK CITY TIPS FROM RECENT GRADS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE

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1 WHAT MEDILL STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MOVING TO NEW YORK CITY TIPS FROM RECENT GRADS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE

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3 HOUSING It may be helpful (but not necessary) to use a real estate agent, who will typically charge you a fee ~15% of the annual rent (unless your apartment is no fee ), which you may be able to negotiate. Here are some websites you can use: Naked Apartments; Zumper; StreetEasy Have your paperwork ready when you go to look at apartments, including 1 st month s rent, a security deposit (equal to 1 month s rent) and sometimes a broker s fee (1 month s rent or more) ready. Your landlord may ask for a certified check from a bank. Living in some of New York s most desirable neighborhoods might not be an option at first. Most people meet up for social events at bars and restaurants not apartments. Brooklyn and Queens are less expensive than Manhattan. But deals are often in the Upper East Side, Midtown East and Harlem. When you are budgeting, include student loan payments and investing in your 401k enough to get the employee match. TRANSPORTATION The subway in New York is often the fastest way to travel. Download a free NYC metro PDF you can access without service; each stop on the train usually takes two to three minutes. Buses accept Metro cards and are common on the East side. Allow minutes more than Google Maps suggests. Helpful apps: Uber, Lyft, Via HOW TO FIND DOCTORS ZocDoc; Ask co-workers for recommendations; your insurance company s website Make sure you understand every charge involved before you pick your doctor and/or any prescriptions. Look for bills the doctor or medical group sends you in the mail. If you forget to pay a medical bill, you can damage your credit score.

4 These tips also apply to mental health services, such as a psychiatrist or therapist, that may be included in your insurance. BUDGETING EFFECTIVELY New York City can be expensive, so planning ahead can be key. When budgeting for meals out and entertainment, take out cash for the week, put it in an envelope and stick to that amount to ensure you don t overspend. Some personal finance sites: Money Under 30; The Simple Dollar; Money Crashers; The Billfold; I Will Teach You to Be Rich; Budgets Are Sexy; LearnVest Consider cutting the cord and not paying for cable. Unplug your electronics and turn off AC when you are not home or not using them. Seek out a credit card you can pay off in full each month. Some offer rewards or cash back. Bring your coffee, breakfast, lunch and/or snacks to work. Prep meals for the week during the weekend or on one night. Make batches of food and freeze half. FINDING A JOB People move to New York with and without jobs. Make all your social media profiles professional. It isn t too late to ask career services for help, such as resume work or LinkedIn profile advice. Other tips: Gorkana newsletter; Talking Biz News website; MediaBistro, Poynter Journalism degrees can help toward jobs in public relations, marketing and advertising as well. Alumni help through Medill Club of NY or LinkedIn. Professional media organizations: Deadline Club; Newswomens Club of New York; The New York Press Club; some national organizations Keep skills fresh through free webcast training from the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.

5 INTERVIEW TIPS Arrive to an interview minutes early. A lot of big New York buildings have security that takes more time to check in. Have a photo ID ready and try to find out in advance what floor you are going to. Bring a water bottle in case it is hot outside. Bring a few copies of your resume and clips in a folder. If your work is digital, have websites or files ready in advance and consider bringing a laptop to show them. Bring two pens and a notebook. Bring cash in case you leave the office and buy a coffee with the interviewer. Always offer to pay first, even if you think the person will pay for you. If you know any fellow graduates who work at the organization, send them an in advance that you re stopping by for an interview and ask for advice. Send a thank-you note to your interviewer after the interview (handwritten if possible). SIGNING UP FOR BENEFITS AT WORK Do it immediately, especially if your employer matches your 401(k), which is common for larger companies. Ask human resources or a community manager at your office for help. Set up an Health Savings Account (HSA) if you have recurring medical expenses so you don t pay tax on those purchases. There may also be a transportation expense benefit, where you can pay for your yearly metro card or train tickets tax-free, saving $100+. Look for discounts on movie tickets or museums.

6 NETWORKING A lot of offices have informal happy hours. Say yes to these during your first few invites if you can to get to know people better, you don t have to order drinks. Same goes for industrywide happy hours. The Medill Club of NY also hosts regular happy hours. PROFESSIONAL DRESS New York is a more formal city than others but a lot depends on where you work. Men should have at least one suit and several dress shirts and dress shoes; women should have at least one blazer, dress/skirt/top. In some offices women typically wear heels, others do not. After your interview, dress up the first few days (better to be overdressed than underdressed) and then mimic your dress with what your colleagues wear in the office. This can turn into slacks and a top or even jeans at some offices. It can be expensive to buy new clothes, but New York offers a lot of discount options: Sample sales: these are all over New York and can be a boon for formal or informal clothing. Follow racked.com and s from Clothingline or 260 Sample Sale Discount clothing stores: Century 21, Bloomingdales Outlet, Off Fifth Saks Fifth Avenue Sales at places like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor; for men try Joseph A. Bank or Men s Wearhouse Consignment/resale/vintage shops: Beacon s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, Second Time Around have multiple locations throughout NYC Try Lifebooker for making your hair appointments or Bumble and Bumble s free hair appointments with advanced students:

7 SOME GROCERY OPTIONS Trader Joe s grocery store, local farmers markets throughout the city, and online services including Amazon Prime, PeaPod, Hello Fresh, Fresh Direct, Blue Apron Grocery shopping is busy in New York! Try to go at off peak times (not during these peak times: weekday nights or Saturday late afternoon). Offer to pick the restaurant when you go to a group dinner; not everyone is on the same budget. Yelp and New York Magazine both have restaurant search options by price range. RECIPES ADVICE Cooking at home can be cheaper, healthier and often fun. New York Times cooking newsletters, BuzzFeed Food, Food52, Pinterest, Spoon University HEALTH AND FITNESS Some employers have a physical fitness reimbursement as part of your health insurance that could save hundreds of dollars annually. Less expensive gyms include: Blink Fitness, Planet Fitness and Crunch Your office may have a subsidized gym. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MEDILL CLUB OF NEW YORK AT: naa-interior-2.aspx?sid=1479&gid=2&pgid=4824

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