Posted by: John S Kiernan

Deciding where to lay the foundation for a long and prosperous career can be a daunting task, especially for recent graduates entering the job market for the first time. After all, there are numerous factors — job-market saturation, housing affordability and commuter-friendliness, for instance — to consider about each prospective area.

But the process needn’t be that difficult or intimidating. WalletHub’s data team compared the relative market strength and overall livability of the 150 largest U.S. cities to help recent college graduates find the best cradles for their burgeoning careers. We examined each city based on 23 key metrics that range from the availability of entry-level jobs to monthly average starting salary to workforce diversity. A complete breakdown of our findings, a detailed methodology and expert career advice can be found below.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask The Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

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Best Places to Start a Career

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	‘Professional Opportunities’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1	Salt Lake City, UT	68.72	1	1
2	Orlando, FL	63.50	5	4
3	Austin, TX	62.21	6	6
4	Grand Rapids, MI	62.06	3	19
5	Tempe, AZ	60.58	19	3
6	Atlanta, GA	60.50	8	10
7	Miami, FL	59.94	2	84
8	Denver, CO	59.19	12	14
9	Irving, TX	58.78	4	64
10	Madison, WI	57.92	44	2
11	Minneapolis, MN	57.58	32	7
12	Sioux Falls, SD	57.05	28	13
13	Boston, MA	56.95	13	37
14	San Francisco, CA	56.80	11	44
15	Durham, NC	56.59	22	27
16	Raleigh, NC	56.46	35	11
17	Knoxville, TN	56.40	18	34
18	Scottsdale, AZ	56.38	48	5
19	Tampa, FL	56.27	20	35
20	Colorado Springs, CO	56.22	24	32
21	Grand Prairie, TX	55.85	7	96
22	Seattle, WA	55.73	43	12
23	Pittsburgh, PA	55.20	52	9
24	Fort Lauderdale, FL	55.02	25	47
25	Riverside, CA	54.82	10	92
26	Dallas, TX	54.82	15	70
27	San Antonio, TX	54.63	21	59
28	Charlotte, NC	54.36	36	31
29	Reno, NV	54.22	30	43
30	Fort Worth, TX	54.20	9	109
31	Plano, TX	54.16	47	21
32	Washington, DC	53.81	38	36
33	Amarillo, TX	53.74	23	78
34	Boise, ID	53.72	71	8
35	St. Louis, MO	53.43	39	38
36	Tallahassee, FL	53.43	57	18
37	Nashville, TN	53.32	40	40
38	Corpus Christi, TX	53.32	14	103
39	Lincoln, NE	52.77	60	20
40	Chandler, AZ	52.74	69	17
41	San Diego, CA	52.62	45	48
42	Houston, TX	52.52	33	69
43	Des Moines, IA	52.47	59	26
44	Tulsa, OK	52.44	31	79
45	Santa Rosa, CA	52.37	34	71
46	Omaha, NE	52.35	64	22
47	Springfield, MO	52.33	42	55
48	Portland, OR	52.11	55	33
49	Aurora, CO	51.95	27	91
50	El Paso, TX	51.94	16	125
51	Oakland, CA	51.59	26	102
52	Tacoma, WA	51.57	46	65
53	Arlington, TX	51.38	37	83
54	St. Petersburg, FL	51.32	49	56
55	Laredo, TX	51.12	17	128
56	Lubbock, TX	51.02	51	62
57	San Jose, CA	50.63	41	97
58	Oklahoma City, OK	50.50	54	58
59	Sacramento, CA	50.49	56	57
60	Overland Park, KS	50.30	94	16
61	St. Paul, MN	50.27	98	15
62	Kansas City, MO	50.11	63	53
63	Irvine, CA	49.66	90	23
64	Mesa, AZ	49.60	67	63
65	Louisville, KY	49.06	79	46
66	Anchorage, AK	49.01	76	52
67	Cincinnati, OH	48.88	95	30
68	Columbus, OH	48.66	101	25
69	Los Angeles, CA	48.64	29	142
70	Lexington-Fayette, KY	48.60	99	28
71	Garland, TX	48.20	58	107
72	Worcester, MA	48.12	77	72
73	Ontario, CA	47.89	53	119
74	Richmond, VA	47.86	108	24
75	Fremont, CA	47.83	72	88
76	Anaheim, CA	47.61	65	106
77	Gilbert, AZ	47.54	100	42
78	Cape Coral, FL	47.51	66	108
79	Honolulu, HI	47.17	85	73
80	Spokane, WA	47.11	102	45
80	Chattanooga, TN	47.11	74	94
82	Las Vegas, NV	47.06	93	60
83	Peoria, AZ	46.96	82	81
84	Baton Rouge, LA	46.93	89	67
85	New Orleans, LA	46.88	103	50
86	Brownsville, TX	46.87	50	134
87	Glendale, AZ	46.87	78	90
88	Little Rock, AR	46.79	80	87
89	Fayetteville, NC	46.77	73	105
90	Jacksonville, FL	46.56	68	121
91	Huntington Beach, CA	46.55	92	75
92	Virginia Beach, VA	46.54	122	29
93	Vancouver, WA	46.29	104	61
94	Bakersfield, CA	46.27	70	122
95	Phoenix, AZ	46.26	81	95
96	Huntsville, AL	45.99	117	41
97	Fontana, CA	45.94	62	132
98	San Bernardino, CA	45.92	87	93
99	Rochester, NY	45.78	110	54
100	Birmingham, AL	45.76	75	124
101	Tucson, AZ	45.70	106	68
102	Jersey City, NJ	45.49	116	49
103	Buffalo, NY	45.09	121	51
104	Oceanside, CA	45.00	83	118
105	Pembroke Pines, FL	44.96	86	116
106	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	44.93	113	66
107	Greensboro, NC	44.70	112	77
108	Moreno Valley, CA	44.68	61	146
109	Fort Wayne, IN	44.49	96	112
110	Chula Vista, CA	44.03	84	129
111	Winston-Salem, NC	43.94	107	104
112	Garden Grove, CA	43.69	115	89
113	Providence, RI	43.63	138	39
114	Aurora, IL	43.41	111	101
115	Henderson, NV	43.29	123	85
116	Glendale, CA	43.25	114	98
117	Chicago, IL	43.02	124	86
118	Wichita, KS	42.71	132	74
119	Long Beach, CA	42.69	97	133
120	Indianapolis, IN	42.67	129	80
121	Norfolk, VA	42.14	134	76
122	Port St. Lucie, FL	42.11	88	145
123	Santa Ana, CA	42.02	120	115
124	Modesto, CA	41.49	126	111
125	Milwaukee, WI	41.42	130	99
126	Memphis, TN	41.22	128	113
127	Philadelphia, PA	41.01	127	117
128	Santa Clarita, CA	40.95	109	140
129	New York, NY	40.46	105	147
130	Mobile, AL	40.33	119	137
131	Oxnard, CA	40.23	118	141
132	Fresno, CA	40.13	125	131
133	Columbus, GA	39.91	131	126
134	Hialeah, FL	39.68	91	150
135	Stockton, CA	39.51	135	123
136	Albuquerque, NM	39.41	148	82
137	Baltimore, MD	38.91	136	130
138	North Las Vegas, NV	38.76	139	127
139	Newport News, VA	38.40	147	100
140	Akron, OH	38.20	143	114
141	Jackson, MS	38.05	137	138
142	Chesapeake, VA	37.88	149	110
143	Shreveport, LA	37.06	141	136
144	Detroit, MI	37.05	133	149
145	Yonkers, NY	36.79	140	144
146	Toledo, OH	36.73	142	135
147	Montgomery, AL	36.24	145	139
148	Augusta, GA	36.03	144	143
149	Cleveland, OH	35.22	150	120
150	Newark, NJ	35.06	146	148

Ask The Experts

Choosing a career path can be just as challenging as finding a place in which to put down roots. To help job seekers with such decisions, we turned to a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city?
2. What can city policy makers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates?
3. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career?
4. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make?
5. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top five indicators?

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• Rochelle Parks-Yancy Full Professor of Management in the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University
• Richard E. Boyatzis Distinguished University Professor of Organizational Behavior, Psychology & Cognitive Science and H.R. Horvitz Chair of Family Business at Case Western Reserve University
• Maureen Mulhern Director of the Office of Career Development at St. Thomas Aquinas College
• Kristy J. Sherrer Director of Career Services in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
• Kimberly Merriman Professor of Management in the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Jamie Stamey Associate Director of Employer Relations in the Center for Career Development at Davidson College
• Christine-Keller Director of Career Development at Fontbonne University
• Alan G. Vitters Assistant Professor at St. Joseph's College, New York
• Adrienne O'Rourke Assistant Director of Employer Relations at American University
• Natalia Guarin-Klein Director of the Magner Career Center at Brooklyn College

Rochelle Parks-Yancy Full Professor of Management in the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Contact all of your professional and personal contacts via LinkedIn, other social media, and email. Let them know you're moving to the new city. Name some specific kinds of industries and jobs that interest you. Provide them with your resume. Be sure that your LinkedIn page reflects your talents for the industries/jobs that you seek. Contact specific employers that interest you via private message (do not ask about jobs in open forums where everyone can see it) on LinkedIn. Do your homework beforehand and find out some specific roles that may be open. Let them know you're interested in those jobs and that you are excited about relocating. Include information about something specific that is going on with their individual firms and how your talents can solve those issues/contribute to solutions. Provide your resume. What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates? A sure death of a city's population is when companies leave and there are few jobs. So cities should ensure that they are attractive ad have a diversity of employers who want college-educated talent. Companies need to provide good quality of life and pay people well. This means, for example, making telecommuting possible if the nature of the work allows it; providing intrapreneurship opportunities to encourage employee ownership of their ideas and creativity; training and development opportunities; providing compensation that enables recent graduates to support themselves. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career?

• Stay abreast of employment trends in your industry. If a specific certification is becoming popular in your field, get that certification. If more employers are moving towards contract work, prepare for how you would work within that dynamic.
  • Take all company-offered training and development opportunities. Once you have the knowledge and/or certifications, they are yours, no matter where you work.
  • Careers are made via talent and networking. Have many contacts in your department, outside of your department and outside of your firm.
  • Keep a running record of accomplishments at work. These become part of your career record on which you can sell your talents to any employer or customer.
  What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? Believing the lie that college degrees guarantee career utopia. They don't. You make your own career utopia. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators?
  • The number of major industries in the city;
  • The average salary of workers in the city;
  • The average age of workers in the city.
  Richard E. Boyatzis Distinguished University Professor of Organizational Behavior, Psychology & Cognitive Science and H.R. Horvitz Chair of Family Business at Case Western Reserve University What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Finding a job is a subset of finding a career. A career should involve doing something for which you are intensely curious or passionate about doing. Without passion and curiosity, you will be bored, less engaged and perform less effectively. Interview people who are working in a field or career that captures your imagination. Find out what it is really like doing that work day to day. Once you have identified a career, then from these conversations, find out what are the starter jobs or roles that get people noticed and into the career path. For all but the most routinized jobs, at this point, it is all about social networking. Who do you know that can vouch for you and get you an interview? What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates? The city depends on the work. If you want to specialize in social or public policy, select cities that have a lot of government offices, and often consulting companies that serve them. If you want health care, select cities that have a lot of hospitals and medical care centers which are highly regarded. If you want technology and/or innovation, select cities with major technical Universities, like Boston (MIT), Silicon Valley (Stanford), LA (Cal Tech), Atlanta (Georgia Tech), Pittsburgh (Carnegie Mellon), etc. If you want a career in outdoor arenas, pick a city in nature like Vancouver or Tucson. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? There is nothing magical about the path to a long-term, successful career -- find an entry and don’t mind taking a job which you think is below your status, work hard and smart (innovative), work consistently and diligently. If you have a miserable, dissonant boss, get a transfer or leave. Do not let someone kill your spirit. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? They go for a job that has visible benefits, like money and status. Great careers often begin in low status and low paying roles. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators? This depends on: (1) your personal interests (see above list of examples of city criteria by field); (2) marital and family status (are you married, do you have kids), because with children you need access to great schools and safe environments, without children, you may want a more exciting ambience; (3) your intended field/career; and (4) as any successful immigrant knows, you go where the jobs are. Maureen Mulhern Director of the Office of Career Development at St. Thomas Aquinas College What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Use resources, such as "Glassdoor" to explore the organization and learn what employees are saying. You would hate to take a job far from home, only to find out that you don't like the company culture and/or are resentful of the salary. Also, research the area you would be working/living in. Get an idea of what the cost of living is so you can understand why the salary may be lower or higher than expected. What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates? Seems as though the Millennials are looking for flexibility in the workplace and more of a work/life balance.
  • It may make sense to look at vacation policies (paid time off), and offer incentives to get more time off (e.g., additional time off after working a certain number of years at a company, additional days off if you reach your goals for the year, etc.).
  • They may also want to consider a work-from-home option, if that's not already in place; offering at least 1-2 days for an employee to work from home each week. People are looking to save time and not having to commute can make both a financial and time-saving difference.
  • I think it's also important to offer professional development courses so these employees can move towards their career goals. Seems like many of the millennials think they will be a CEO right out of college. Although that isn't often the case, perhaps providing a way for these employees to move towards their goals would be a great way to retain them.
  Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? My recommendation is:
  • To give 200%;
  • Be sure to be responsible and reliable;
  • Do what is not expected, but is greatly appreciated;
  • Make yourself indispensable;
  • Be the first to volunteer;
  • Be patient as it can take up to 6 months before you become comfortable in your new role;
  • Be open to new opportunities, you never know where they can take you;
  • Be kind to everyone.
  It's always best to be humble, learn from the people you work with, and be open to feedback. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? I believe the biggest mistake is that they are too selective and don't consider or turn down opportunities that may be good for them. Sometimes, your first job or two is not what you had envisioned you'd be doing; however, it can often open other doors that can move you in the direction you'd like to head. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators?
  • Safety;
  • Quality of life;
  • Cost of living;
  • Weather;
  • School systems.
  Kristy J. Sherrer Director of Career Services in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Research shows the majority of positions are obtained through leveraging one’s professional network. So, moving to a new city can be challenging for job seekers as one’s contact list may be limited. Fortunately, technology allows us to be able to research a new city and professionals who live and work there prior to actually moving. Use LinkedIn to search for alumni from one’s university or professionals working in relevant fields and then connect with these individuals to ask, not for a job, but for advice on the industry. Setting up phone calls or video calls to conduct informational interviews with new contacts to get to know them better can be quite effective for expanding one’s professional network from afar. Also, reaching out to local chapters of professional associations for one’s field to utilize their online job boards, membership directory, and learn of upcoming networking opportunities is another useful way to get a picture of the job market and connect with other professionals. Job leads that come authentically from professional relationships will likely be a better fit and allow one to get the competitive edge of an influential referral much more than applying cold online. Kimberly Merriman Professor of Management in the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates? Workers today are more likely to grow their careers across companies and through entrepreneurial endeavors, not within a single organization. Recent graduates change jobs an average of 4 times during the first decade of their career. So rather than obsess over retention, cities and companies should focus on the continuous matching of workers and jobs. And online labor markets -- where workers post their qualifications and employers post jobs -- are a key way to facilitate this matching. Can a city or consortium of companies effectively create their own online labor market from ground zero? Absolutely and they should. Consider this recent example aimed at physicians. Nomad is an online platform that connects physicians to temporary positions in hospitals -- known as locum tenens positions in the medical field. The Nomad platform aggregates information on doctor credentials, licenses, malpractice insurance and work history for online access by employing hospitals. It also enables transparent ratings of physician performance by hospitals and ratings of employers by physicians. The startup began in 2016 by covering the New York and New Jersey markets, and is growing rapidly. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? Research shows that perceived intelligence is a strong predictor of perceived leadership potential, and ultimately influences who emerges as a leader. Perception is found to be more important than objective indicators of intelligence such as IQ. And people form their perceptions based on what they observe. For instance, an experiment randomly assigned complex tasks to some participants and rote tasks to others within group settings. Group member ratings of each other afterwards showed that people working on complex tasks were scored significantly higher in qualities associated with leadership. What does this mean for growing an entry-level position into a successful career? You need to take on challenging, visible assignments. Ask for these type of roles and tasks to supplement an otherwise low-profile job. And when online labor markets are factored into the equation, as described above, these identifiable challenging accomplishments signal your “intelligence” to a wide set of potential employers. Some findings suggest men are more strategic than women at finding moments to shine on the job. I counter that it is largely a matter of understanding the rules of the game. Having coached many undergraduate and graduate students in this area, it seems that women and men alike need ongoing mentorship on this basic but essential career tactic. Jamie Stamey Associate Director of Employer Relations in the Center for Career Development at Davidson College What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Leverage any existing networks you have in that location. Fellow alumni from your college/university or professional contacts you have made while working are often great resources for learning about relevant organizations and their openings. Blindly applying to a job posting is rarely fruitful, no matter what industry you’re working in -- so if you find a great job opening, your immediate next step should be identifying who you are connected to at that organization. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? It’s critical to think of your early career as the opportunity to build transferrable skills that will allow you to shift roles as your interests become more defined. It’s very unlikely that you will stay in the same industry for your entire career, let alone the same organization, so actively seek opportunities to grow your skill set. More and more, employers are looking for talent with a wide array of skills versus narrow specializations. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? Early career professionals often set their expectations too high for their first roles. Your first job is not your dream job, but if executed well, can be leveraged as the first crucial step toward your dream job. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators? Cost-of-living, wide array of professional opportunities, ease/modes of transportation, access to culture and entertainment, personal and professional network. Christine-Keller Director of Career Development at Fontbonne University What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Looking for a job in a different city can pose challenges. I often suggest that job seekers try to root themselves in that city and get in contact with people who live there -- make a list of all of your connections in that new city and join LinkedIn groups there. Many job seekers also choose to omit their home address from their resumes, instead including only their phone number and email. What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates? One thing city policymakers and corporations can do to attract and retain recent graduates is to work with local universities to create innovative programs that reach new graduates. For example, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce recently partnered with my employer, Fontbonne University, and others to create a Clayton Summer Associates Program. The program aims to keep young talent in St. Louis, Missouri by connecting interns to each other and the city through social programs, professional development and networking opportunities. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? Once you've landed the job, focus on having good character -- bring integrity to the position, work hard, and be dependable. Show up on time with a positive attitude, and others will see you as a go-to young professional who they can count on. Seek a mentor and build connections -- don't burn bridges! Alan G. Vitters Assistant Professor at St. Joseph's College, New York What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? Make sure you use all the modern information tools at your disposal to learn about your potential employer and location. What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates? Policy makers and employers should do everything possible to provide incentives for young people to stay in the local area. This includes assistance with housing, student loans, commuter issues, and most importantly, job description/design. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? Recognize you can learn from everyone in your new organization, no matter the rank or position and be prepared to commit totally to that job. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? Failure to recognize that career success is a journey that will be marked by ups and downs, successes and "learning experiences." In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators?
  • Evidence of energy and engagement;
  • A path to growth and fulfillment;
  • A city with a past, present and future;
  • A city that is matched to your preferences for size, risk, cultural and spiritual appetite;
  • A city for all seasons.
  Adrienne O'Rourke Assistant Director of Employer Relations at American University What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? When I knew I was relocating to DC from NYC, I made my situation clear in every cover letter to manage recruiters’ expectations about my arrival in DC. In addition, I reached out to all of my contacts in the DC area, and asked them about what networks or organizations they were a part of. One friend referred me to the Women’s Information Network, which has a daily list serve full of job opportunities, contacts and referrals. Not only did it expand my horizons about opportunities available in DC, upon moving here, I already was familiar with an organization that I wanted to stay involved with. I ended up moving to DC without a job, but upon arriving, I became a hostess at a local restaurant and babysat for a family in my apartment building as I continued the job search. As a hostess, I spoke to many patrons and often gave my elevator pitch. Many were willing to help and to connect me to people in the fields I was interested in, and I had many informationals as a result. One day, the father of the child I babysat for asked me what types of jobs I was looking for, I gave him my elevator pitch, and he offered to send my resume along to someone at American University. A few weeks later, I got the job at the American University. Lastly, I updated my LinkedIn headline to: “HR Specialist Relocating to the DC Area.” A staffing agency messaged me on LinkedIn, and I received a temp position on the campus recruiting team at Deloitte, which eventually prepared me for my current role in the Kogod Career Center at American University. Thus:
  • Ensure your cover letters are honest and explain your situation.
  • Reach out to contacts to discover local organizations in your new city and find out if they have list serves, and sign up for them before you move.
  • Stay open to all possible job opportunities if you do not have a job upon arriving in your new city; it is a great way to meet people. Practice your elevator speech on everyone you meet. You never know whom someone knows. Engage in informationals with those individuals.
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and use a headline to indicate what you are looking for (if you have given your notice at your last position).
  Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career?
  • Be flexible.
  • Be open.
  • Try new things.
  • Be willing to help.
  What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? Personally, if you had asked for my five-year plan at graduation, it would be completely different from what I am doing now. I had never pictured myself living outside of NYC, going to graduate school, or working outside of the media industry. I would encourage young people to be more open-minded, rather than too focused on a certain path. Of course, you should have goals, but be open about industries, types of organizations and even cities. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators?
  • Choose a city where you have a network (even if it is only one or two people), especially if you are moving without a job. We tell our students 80% of jobs are found through networking, and it is most likely you will get a position through that network.
  • Ensure the city has organizations you would be interested in being a part of. For example, I knew moving to DC would have a strong network of students from my alma mater, and that I could get involved with the alumni network upon moving. These organizations will not only be a great part of your social life, but can potentially expose you to other opportunities as well.
  • Choose a city with colleges that have strong academics -- these cities will attract young people, as many will stay in the area after graduation, and if you decide to go to back to school or even take classes to help with professional development, you will have plenty of options.
  Natalia Guarin-Klein Director of the Magner Career Center at Brooklyn College What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city? I would look to see which companies are the biggest employers in that area and use that as your target list. I would also suggest talking to someone who lives/works there so you can get some insight. If you can, participate in a few meet up/networking/job fairs events before you move. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career? When first starting out, just be a sponge. Don’t try to be too aggressive but don’t be a pushover either. You want to be professionally assertive. The best thing to do is observe the successful people in the organization to determine what they are doing right. Those who are not well regarded, what are they doing wrong. Interview your boss and colleagues to ask questions about their expectations, pet peeves, what makes someone successful in the organization. Always seek to learn, have great relationships with your peers, make your bosses' job easier, have excellent work ethic and be open to feedback. Always be professional no matter what is happening, never speak negatively about anyone, never complain, offer solutions. With time, your work will be recognized. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make? I would say there are two. Young people sometimes want to cut corners and don’t want to put all the effort needed to land and keep a job. Sometimes they also get impatient and expect immediate results. It is very competitive and to stand out you often have to go beyond just applying online. It may mean redoing your resume several times, doing several mock interviews, networking, etc. They have to have patience when their efforts do not immediately pay off. There is no direct guarantee that anything you do will lead to a job. The other part is to have realistic expectations. You have to prioritize what you are looking for in a job. You are likely not going to get everything you are looking for, so you need to know what your deal breakers are and can’t have a laundry list of demands. Be open minded about job opportunities that may not seem prestigious but could be a stepping-stone to the next opportunity.
  Methodology

  In order to determine the best cities in which to launch a career, WalletHub’s data analysts compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities across two key dimensions, “Professional Opportunities” and “Quality of Life.” Our sample considers only city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

  We evaluated the two dimensions using 23 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job-market entrants.

  We then calculated the total score for each city based on its weighted average across all metrics and used the resulting scores to construct our final ranking.

  Professional Opportunities – Total Points: 70
  • Availability of Entry-Level Jobs: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of entry-level jobs per 100,000 residents aged 16 and older.
  • Monthly Average Starting Salary: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
  • Annual Job Growth Rate: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for population growth.
  • Median-Income Growth Rate: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)
  • Economic Mobility: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)
  • Workforce Diversity: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)
  • Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)
  • Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)
  • Job Security: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Total Workers in 2016 – Total Workers in 2015) / Total Workers in 2015
  • Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)Note: This metric is based on The Indeed Job Happiness Index 2016.
  • Entrepreneur-Friendliness: Full Weight (~6.36 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best Large Cities to Start a Business ranking.
  Quality of Life – Total Points: 30
  • Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
  • Average Length of Work Week (in Hours): Half Weight (~1.36 Points)
  • Commuter-Friendly Jobs: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of jobs accessible by a 30-minute transit ride per total civilian employed population.
  • Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Half Weight (~1.36 Points)
  • Share of Population Aged 25 to 34: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
  • Strength of Social Ties: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric is based on responses to Sharecare’s RealAge® Test and was used in our analysis to highlight the places where relationships with family and friends are strongest and therefore likely to result in a positive effect on a person’s social life.
  • Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
  • Projected Population Growth (2044 vs. 2014): Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
  • Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
  • Fun-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.
  • Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Families ranking.
  • Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Singles ranking.

   Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sharecare, Indeed.com, Equality of Opportunity Project, Council for Community & Economic Research, United States Conference of Mayors, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.

  
  
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