The Complete Guide to Finding a Job in San Diego


Employment in San Diego

San Diego is known for its beaches, surfing, and the Navy’s presence. Although San Diego does not have the same technological capabilities as Silicon Valley, a few hundred kilometers north, it is still an interesting and vibrant place to work with a host of growing industries.

Local Economy

San Diego was among the hardest-hit areas in the country during the economic downturn of 2009. However, this is not the case anymore. The city is setting new records in terms of its extraordinary and rapid recovery and is now recovering faster than the rest of the country.

The biotech industry is one of the fastest-growing areas of industry in San Diego. It is helping to establish the city as a top center for research and health services. The technological industry is another industry that is driving San Diego’s recovery. Some specialized companies report remarkable growth. Candidates must possess a high level of specialized knowledge and a lot of experience or qualifications. This could include expertise in website development and software coding.

The tech industry is not something you can just walk into. However, the tech industry is highly competitive and requires skilled workers. Therefore, you will need an outstanding resume to land an interview and get the desired job. Competition has never been bigger, so reach out to our SkillHub professional resume editing service in San Diego to help you. Furthermore, a construction boom could also result from increased growth, as companies will need more space to expand, creating jobs for plasterers and other workers related to the construction industry.

Job Hunting in San Diego

The industry, availability, and other factors will affect your search for a job. Many ex-pats who move to San Diego will move from one position to the next and have everything ready for their arrival. There are many options for people who want to move to San Diego without searching for work or a job in advance.

A tried-and-true method to find job ads in the local newspaper is to do so. San Diego Union-Tribune is the largest local newspaper. It covers local news and local jobs. You can also search the newspaper’s website for a large list of local jobs that you can apply for quickly.

A collection of smaller newspapers or trade papers that deal in specific industries is also available for those interested in more localized areas. Many of these newspapers also have websites that can be used to search for information before you decide to move to the city.

Referring to a job site worldwide or national is another option for searching online. The Job Bank at the American Job Centre is one example. This site allows you to search for jobs. In addition, sites like Indeed.com offer a variety of jobs that can be easily searched. These jobs can be divided into different categories according to your preferences.

Income Taxation in San Diego

The tax brackets that apply to California determine the amount of income you will have to pay when you live and work in San Diego. The percentage payable for single tax brackets is as follows (2014-15).

  • $0+ 1.00%
  • $7,582+ 2.00%
  • $17,976+ 4.00%
  • $28,371+ 6.00%
  • $39,384+ 8.00%
  • $49,774+ 9.30%
  • $254,250+ 10.30%
  • $305,100+ 11.30%
  • $508,500+ 12.30%
  • $1,000,000+ 13.30%

San Diego expatriates should remember that they will also have to pay federal income taxes.

Get ready for your virtual interview

Do your research before you go to interview. Keep up-to-date on the latest news about the company and trends in your industry. These updates can be found on the company’s website, social media channels, and by setting up Google Alerts for key people and companies. This is particularly important if you have not applied in a while.

If you can get the information from your recruiter, I recommend that you also look into the person you will be interviewing. You can learn more about their career and interests by visiting their LinkedIn or Twitter profiles.

You can use the information to create a few questions that are specific to the company, their work, and any projects they have launched that interest you. Also, ask questions about the interviewer and their work. You will instantly stand out from the rest of the candidates by showing genuine interest in their work and passion.

You will likely be asked questions about the work-life balance of remote workers by employers. However, you can almost be sure that questions like “How do your stay productive?” or “What is your daily routine?” will be asked. To show your ability to manage time and prioritize tasks, prepare your answer in advance.

Remember that interviewing will be done remotely so you need to prepare for this. The most common virtual interview tips are downloading and using the appropriate technology (Zoom WebEx, Microsoft Teams), setting up a background that is plain, lighting from the front to avoid looking like a shadow, making eye contact (look into the camera), and lighting yourself from the front. Two things I would add to this list:

  1. Wear neutral colors with a business casual look, even if your company culture is casual. This will demonstrate to the interviewer that your seriousness about the job.
  2. You should make it a point of engaging in conversation by nodding, raising brows, agreeing with the other person when they are talking and using hand gestures for important points. It can be difficult to communicate enthusiasm on video so you will need to put in extra effort.

Covid-19 vaccines may be on the horizon but you can start your job search now. These steps are important to follow so you can get started with your job search as soon as possible. Follow this 5-week job application timeline to elevate your career.