Instagram Lies, Siblings to Move In With And Other Various Tips on Getting Out of the Midwest
PSA: This (hopefully!) recurring blog was created to prove that I can hold myself accountable, and nothing more. Any attempt to find further meaning in these words may prove disappointing.
A lot of the time, I think I make things look easier than they are. I’m good at that. I make my living in marketing after all, so I’m trained to push a favorable narrative. For that reason, if you happen to casually stumble across my feed (@KaitlinBrennan…add me!!!!!) you’ll see photos of me traveling, wearing cool things, and doing cool shit.
But like a lot of things in Los Angeles, my Instagram is phony. It only tells the part of the story I want you to see. I’m in total control of the content that’s being posted — and so it’ll always be a bit skewed, slightly manufactured, a tad dishonest. I’m not saying this to sound edgy or cool (I am edgy and cool). I’m telling you this because the person you’re assuming I am is not real. She’s not at rooftops bars drinking in the afternoon or taking off Fridays for long weekend getaways to the desert.
The everyday me is often tired, cranky, lonely, overworked, a homebody, getting pissed off in traffic, wondering how to afford rent and a plane ticket, writing, getting turned around in a new city, trying to have it all (!!!) and the occasional stick-in-mud. (I can’t always be cool, guys, it’s exhausting and expensive.) Most of the time, I’m figuring out what it means to build a new life in a big city and hustling to get the things I want. I also schedule and then cancel a lot of Hinge dates.
It hit me, suddenly the other day, that while my Instagram feed could, on occasion, arguably be enviable (HUGE win for me, btw!), it wasn’t always truthful. It definitely wasn’t helpful for someone trying to get out like I did. It didn’t paint the full picture or answer questions like––how do you find an apartment? Did you sell all our stuff or drive it there? How much money should I save? Do you have friends and how did you find them? Are people really that mean? That fake? Is it worth it? All the important stuff.
So, in honor of transparency (my master), here are five tips for moving to Los Angeles (or wherever) + five truths that’s allowed me to make it look sometimes easy.
My 5 Tips
- Save at least $10K (and I mean at least)
Money is freedom in a city as expensive as LA. So bring a lot of it with you when you move here. Also, be prepared for it to go very quickly.
2. Flex your network before you move
I took a lot of meetings and sent even more emails over the three months leading up to my move date. It’s really important to not be afraid to ask for help cause you’re going to need a lot of it. Grabbing coffees and happy hours with former colleagues, mentors and bosses is how I secured my first job in LA.
3. Do a little job research + build a portfolio site
I don’t know what you do for a living, but I assume it’s exactly what I do and this advice will be 100% applicable.) But you should have some sort of website portfolio or sample page. I’d also start researching the types of jobs you’ll be applying for ––what’s the average salary? Are these jobs concentrated in a particular side of town? What level of skillset do I need? All this info will allow you to tweak your résumé as needed.
Pro tips: BuiltInLA and LinkedIn are great general job boards and I like AngelList for early stage startups. Use this tool to make sure your résumé is aligned with the job description you’re applying for. (A lot of times, bigger companies use these to automatically filter out applicants who don’t match up to a certain percentage of the job posting.)
(^Wow that got really professional!!!)
4. Take a mini trip before the move
If you can afford to, take a short trip to LA (or wherever you’re going) before the big move. Check out the neighborhoods, view some apartments, you get it…
5. Give yourself time but also set goals
Shit takes time, so don’t be hard on yourself if it takes a minute for things to fall into place. You’ll be stressed, poor and tired a lot. Allow yourself space to process all this change. At the same time, don’t settle for what you didn’t move to LA for. Set rules and stick to them.
My 5 Truths
I’m really privileged and lucky in so many ways. But here are the top 5 that really made the acclimation to Los Angeles much smoother and quicker than it probably should have been:
- I had friends already living in LA
I never felt the need to find “my people” in Los Angeles becase I already had some there. This allows me to be pickier with the new friends I let in.
2. I‘ve never been that poor
My ongoing freelance work has kept me from being without any source of income.
3. My best friend is well-connected
One of my closest and oldest friends in the city has a pretty killer network. It’s through her that I’ve had my most enviable LA moments.
4. I live with my sister
Not only has this made me feel closer to home (duh), she’s lived in Los Angeles for 5 years now. So, she’s really guided me through all the important stuff––where to get your oil changed, best street meats, always wear sunscreen.
5. I had traveled to LA ~lots~
I was no stranger to this city when I moved here, so I knew that I was getting into. This fact alone proves I am a masochist.
***If you are looking to move and have more questions, please reach out. It takes a village.
