what should I secure first: job, or apartment?

I'm not gonna have to actually *really* worry about this until next Spring, but I'm already worried anyways.

I'm gonna need to get a temp. 1-year job in NYC or worse comes to worse the north NJ area right after I graduate.. so my OPT VISA can apply.

After I graduate I'm obviously not gonna be able to live on campus any longer so I'll have to have some other place to live.

What should I do - should I just wait to get a job offer before looking for an apartment or get the apartment first.. because what if I can't get a job for a while.. what if it's really hard and no one wants to hire me (it will have to be in communications because of the VISA) and I have no place to live? I can't be homeless and look for a job?

And do apartments require more than the first month rent and a safety deposit? What if I don't get a job, and I already have the apartment, and I can't pay for it anymore so I have to leave.. I mean do apartment owners make you sign something to force you to stay in for a year or something? What if I can't?

I'm scared!

 

job, unemployment is too high to do it any other way.

 

job. just use whatever address you have now.. tell them that youre gonna relocate for their position.

 

apartments tend to not keep well without some sort of income flow.

 

job. Start looking about 3 months before you graduate. That way, you may have a job to walk into straight after you finish school.

Most appartments do require some sort of lease/contract thingy, usually for 1 year but occasionally for 6 months.

 

Job. In Canada you have to pay First and last month rent as well as a safety deposit. You usually have to sign a contract that you can SOMETIMES get out of by paying out half the contract.

 

thanks for the advice everyone. I'll definitely secure a job first before worrying about getting my own place. let's just hope I'll have A place to stay between moving out of dorms, and moving in apartment.

 

Just apply for another semester at college and look during that semester. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you have to be done. Tell them you want to further your education, then after you find your job (hopefully within this semster) just tell them you changed your mind.

 

if only college were free...

 

It sounds like its time to get a sugar daddy!

 

JOB.

some require first and last month's rent and security deposit. some less. but count on more just in case.

look ahead for apartments.. within a few months.

some places require you to have a certain income. also expect a lease to be 6 mo or 1 year.. some are month to month but this is less common. 1 year is what i see more often.

good luck.

 

not everywhere in canada, i'd slap a bitch if they told me i had to pay that...usually just first month and half the rent as a security dep....i've also never signed a lease.

 

I forget some people actually pay for college.

 

Alright then, everywhere I've looked