An out-of-town job seeker in a large city needs to solve another problem – finding housing.
What does this mean for a newcomer? To earn well, a person (especially a newcomer) will have to work hard and, from the very beginning of their work activity in the city, find vacancies that in principle offer prospects and career growth.
For example, work in Moscow is very diverse, as life in the capital is always vibrant. However, the main problem is that it is very difficult to get any solid, promising and well-paid vacancy without having connections that help get such a job. The only exception to this rule is for very good specialists who have proven their competence through many years of work in the provinces and are in demand by Moscow employers.
Another problem – renting an apartment, even shared, in Moscow is very expensive. That is, to rent a home you need to earn well, and to earn well you need a solid position. So for a newcomer from the provinces trying to settle in the capital “from scratch,” a kind of vicious circle appears.
Some vacancies initially positioned as work for out-of-town applicants (for example, night watchman, store guard) include an offer of accommodation in a dormitory (free or at a symbolic price). But such vacancies usually do not imply career growth and can only be considered as an intermediate option to settle in Moscow and try to find a more serious job.
Work in St. Petersburg is slightly less diverse than in the capital, but it is somewhat easier to find. Perhaps this happens because the people of St. Petersburg, according to popular rumor, are not known for high efficiency, or perhaps because employers in St. Petersburg are quicker to meet a candidate who interests them. But that is where the advantages of this city over the capital end.
Apartment rental prices here are almost on par with Moscow, while salaries are somewhat lower. It is not surprising that changing one’s place of residence and work from one of these cities to the other – if this change is driven by desire rather than real career growth prospects – often turns out to be unsuccessful (with a return to one’s hometown) or does not bring the desired change in well-being.
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