There are some people who do everything they can to finally make the move to Silicon Valley. Then, there are others who stumble upon this move by chance, either through a career opportunity or a relationship. It does not matter which category you fall into if you’re moving to Silicon Valley, there is a good chance that you don’t know everything you should about the area.
Be Prepared for the Experts
Everyone seems to be an expert on some topic in Silicon Valley, even if they have no idea what they are talking about. The good news is that those in the technology industry have a way of being able to filter out the fakers.
Try not to get too annoyed, and don’t feel you need to engage in a debate just to prove your point. You will merely exhaust yourself and someone else will quickly take their place. Just ignore those self-professed experts that pop up everywhere; you have more important things to do.
The Area is Not as Uptight as You Think
Many people have this vision in their mind that Silicon Valley moves at a fast pace; everyone is busy and always on their way to an important meeting. You will quickly learn that this is not the case, so if you are one of those people who enjoys being stressed and overloaded all day, you may want to start meditating, or take a yoga class.
There is actually a calmness and relaxed feeling about the area. Sure there is hustle and bustle as folks are rushing to punch a time clock, but don’t expect to see everyone working through their lunch hour every day just to climb the corporate ladder. People here want to be comfortable and happy, not stressed and overworked.
It’s Who You Know
Silicon Valley is not the place to be a loaner. Sure, you can enjoy your alone time, and you certainly do not need to make an appearance at every event you are invited to, but this is a place where you want to network and build professional relationships. You never know when a contact will come in handy.
Folks are Friendly
For some reason, many people associate the area with snobby, stuffy and rude people. This is far from the case. Just because there are some highly educated, brilliant and gifted minds living here does not mean that they are not capable of being friendly too. You will find a fantastic community here. You may feel like a small fish in a big sea, but the other sea creatures are surprisingly welcome.
Shoe String Budgets Will Not Thrive
The cost of living here is expensive; plain and simple. It is estimated that the cost of basic necessities here is over 60 percent more here than the national average. You will be lucky to find a decent apartment for under $2K a month. Therefore, if you are moving here and plan on landing a job when you arrive, make sure you consider the higher expenses, so you can have an appropriate nest egg to work with.
