Moving to Las Vegas? Here’s a Reality Check
Photo by Megan EdwardsHarrah’s employment center on the
Las Vegas Strip
An astonishing 1.5 million people have moved into Clark County since 1980 in pursuit of the Las Vegas dream. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, they’re still coming at a rate of 5,000 new residents a month. Sure, some of those folks moved to the City of Neon only to return to their home towns, but the net year-over-year increase in population indicates that more people come than go.
I moved to Clark County in 2006 so I know what happens the moment you announce, “I’m thinking of moving to Vegas.” Objections and stereotypes come rushing at you from all directions. Before you pack your bags, you need a reality check. And here it is.
Stereotypical Remark No. 1: “So you want to work in a casino?”
Reality Check No. 1: Check into employment opportunities.
Because of its rapid growth, some of the best job opportunities in Las Vegas are in the medical, legal and service industries (check LasVegasJobs.com to get an idea of the scope). But Vegas is still a company town, and the resort and gaming industry remains the largest employer. There are almost always jobs to be found at one of the resorts, but be warned: It’s not as easy, or as lucrative, as it used to be.
Major employers are Harrah’s, the MGM-Mirage Group and Station Casinos. Check their listings to get an idea of the wide variety of positions available within the gaming industry. Aside from expected floor jobs like blackjack dealing and bartending, there are also career paths in accounting, operations, marketing, hospitality, retail and restaurant management. Turnover is high in almost all jobs, so persistence is key. As in most company towns, it’s to your advantage to have someone already on the inside working as your advocate.
iStockPhoto\webphotographeerThere’s stiff competition for dealer
jobs on the Strip
Aside from card dealing, which usually requires a certificate of completion from an accredited dealer school like Casino Dealer College, the skill sets required for other Vegas jobs often cross over with more mainstream industries like retail, computer operations and construction. Many job ads call for gaming industry experience, but skills usually trump experience. For instance, retail cashiers often have the cash-handling skills necessary for working in sports books, cashier cages and even count rooms. Computer experience, especially in network maintenance, is more important than casino experience for most IT positions. Project management and construction experience are in especially high demand as the major casinos are constantly rolling out new systems, rebuilding and undergoing renovations.
Working for a temp agency like Apple One and Robert Half is a good way to get a foot in the door. But be warned: Most employment agencies and many of the largest casino chains will put your name at the bottom of their applicant list if they don’t see a 702 area code in front of your contact number. If you’re serious about moving to Las Vegas, do yourself a favor and get a local cell phone number.
Stereotypical Remark No. 2: “You’re going to die of the heat!”
Reality Check No. 2: Visit in July at least once.
It’s true, Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert. Midday and late afternoon temperatures in the summer months will usually reach 110 or even 115 degrees. The relative lack of humidity, compared to anywhere on the East or West Coast or in the Midwest, means you won’t sweat through your clothes the moment you step outside, but there’s no denying that the summers are sizzling. Visit Vegas at least once in summer to see how you fare.
You might be pleasantly surprised. Las Vegas has many private and public pools, and the casinos environs are downright icy, so relief from the heat is generally available nearby. Plus, Lake Mead is a boating, kayaking, cool, wet paradise and it’s less than an hour away.
The tradeoff for the hot summers? Spring and fall months offer some of the most incredible weather in the entire country: 85 degrees and sunny almost every day. Winters are usually windy but mild, and frost is rare. Nearby Mount Charleston, only about an hour’s drive from the city, soars to 9,500 feet and offers snow in winter and a refreshing alpine climate year-round.
Stereotypical Remark No. 3: “Are you going to become a professional gambler, or did you meet a stripper?”
Reality Check No. 3: Take a hard look at your gambling and sex addictions.
iStockPhoto\Bonnie JacobsDon’t count on “lucky sevens” to
cover your rent
Sin City didn’t get its name by accident: The opportunity for vice is readily available, day and night. This temptation should not be taken lightly by anyone who has ever been accused of having a codependent or addictive personality. Take this quick Gamblers Anonymous test to see if you’re at risk of falling prey to the mesmerizing lights and ringing bells – and then keep it handy to monitor your progress.
As for sexual temptations, take the Gamblers Anonymous test and replace the word “gambling” with “sex” to see how you do. Because if you haven’t met a stripper yet – either male or female – don’t worry, you will. They often have second jobs as bartenders, real estate agents, dental hygienists, faith healers and, yes, even missionaries. Ironically, for all its vice, Las Vegas is also a very pious city. There’s a surprisingly large Mormon population, along with representatives of most every other major and arcane religion, including a stalwart base of born-again Christians happy to save you if you veer too far off the straight and narrow.
Stereotypical Remark No. 4: “Where will you live? In a hotel?”
Reality Check No. 4: Get lost! Rent a car, buy a map, get off the Strip.
By now, most everyone has heard about the phenomenal housing bubble that buoyed Las Vegas from 1995 to 2004, when many homes doubled and even tripled in value. Although purchase prices have come back down to earth since then, I think new residents should consider the rental market before buying a house. Apartments, condos and houses are available for affordable rents and they offer a great way to learn about the city’s neighborhoods and traffic patterns before taking on a mortgage. Craig’s List is a great place to start, as is the Las Vegas Review–Journal real estate section.
Photo by Megan EdwardsWelcome to Las Vegas!
So now you have a four-point reality check to answer the most common stereotypes and objections to your move to Las Vegas. The rest is up to you. Opportunities and pitfalls abound. But if you decide to place your bet and move to the Neon Oasis, here are a few other numbers you might need:
Nevada Power 702-367-5555
Southwest Gas 702-365-1555
Henderson Water 702-267-5900
Las Vegas Water 702-870-2011
Cox Cable 702-383-4000
Republic (trash service) 702-735-5151
20 Responses to “Moving to Las Vegas? Here’s a Reality Check”
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I hadn’t seen that latest Census bureau report — (released in March) and what I found the most interesting is that Las Vegas is no longer the “fastest growing city in America”. Maybe it never was, but at the current rate it is 18th on the growth chart.
Dallas-Ft Worth has actually taken over that spot. “… Dallas-Fort Worth had the largest numeric gain of any metro area between 2006 and 2007, increasing by 162,250, according to July 1, 2007, estimates of metro area population size and growth released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Atlanta (151,063), Phoenix (132,513) and Houston (120,544) rounded out the metro areas with a gain of at least 100,000….”
It’s funny that my article was published this morning and this article about las vegas was published by msn.com this afternoon:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26836100/
Actually it’s a good article and it answered something I’ve been wondering about since adults-only pools first started popping up in the Strip resorts the last couple of years.
We should have used my pic of the yellow page entertainment ads to compete! jk
Great article! I moved here in 2003, and found it very, VERY hard to find a decent-paying job. Education is not valued here; one of the temp agency personnel even suggested I take my master’s degree off my resume! Outside of the casino/hospitality industry, there are very few corporate opportunities. My areas of expertise are in technical writing and corporate training and it took me almost two years to find something that paid what I made back in 1997, and I still haven’t caught up to my 2001 wages. Other than that, Las Vegas is a fabulous place to live!
Hmmmm, things are changing now and the employment picture doesn’t seem to be like that nearly as much. I moved here in 1999 and looked for a job for while and I did “dumb-down” my resume after hearing way too many times that I was over-qualified for the jobs I was looking at.
There is a fundamental difference in the employment culture here in Las Vegas — high-paying jobs are obtained by recruitment (either internally by moving up through the local ranks or by head-hunters seeking talent from outside the area)– I know of several recent hires with multiple advanced degrees pulling down salaries as high as anywhere else in the country — but I doubt any of them would have landed those positions if they had moved here and tried cold-calling on the ground….
Looking to move out to Las Vegas as soon as next summer what kind of advice can you give me about finding a job out that way, I work for Nordstroms and I’m looking for a future management position at the new store opening In 2010 any future help would be greatly appreciated.
Well, Gary, I’d say your best bet would be to go ahead and make a move with any Nordstrom’s job, then look around at other opportunities once you get here if you aren’t satisfied. Apple One, or some of the other temp agencies, are also a good way to “break-in” with local companies and if a temp placement from them doesn’t lead to a FT position, at least you might get a local reference. Of course, you’re well aware of the Christmas spike in retail jobs, so that might be another option for someone with your experience.
Vegas is still a small town and like Mark alluded to above, who you meet can often be more important than what you know. Also, there is a lot of turn-over, even in management jobs. My wife was a recruiter for Robert Half for a year and it was amazing how many stories she heard about people suddenly not showing up at work one day because they left town the night before. Controlling your expenses, especially in terms of gambling, drinking and other forms of local “entertainment” options is probably the #1 thing you should constantly monitor after you move here. The casinos are fun, exciting places to hang out and party. But anyone living here needs to be realistic and wary about the allure of flashing lights, beautiful people and elusive jackpots. It’s not called Sin City for nothing, right?
Vegas is a great city to live in and there are lots of career-path opportunities in almost any field of work you can think of. I’d suggest trying to find an affordable, short-term lease near the Nordstrom’s store when you first arrive and then explore the city to find a neighborhood, commute and/or job you might prefer.
There are lots of great neighborhoods, restaurants, shopping and recreation off the Strip. That’s why so many people have made Vegas their home. It offers a good quality of life and most of the people living here are happy with their lives, which contributes to an overall sense of contentment.
Hey, another great article. It answered all my questions about moving to LV. As soon as I get my “sex addiction” report back, I’m going to make a decision.
Looks like you hit a nerve with all the comments.
The humidity here in Chicagoland is killing me. 10 times what I was used to in Spring Valley, outside of Vegas. It rained hard here 3 days straight recently! Ugh. I grew up here, and don’t remember needing my front window defroster on all the time, like now.
Am seriously considering going back. I am retired and single and have very little family here stopping me. They have their own lives, and have made that very clear. I came back 4 times last year to visit, and it was fine. When you first get there, YOU will get the visitors.
If you get out of the casinos and into your car — there is a lot of natural beauty in the area. I have never seen such BLUE skys and red sunsets in my life. Red Rock Canyon and even the Grand Canyon are only hours away, as is LA and the Pacific Ocean.
The lack of mosquitos, flies and bees is great! Sitting outside at night you can actually see stars and not get bitten up!!! That is, if like most people, you live away from the Strip. The two pools at my Complex were open 24 hrs a day. (The one here is already closed!
I say, give it a try. Just don’t get into gambling too much. The house always wins, one way or another. And lock everything. Desperate people will do desperate things. Remember that. Be careful, but Have Fun.
Judy,
Just one of the joys of living here — is being able to sit on the deck at night with ZERO flying and biting bugs — We are so lucky to be able to live here.
Wow…..love the reality check….Perhaps all the people who came to Los Angeles looking for stardum & opportunity feel the same way, the only difference is the ocean !
Great article! I moved to Las Vegas in 1987 and I have been getting those same questions the entire 20+ years I have been here.
It makes me crazy — in spite of the fact that I know there is definitely some truth to them!
I currently live in Northern Nevada, near Carson City and have been wanting to move to a warmer climate for several years, Las Vegas being my number one choice. Your article is absolutely great! I get the same questions where I am now, and living in Nevada, I already have a beat on my own answers to them. However, my biggest concern right now is the current state of the economy in relation to the availability of jobs. I heard “rumors” that the job markets in Las Vegas have shriveled up, but that didn’t come from a local. If they are as bad as I’m hearing, perhaps I should wait until after the elections are over and political influence has subsided a bit, and the “bail out” has been implemented for long enough to make a difference. What’s your take?
Judy F - like the rest of the country, Vegas is hurting. Tourism is down and the real estate boom is over. Like I suggested to Gary above, if you can move here with a job already in place, you’ll be ahead. Vegas is a great place to live, nice places are affordable to rent or buy, and the weather is great (especially now! :- ) But now is not a good time to be looking for a job unless you’re a doctor or highly specialized in some other narrow, high in-demand field. I would suggest a visit during the week. Stay in a cheap hotel downtown, rent a car and investigate job ops. Waiting until after the election is over and the so-called “bail out” uncertainty subsides is probably a good idea. This country and our economy is either going to wake up and start building for the future in November, or it’s going to get a lot worse with Insane McSame.
Thank you for your comments! (I especially enjoyed “Insane McSame!) I may have an opportunity to visit again in February or March, during the week, which is an excellent idea.
Great article. I just accepted a job in Las Vegas (not with the casinos), and we’ll be moving soon from Northern Virginia (next couple months). We had some serious reservations at first, particularly with my wife, as we have a 10-month old and my wife fears the typical stereotypes of the city. Ultimately, though, the job seems great, and we’re convinced that the local life in LV is different from that on the strip.
I drove around the Summerlin area and Red Rock during my last interview, and I just loved the area. As an East Coaster my whole life, the desert Southwest just seems so foreign to me (but exciting).
My big question is housing. I know the area was badly hit from the ramifications of the housing boom, but I’m wondering how badly. I drove around town and I couldn’t believe how many homes had signs out, either for sale or foreclosure. The Summerlin area in particular is amazing in terms of its build-out… so many houses!
I’d love to come in to the city and buy while the market appears so down, but I’m wondering if maybe renting for a year is safer just to see how this all plays out. I’m also curious which of the home builders are the reputable ones, and which were the builders that were simply taking advantage of a very hot speculators market (and may have built some shoddy houses on the quick and cheap!).
Any thoughts? Are people still optimistic about Las Vegas’ future in the next few years?
Many questions, considering my original intent was to post a simple comment. Sorry!
Tom W.,
As someone who grew up in Bethesda, I assure you that local life is indeed different from what you see on the Strip.
I’d say you did the right thing by coming out first and driving around a bit to get to know a few neighborhoods. Most houses are 15-20% off their highs of a few years ago, even in nice areas like Summerlin. Whether they’ll go much lower is a subject of much debate. Renting for a year would be a good way to get to know the city better and look around a bit to make sure you pick the neighborhood you like best. (if you buy somewhere you end up not liking, it’ll probably be hard to sell it right away and move somewhere else)
However, there are some great deals on bank repo’s that are available now that aren’t likely to be on the market much longer. Everyone who got suckered with initial low-rate interest loans has either walked away or re-financed. Repo’s are already dwindling.
I think most people are still very optimistic about Las Vegas’ future in the next few years. Especially if the main Strip casinos wise up and start heavily discounting room rates and restaurants again like they did back in the ’90’s (which they’ve recently started doing). Tourism drives this town, but it’s not the only “game” in town anymore. Medical research and engineering firms have been making it their home base too.
Actually, from my perspective as a real estate analyst, sales prices have dropped much closer to 40 to 45% of the list prices from 1-2 years ago. I think Eric maybe a little too optimistic about the re-pos on the market — I don’t think we’ve seen the crest of that wave yet — there are hundreds still in the pipeline.
is like free rent in rental housing market and I would never be in favor of that — reasonable discounting sure — it goes on all of the time here. Tourism is the driving economic engine here — but with 2.0 million residents, this place has achieved a critical mass that is not soley impacted by the tourism swings.
That being said, I remain bullish about the prospects for this local economy — if I had surplus cash I would be investing in this real estate market right now. I think the reasonable hold for investment cash in the market is at least five years — but the prospects for long-term growth still look excellent to me.
–LLV Publisher
“Just one of the joys of living here — is being able to sit on the deck at night with ZERO flying and biting bugs — We are so lucky to be able to live here.”
Um, well some of those giant roaches fly and the black widows all over my yard will bite! I’m raising praying mantids to fight them off. Our yard now is full of Jerusalem crickets, also capable of biting you.
How would a Jerusalem cricket bite you? Or perhaps more importantly, what could you do that would make them want to bite you?
There was a real estate think tank meeting convened here last week. Here are some of the more juicier comments: Larry Murphy is the president of SalesTraq, a research firm that tracks the market….
“Where we are at today is where we were five years ago with regard to home values… Foreclosures will be the key indicator of when the market is going to rebound. There are more than 14,000 banked-owned homes in the pipeline, and no one knows for sure how many more are coming…When the number of foreclosures created in a month falls below the sales of foreclosed homes a rebound will be indicated…” More of his comments and other data from the meeting can be read in Las Vegas Sun staff writer, Brian Wargo’s article here