Well, in my neverending search for a new job, i'm now looking to Chicago & the outlying area. i'm wondering what parts of Chicago are good to find a job in, specifically an IT job. Also, i'm wondering what places in Chicago are the best for living in regarding low cost of living & low crime.

Any suggestions'd be appreciated.

Thanks.

Downtown Chicago is probably your best best for jobs. It's an easy commute from pretty much anywhere in the city.

If you're living in the suburbs and commuting to the city, or vice versa, your commute times can add up fast.

As for living, Lincoln Park and Lakeview have some of the lowest crime but are most likely the most expensive also. A lot of 20 somethings live in Wicker Park and Bucktown which are both gentrifying neighborhoods that are generally safe and cheaper than the first two I mentioned.

Whichever neighborhood you decide on try to be within easy walking distance of a train stop. It makes life a lot easier.

I don't know what neighborhood or area harbors all the IT jobs, but as far as cheap(er) living some places I suggest:

Wrigleyville/Lakeview (I live here)
Irving Park
Wicker Park

No offense to Spade and Todd, but the suburbs suck (excluding Evanston) and I wouldn't even consider living there unless I had a job there...but thats my extremely biased opinion.

Send me your resume.
I work for a Fortune 500 company with a large IT department and can at least get your resume to HR. (I think my cousin is the one that handles the staffing for that department... he's in HR.)

poptodd@hotmail.com

As far as where to live:
Do you want to go city or suburbs?

City:
Lincoln Square is safe, nice, and still (somewhat) reasonable, pricewise.
Lakeview/Wrigleyville is nice, but much busier and a bit pricier. Still safe.
wicker Park/Bucktown is relatively safe, but not as much as the above 'hoods. Still, that's the epicenter of the "scene" in Chicago and great music abounds.

Suburbs:
Evanston is right on the border of the city and has its own nightlife, as well.

Saght. I have a family and good schools for the kids to worry about, or I still be in the city, too.

had enough of this red state???

Yeah, I forgot to mention Lincoln Square. I actually considered moving there before I found my current place in Lakeview. A couple things to consider with Lincoln Square though are less access to train (fewer stops, etc.) and slightly longer commute times.

Not true.
The El Brown line stops at both Western and Damen are RIGHT THERE.
Also, there's the Metra Ravenswood Stop at Ravenswood/Lawrence. I lived in that hood for 4 years and it was awesome! (The Brown line is the only one I've experienced with WORKING A/C in the summertime!)

We're considering moving to Lincoln Square in the late spring.

Possibly. It's either that or Lincoln Park or Lakeview. All three areas we really like.

So I'd heartily recommend them.

I didn't mean to suggest there was no access to trains, just less than in Lakeview and that the commute time on the brown line will be a bit longer if you're going downtown. Also, since there are only a couple stops up there you may end up walking multiple blocks to the train station, which can suck on cold winter days. Still a cool neighborhood though.

Andersonville is pretty hip to live. Uptown is affordable and is coming around. It's not the safest feeling neighborhood, but I never hear about bad things happening. They put a starbucks and a borders in, so it has to be up and coming, right?

Ravenswood area is pretty cool. High Hispanic population, lower rents, along the Brown line. Lots of hot girls ride this train in my experience. It's close to Lincoln Square. Parking is pretty easy here too.

I live on the border of Andersonville and Ravenswood at Ashland and Lawrence. We love it, but we live in a large 1 bedroom and need more space with the kid. We are thinking of moving in May. When are you thinking of coming? We could rent you our condo.

Thanks for the offer. i'll send my resume once i'm home. (i have to work late tonite.) IT-wise, my title is "software engineer ii", but i'm basically a senior-type software design & developer, looking for J2EE-related work.

i'm looking for a new, challenging job in general, and my wife would kinda like a town with a bigger theatre/film scene to find more acting work. We're looking for a place close enough to the city and yet are looking for our own house with room to grow into (*hint*) eventually.

And elephantstone's onto something -- i was just looking around in general, but now am targeting economically-affordable "blue" states (which rules out nyc & cal) and i have friends in milwaukee & rockford and she'll be closer flight-wise to her friends in nyc.

i'll look into Evanston. Friend from Rockford said to check out bensonville, carpentersville, some-other-ville, and some grove... (Can't remember the other names now.)

Although it's been said a few times already, Lincoln Square is terrific. I've lived here for about 2 years now (close to the corner of Lincoln and Leland) and wouldn't think of going anywhere else. The parking situation is terrific and rent is typically MUCH lower than Wrigleyville and other overpopulated hellholes (sorry, but I love this 'hood). My time in Lakeview was okay, but this area is simply the best.

i had to work late last nite (11pm), so i'll send my resume to poptodd tonite.

Hey Todd, are there any jobs at your company that i'd be REMOTELY qualified for?