My SO is in a final interview in SF (we're currently living in NYC). I know I shouldn't count my eggs...but still, any tips on what that move would be like? How's agency life in SF?

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My experience on agency life in SF is people are much more likely to value life out of the agency, better work-life than NY or Chi. Seem to have more access to silicon and start ups which breeds a first mover energy. But not many HQ offices, so can feel disconnected if in larger holding company, which can take a bit for promotions and pay to trickle down. But also breeds a tighter nit work community bc usually smaller offices. And Philz coffee is legit.

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There's an agency presence in SF but people in the Bay Area are drinking the tech koolaid by the gallons. Advertising just isn't seen as cool or interesting in comparison to engineering & entrepreneurship. If you aren't particularly attached to agency life, you could look for cool jobs in-house. Cost of living seems on par, slightly higher in SF in terms of rent if you want to live in the city itself.

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Get ready for a vastly different culture, too!!

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Moves suck. Life is probably pretty different between agencies, so hard to say without knowing what agency you're asking about.

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Try to build in time to make the croaa country drive with stops. I moved tx to sf and sf to chi and both times took time to stop at grandcanyon and yellowstone. A nice little refresher, soul searching pilgrimage.

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It's expensive. See if your SO can get some relocation $$$ from the SF agency so it's not out of your pocket. Go to SF prior to find a place to live, and if you end up flying instead of driving try to coordinate your arrival with when your stuff arrives from NY.

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VBP and Goodby are hiring.

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It's highly passive aggressive, people are fake nice a lot more than elsewhere, especially compared to NYC where you usually know where you stand with folks and get to the point faster. You'll probably be conservative by SF standards:) They're drinking the kool aid to the power of 1000000, so at first it's weird and frustrating if you're a no nonsense new yorker, you might even be perceived as rude at times. Bring your paper and fabric bag everywhere and carry your porcelain mug with you to the coffee shop unless you want to be chastised:) People are 100% more into their leisure life, less chit chat during the day and out the door by 5-6PM. City is beautiful with tons of homeless people around. Rent in SF proper is very expensive like NYC. The Mission district is their extra hip neighborhood, something like Williamsburg / Brooklyn. Cool food and food truck culture everywhere. I'm super liberal and yet they can be a tad annoying over there with the hippie stuff and the holier than thou attitude of some. All in all, nice people and vibe, but would not live there full-time.

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AD1 can you speak to culture change as I'm about to do this move as well?

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Thanks for the tips, everyone. I actually meant what the move would be like from a culture and work perspective. I've seen on here the LA ad scene is dead. Are agency folks finding jobs in SF? Is it more in house there? Also, is cost of living on par with NYC or more expensive?

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Also, this depends on the company, but I'd say the types of clients are more tech-y here, too.

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A lot of outposts of larger agencies out here in SF as well as some smaller shops. Definitely lots of tech clients. As for cost of living, rent is comparable but you might get a bit more space.

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In defense of SF, I'd say the passive aggressive levels are nothing compared to LA! Though we do get pretty intense about recycling and composting properly. Not necessarily out the door by 5-6 PM (depends on the agency, account, time of year, etc.)

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