San Diego - America's Finest City

Summer Jobs & Accommodation Guide

This email contains multiple embedded live links!

The city of San Diego which is located in the County of San Diego, is one of the most exciting and sophisticated metropolitan regions in the country. San Diego comprises more than 100 colorful and unique neighborhoods   

The tiles are live links so click to go directly to the each neighborhood business directory for potential employers.

From north to south, San Diego County extends from the southern border of Orange and Riverside Counties to the Mexico-U.S. border. From west to east, San Diego County stretches from the Pacific Ocean to its boundary with Imperial County. The County of San Diego has, over 70 miles(113 km) of coastline, contains 18 cities (including Coronado) and offers a Mediterranean climate.

The is a lot to like about San Diego, however somethings to consider when choosing whether to spend your whole summer in San Diego or just visit at the end of the summer, cost of living & competition for both jobs & housing.

The cost of housing in (live link) San Diego is 122% higher than the US average. For a 12 month lease the cost to rent in San Diego is roughly 30% higher than Dublin, Ireland (for a summer short-term or month-to-month lease lease the monthly it is possible for the monthly payment to be twice that of a 12 month lease).

San Diego is the number one summer destination for J-1 SWT visa participants & US students, therefore it is possible for there to be hundreds if not thousands of young people looking for a summer job in San Diego.  

San Diego v. Dublin

Price Comparison

Being told that "San Diego is expensive", may not register until after you arrive, so we have put together a San Diego v Dublin chart to offer a visual comparison & hopefully some perspective.

Accommodation

Tips & Tools

Utilize reputable accommodation & rental website (we do not recommend Craigslist). Last summer 2022 saw a notable, click here: increase in rental scams.

The only charge that you may have to pay upfront would be for a tenant background check (also known as a application screening fee), which cannot legally be more that the landlord's actual out-of-pocket costs and runs around $40.00 per applicant (named on the lease or over 18 and residing at the property).

Please see the US Federal Trade Commission, consumer advice, click here: Rental Listing Scams.

Accommodation in the beach neighborhoods over the summer months will be be expensive, with short-term/month-to-month lease being considerably higher than in-land neighborhoods. FYI: all short-term rentals, in San Diego, such as , click here: Airbnb.com & Vrbo.com will require a license, click here: Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license.

It is good to know your rights as a tenant both when looking & also after your have secured your accommodation. Also, be aware of the difference between a tenant & a short-term rental (hotel) guest. Please see, click here: California Tenants Guide (rights & responsibilities).

Be a good neighbor! Be aware of your responsibilities as a tenant & guest! If either you, your room-mates or your guests are a nuisance (e.g. noise violations, not complying with complex rules or lease agreement) you will most likely be required to vacate your accommodation & will most likely loose your deposit.

NB: Overcrowding and noise complaints will quickly lead to eviction!

Resources for somewhere to stay when you first arrive: click on the live links

• The Broke backpacker Blog - offers some useful information
• Hostel World: Hostels in San Diego, CA
• Hotels, San Diego Tourism
• Airbnb in San Diego, California
• Vrbo.com San Diego

Accommodation Search Tools: The tiles are live links so click to go directly to the accommodation websites.

Getting Around San Diego

Public Transportation

Every year, J-1 students want to live at Pacific Beach. Living & securing a job at the Beach is competitive. Commuting to work challenging from the Beach can be challenging. Use the , click here: San Diego Metropolitan Transit System: MTS website to check the commute time between your job site & accommodation. Make sure you can actually commute to work in a reasonable amount of time. San Diego public transportation connects the city, however SDMTS may not as efficient as you are accustomed to in Ireland. Last year, many students opted to buy bicycles to get around town to help with the last mile first mile gap in public transit service.

Job Tips and Tools

Resume Guide and Sample

If are set on San Diego for your J-1 Experience & the cost of living hasn't put you off your California dream, here is some information to help you in your job search! A great place to start is to ask your friends who have been here before and apply with their former employers.

Create your seasonal summer resume & search for entry level seasonal jobs/work. Sell yourself & what you can bring including your "Irishness"!

Play to your strengths & experience in relation to entry level seasonal jobs (i.e.: restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, surf schools, Amusement Park). 

If you speak Spanish or another language be sure to highlight. (NB: Surf schools test employees' swimming capabilities, so only apply to a Surf School if you are a strong swimmer). 

Apply for entry level jobs, the chances of getting a bartending job, (even with years of experience), are extremely slim when applying remotely. A busser or other support staff job is a much more realistic job opportunity.

Keep in Mind:

• Employers will search for you on social media platforms, so be cognizant of how your social media presence reflects you professionally!
• California protects (live link) workers right, however if you are not preforming to a satisfactory stander you may find that you are simply not scheduled for shifts (let go).

Credible Job Boards: The tiles are live links so click to go directly to the online job boards.

The Irish Outreach Center is a member of the (live link) Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers. Please know that there are also Centers in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle & San Francisco. Whether you spend the summer in San Diego or visit at the end of the summer, the Irish Outreach Center is your home away from home.

We wish you the very best in your job and accommodation search and plan to send more information about San Diego as it gets closer to Summer! Please attend one of our orientation sessions held weekly starting Mid-May through Mid-June as this will assist you with setting up your Social Security Number & bank account and mobile phone service.

Kind regards,

The IOC team

Email: J1Summer@irishoutreachsd.org