J1 SUMMER WORK AND TRAVEL SAN DIEGO 2024

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   

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.

There 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 are:

• Cost of living
• Competition for jobs & finding affordable housing.

The cost of housing in 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.

San Diego is the number one destination for J-1 SWT visa participants & US college students, therefore there could be hundreds if not thousands of young people looking for summer jobs and accommodation in San Diego ay the same time.

DO NOT FOCUS ON THE ONE AREA !

San Diego is the most popular destination for J1 Summer students. This makes it very difficult to secure work. Please do not only focus your job search in Pacific Beach and surrounding areas. San Diego's North County which is only 30 to 40 min drive has beautiful seaside towns such as Solana Beach, Oceanside and Carlsbad. Lego Land theme park, located in Carlsbad are always in need of workers for the Summer season. Further up the coast closer to LA you have areas such as Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. These areas are popular summer spots and have great nightlife. It can be easier to secure jobs in these areas if you are coming to California in as part of a large group. We would strongly advise to look for jobs and accommodation in these areas. The train service is a great to way to stay connected with San Diego and beach towns along the coast.

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 providers & rental website (we do not recommend Craigslist). Last summer (2023) saw a notable increase in rental scams. Be aware!

When looking for accommodation the only fee that you may have to pay upfront would be for a tenant background check (also known as an application screening fee), which cannot legally be more that the landlord's actual out-of-pocket costs and runs around $40.00 per applicant.

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

FYI: all short-term rentals, in San Diego, such as Airbnb.com & Vrbo.com will require the landlord to hold a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license.

Accommodation in the beach neighborhoods over the summer months will be very expensive, with short-term/month-to-month lease being considerably higher than in-land neighborhoods.

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: 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 for a week or 2 (Have this booked before departure)

• 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 tools

GETTING AROUND SAN DIEGO AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT

If you fly into LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) there are busses and trains that bring you from LA to San Diego. The Amtrak train service runs from Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown San Diego. The train stops at places like Oceanside, Solana Beach and Carlsbad before the last stop at Santa Fe in Downtown San Diego.

Another option of transport from LAX is the reLAX or LALINQ shuttle bus that brings you directly from LAX to San Diego.

Every year, J-1 students want to live at Pacific Beach. Living & securing a job at the Beach is competitive. Use the 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 1 page 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. Get your foot in the door!

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 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) and now you will not be able to remain in the US without an approved job.

Credible Job Boards:

PREVIOUS J1 EMPLOYERS

While the Irish Outreach Center do not provide J1 jobs we do our best in assisting and pointing in the right direction.

Places like Belmont Park, Town and Country Resort Hotel and Petco Park go through the sponsors USIT, SAYIT and CIEE to employee J1 Students. So to increase the chance of securing a job it can be better to go through the option in which your sponsor offers you a job.

If you decide to go out and look on your own you may want to look at beach bars, bike rentals, surf rentals and coffee shops as they tend to need more workers for the summer months. Start by getting in touch with previous J1 Students who worked in San Diego, its all about connections and networking. Have a look through the listed neighborhoods (Clickable links) at the top to search for business's and potential employers.

THE IRISH OUTREACH CENTER

The Irish Outreach Center is a member of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers. Please know that there are also Irish 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.

The Irish Outreach Center is here to help and assist with J1 Summer students. Our orientations should be your first priority when you arrive. Do not be afraid to come to us with any issues you have, we are here to help and have over 25 years of experience helping students. Lost Passports are a common thing among J1 Students so please get in touch ASAP if you have lost a passport so we can get you a new one or an ETC (Emergency Travel Cert).

It will be very beneficial for you attend at least one of these weekly orientations as they assist with Social Security Numbers, Bank account's and other query's. The dates for the J1 orientations will be Wednesday May 22nd & 29th,Tuesday June 4th and Wednesday June 12th. We hope to see you there!

NIGHTLIFE

It is important to know that San Diego is not a 24/7 party city like New York or Miami. All bars close no later than 2 am and require everyone off the premises. With this comes a high demand for taxis at that time, especially at weekends. It can take a while for uber or Lyft to locate a driver. Do not start to walk home alone should no driver be found, wait in a crowded and visible area. Police presence is high around pacific beach and Gaslamp, so if you need assistance approach an officer.

Important notice: Drinking age is strictly 21 or over. All bars and clubs in the San Diego area do not accept any other form of ID other than California ID, US driver’s license or International Passport. If you do lose your passport, please contact us at the Irish Outreach center as soon as possible so we can help get a new one. The sooner you contact the sooner you receive a new passport or Emergency Travel Cert (ETC). 

HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE

In the end of the day this is a once in a life time opportunity. A summer in California is hard to beat! Many other US Cities offer a great experience. We wish you the very best in your job and accommodation search. More information in an email about living , working and spending the summer San Diego will be sent out as it gets closer to Summer! Keep and eye out!



Kind regards,

The IOC team

Email: J1Summer@irishoutreachsd.org