The worst cities to start a career

CALL THE MOVING VAN: For recent graduates eager to launch a successful career, there's no shortage of factors to consider, from the industry they want to work in, their target salary to support an ideal quality of life, and the type of community they want to call home. But that final factor — and the livability and opportunity within any given locale — may deserve additional scrutiny in the decision-making process.?

WalletHub recently ranked 182 U.S. cities to determine which cities are the best to start a career in 2024, as well as places to avoid, rating each city based on 26 key metrics under two main categories — professional opportunities and quality of life.

"Today's college students value three main factors when selecting an employer and realizing a longer tenure: Is the organization genuinely interested in hiring them due to their unique background and personality, does the organization genuinely care about making a difference and having a positive impact, and how does the work environment feel," Bob Orndorff, senior director of career services at Penn State University, said in a WalletHub release.

Read more about the cities to avoid as a young professional: 20 worst places to start a career

AVOIDING A JOB LOSS: As hiring continues to slow and the unemployment rate inches upward, workers are going to great lengths to ensure they remain employed — even in the face of layoffs.?

According to Resume Builder, nearly a third of workers would be willing to take a demotion or pay cut to avoid being laid off; one in eight workers report they have already made sacrifices to stay with their current company. In other words, employees are willing to negotiate rather than face the job search while being unemployed.

"If I don't have money in my bank account to survive a layoff, I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep my job and benefits, especially if my family is depending on those benefits," says Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at Resume Builder. "But I don't believe that a big percentage of those people make concessions to stay in the long run. They're for another position."

Read more about this dicey issue: Workers would take a demotion or pay cut to avoid being laid off

THE SKILLS COMPANIES WANT: It's clear that employees will have to be technologically savvy if they want to thrive in today's workforce, but they don't often know what that means — or how to adapt.?

Ninety-two percent of jobs require digital tech skills, according to the National Skills Coalition, and yet one third of workers have low to no digital skills due to lack of investment in those areas. In an effort to help them narrow where they should be focusing their time, system design interview prep experts System Design School gathered data on the most in-demand tech-specific skills being sought after on Glassdoor.

"In today's competitive job market, having the right tech skills is more important than ever," Sheldon Chi, ex-Google engineer and creator of System Design School, said in a press release. "Whether someone is just starting their career or looking to advance, understanding which skills are in demand can significantly improve job prospects and career trajectory."?

Read more about the expertise employers are looking for: Employers want to see these 10 tech skills on resumes