My biggest advice to an NYC newcomer:

Be intentional. Walk with purpose & confidence!

Say yes to everything.

What you give to New York, it will give back. Approach the city with passion and good energy, and it will meet you halfway.

Lastly, please, please, please ask for whatever you need—New Yorkers are surprisingly helpful and will often go out of their way to support you. I wish I had realized this sooner!

find your community. i found the irish community.

if you are looking for a j1 job, attend irish communtiy events. but also atend americans ones, you are a unique asset then. Staying connected with the Irish network is essential, but don’t limit yourself. In New York, what makes you stand out is being the Irish voice in American spaces.

Prioritise attending American networking events, professional associations, and industry mixers. This makes your Irish background an asset that differentiates you!

Where to Find Networking Opportunities:

Eventbrite

Meetup

LinkedIn Events

Networking Events by EMRG Media

NYC Networking Nights

TechMeetups NYC

Young Professionals Mixer

NYC Business Networking Group (NYCBNG)

Women in Business NYC

Creative Connect NYC

Event Planner Expo 2025

Level Up in NYC

Practical Tips for NYC

Make Business Cards – it feels old-fashioned, but it sets you apart & makes you unique in NYC, especially as a young grad!

Find a Mentor – SCORE.org is an amazing U.S. service that pairs you with experienced mentors! This was one of the best things I ever did.

Be Visa-Ready – many employers panic when they hear “visa.” Have a short, simple paragraph or document prepared explaining the J1 Graduate Visa.

Perfect Your Pitch! – the main question everyone in NYC will ask is: “Hi, what’s your name and what do you do?”Have a 30-second pitch ready to answer.

LinkedIn: Keep it updated and use “Open to Work.” Networking on LinkedIn is huge in NYC. I would even consider investing in LinkedIn Premium

Social Media: Make sure your digital presence across Insta, Facebook, Tiktok, etc reflects who you are. Employers often check profiles, so remove anything you wouldn’t want them to see. Keep LinkedIn updated.

Visa: Beyond your J1, other options include H-1B, O-1/O-1B, L-1, a Green Card, and a few more!

No one uses business cards, so do it an differntiate yourself

Start a free website

say yes to everything

the highs are high and the lows are low. on a good day do it all.

perfect your 20 second pitch.

Housing & Living

Neighborhoods: Many J1 grads live in Queens (Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside, reasonable rent wise) or Brooklyn (Bushwick, Williamsburg, more expensive). You will find a lot of Irish in Yonkers (personally it’s a bit too far for me, I like being in the middle of the chaos!). If you are financially savvy you should get a place in New Jersey (way more bang for your buck there, if you don't mind a little longer travel!). Manhattan is expensive, so most people commute.

Room Shares: Use Spareroom.com, Facebook housing groups, or Irish community pages to find sublets. Some great Facebook pages are Irish Mammies, Let's make our lives easier, J1’s New York.

Budget: Expect rent from $1,200–$2,000 per month for a room in a shared apartment if you’d like to be near the city. Always (!!) view in person before paying anything.

Savings: Before you come, I would recommend having as much savings as possible if you want to travel and enjoy yourself. I spend about $1,000 - $1,600 a month, on top of rent!

What to Buy: I have put together an Amazon list of everything I bought when I first came! Your notice when you come that Amazon is way more widely used in the US than it is at home. https://www.amazon.com/shop/vivirishgirlinnyc/list/32O02SGTBGDEC?ref_=aipsflist

. Finances

Banking: Open an American bank account (I like Chase Bank, Bank of America, CitiBank).

Credit History: The U.S. runs on credit for everything. Get a credit card asap to start building a credit score!


Lifestyle & Survival Tips

Transport: Get a MetroCard (or even better, the OMNY tap system) for subway and buses.

Healthcare: The U.S. system is very different – make sure your insurance is active and keep details on you at all times.

Weather: Winters are freezing, summers are sweltering. Invest in the MOST COMFY walking shoes.

Culture: New Yorkers are very direct but very friendly. Time is money here, so always be clear and confident. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help.

You’re already taking the right steps by preparing early and asking questions. I hope you learned something new today :)

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat,

Vivienne

Reach Out Anytime!

I was fortunate to have amazing guides and mentors throughout my life, and everyone deserves that chance!