A: I’ve been with BoomTown for 6 months
A: Downtown (on the peninsula)
A: I moved to Charleston from Upstate New York to attend the College of Charleston and stayed to start my career.
A: I’m not sure how it started, but tech talent and jobs beget more tech talent and jobs. People are moving to Charleston to work in the sector, in turn growing it and making it a more attractive place for companies and entrepreneurs looking for pools of that talent.
A: Network! There are tons of events on Meetup. Also, if you can be choosy, try to live one bridge or less away from your job.
A: Supporting + advancing the tech community
A: When interviewing for jobs in the spring before graduation, I was faced with the choice of moving to Silicon Valley to work for a large company, and all the challenges that come with that (big corporate structure and policies, insane housing prices and commute times, etc.), or staying in Charleston and working for a local company. I was almost relieved when the Silicon Valley gig didn’t work out. Charleston is big enough to have a great tech sector, but small enough to still have a healthy tech culture. And I can complain all I want about Charleston traffic, but I still only drive 10 minutes to work every day.
A: Since it’s not enormous, events feel more personal and you frequently recognize faces, which is a great way to form connections -- “Hey, weren’t you at XX last month? What kind of work do you do?”
A: Go out to eat! There are so many great and interesting restaurants. A few of my favorites are: Ice Bing for Taiwanese tea, Torres Superettes for actual Mexican burritos, and Page’s Okra Grill for rich Southern food.
A: One of my favorite places to walk through is the Unitarian Churchyard at 4 Archdale. There’s a lovely tree-arched walkway off busy King street that leads to the yard, which has tombstones mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s shaded by old trees and has flowers growing throughout. It’s a great spot to rest if you’re out walking around or shopping downtown.
A: Insightful
A: Charleston Artwalk. Most of the galleries around Broad Street, in the historic area of Charleston, open their doors for free and offer wine and bites to snack on.
A: Initiatives like CodeON from Charleston Women in Tech, which gives kids in under-served neighborhoods experience in coding, and SC Codes, a newly launched free curriculum through the state that offers courses on software development. They’re exciting for the possibilities they can open up for people.
A: Walking through the quiet streets near the tip of the peninsula when the sun is setting. There are huge old houses with brass knockers and ivy, tiny cobbled courtyards with lion-head fountains, and gas-lit iron lamps that never go out. It’s unique to still be able to have that experience so close to the rest of the booming city.
A: Only in Charleston can you get stuck behind a horse-drawn carriage on your bike as a Tesla passes you.
#5 in the U.S. for high-tech GDP growth (Milken Institutue 2017-2018)
#1 City in America for Economic Opportunity (YELP)
“Best Place to Start a Career” (WalletHub)
Top East Coast City Attracting Millennials (Inc. Magazine)
The opportunities to work in technology in the Charleston region are practically endless, so dig in. We’ll help you find your place, connect with companies, and find the job that fits you.
