Summary

The author's life was significantly impacted by Craigslist, which provided their first job, ideal roommates, and a fulfilling side gig.

Abstract

Craigslist, often criticized for scams and untrustworthy content, proved to be a life-changing resource for the author. After graduating college with degrees in creative writing and video production, the author struggled to find employment through conventional job search platforms. However, persistence on Craigslist led to their first job in digital marketing. Later, Craigslist also facilitated the author's search for roommates in New York City, resulting in positive living situations and friendships. Additionally, the platform connected the author to a side gig managing a poetry Instagram page, aligning with their personal interests and providing valuable experience in social media marketing. The author emphasizes the importance of patience and discernment in navigating Craigslist to uncover genuine opportunities.

Opinions

Craigslist, despite its reputation, offers valuable opportunities for those who are willing to invest time in searching.
The author's initial job search frustration turned into success through a Craigslist posting.
Craigslist provided better roommate matches for the author compared to a professional roommate finder website.
The side gig found on Craigslist was particularly rewarding as it resonated with the author's personal hobbies and allowed for additional income.
The author advocates for giving Craigslist a chance and using common sense to differentiate between scams and genuine posts.

Craigslist Changed My Life

My thank you to a misunderstood website

Craigslist gets a lot of hate. Many people think of it as a place for scammers, creeps, or a plain waste of time.

True, there are many scams on Craigslist, but there are also many opportunities. You only need to take the time to dig around.

I’m a big fan of Craigslist since a few posts from online strangers changed my life from that website.

Here are a few highlights.

My First Job

I graduated college in 2016 with a double major in creative writing and video production. In my mind, the entire point of going to college was so I could launch into the working world soon after graduation.

I thought it would be a breeze to land my first entry-level job with two degrees in hand. I found out the hard way during my last semester this would not be the case.

After applying to dozens of positions on LinkedIn, Zip Recruiter, and Indeed I had no offers. My graduation date was looming, and I was getting desperate.

This desperation led to looking on Craigslist. There were a lot of fake job postings. But after keeping my eye on new posts daily, I came across one for a digital marketing assistant position.

Long story short, I got the job and started a week after graduation.

While the place wasn’t my top choice and the position was a contract one, it got my foot in the door of the working world. I also gained some real experience to beef up my resume.

My First Roommate

Fast forward a year, and I landed a new job in NYC. My daily commute from Connecticut was almost three hours one way. I toughed that out for about two weeks before looking for a place to live in the city.

This was in 2017, and the renting market in NYC was fast-paced. I was on every roommate website, along with all the Facebook groups. Openings were posted, and within a few hours, they would get filled.

Craigslist was on my radar, but I wasn’t taking it seriously since it was hard to find non-sketchy postings. But, my long commute was making me desperate.

With my mom’s help, I narrowed down a few promising Craigslist openings. I found a new place on the Upper East Side. My roommate ended up being awesome, and we are still close friends today.

I tried a professional roommate finder website the following year in 2018 and ended up with a crappy roommate. So in 2019, I went back to Craigslist, met the nicest woman ever, and moved to a fantastic apartment in Astoria.

Craigslist — 2 Roommate Finder Website — 0

The Side Gig

I’m happy at my current job, but I still love to check out the creative section on Craigslist now and then.

Most of the time, I’m looking for freelance writing gigs. But late in 2020, I found a post that felt like it someone wrote it for me. The gig was for a poetry Instagram page needing help with engagement and other tasks a few hours a week. I was already running my own poetry Instagram page, so I knew what they were looking for.

It became my first side gig client. It’s helping me get a taste of working besides my day job while learning more about social media marketing. It’s a win/win.

I’ve had the gig for months, and I’m still so happy with it. Making extra money is great, but when it’s for something that doesn’t even feel like work, that’s the best.

Thank you Craigslist

Saying Craigslist changed my life might sound dramatic to some people, but to me, it’s true.

Craiglist gave me my first adult job, my first roommate outside of college, and my first side gig.

It’s a great place to find hidden opportunities. I never know what posts I’ll discover next.

To Conclude

Don’t underestimate Craigslist. There are some great finds on there if you stay patient and sift through lots of posts.

The more time you spend on it, the easier it’ll be to spot the scams from the gems. Use common sense when reaching out to new posts, and you’ll be fine.

Happy hunting!

Thank you for reading.

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