Atlanta Named #1 Place to Start a Career - Local Professionals are Agreeing.
Hear one young professional's story of choosing to start a career in Atlanta and her involvement with the Midtown community.
07/03/2024
BY ANNA CLAIRE EDENFIELD
Atlanta was named the #1 Best Place to Start a Career in 2024 by WalletHub. Experts compared 182 cities using a metric scale based on professional opportunities and quality of life.
The city earned the top spot due to high employee satisfaction rates, rapid growth in median incomes and its reputation as a place where individuals can find happiness beyond work.
The fast-growing population, hangout spots and numerous job opportunities provide individuals a vibrant community to kickstart their professional journeys. In Midtown alone, residential buildings continue to spring up to accommodate the growing population. The district has added some 11,000 residential units in the past five years, with more on the way.
Haley Casola is a young professional who has worked, lived and thrived in the city for four years. She is a statewide project manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development offices located at Tech Square and an active member in the Atlanta community.
We spoke with Casola on her journey from small town to big city life, and her thoughts on the WalletHub ranking. With a deep love for her Atlanta community, arts and neighborhoods, Casola’s story is a testament to why the city is the best place to start a career.
"FILA - Forever I Love Atlanta"
“If I could have ‘FILA - Forever I Love Atlanta’ tattooed somewhere, I’d probably be the one to do it,” Casola said.
Originally from Covington, Georgia, and a graduate of the University of West Georgia, Casola always had a passion for the city. The bustling streets, endless dining options and city life fascinated her from a young age. Even as a college student, she frequented the city for getaway weekends with friends.
Atlanta’s diverse neighborhoods stood out to Casola, knowing that she would be able to feel at home no matter which area she settled in. She highlighted that neighborhoods like Midtown, Brookhaven, and Downtown each cater to different personalities and interests.
After living in Brookhaven at the beginning of her career, she recently made the move to Midtown and has been enamored ever since. She values the walkability of Midtown’s street grid, the diverse crowd and various entertainment options within the Southeast’s largest concentration of arts and cultural venues.
Now, Casola has lived in Midtown for three years and has worked in the area for one year. She confidently says that her time here has significantly boosted her professional and personal growth.
By leading with curiosity and asking the right questions, she has discovered numerous opportunities to get involved and share her passion for the community, fully embracing and contributing to the vibrant life found in Midtown.
Finding Happiness Outside of Work
Casola finds happiness outside of work in local clubs and organizations. Once she began exploring her interests, she found it easy to become involved. While Casola is a project manager by day - she finds joy in being a stand-up comedian by night.
As a part of the comedy community, she builds on her skills by participating in local comedy and improv classes, connecting with other talented individuals and embracing the challenges of each performance. You can even book her as an event emcee through her business Casola Speaks.
Attending stand-up classes is just one way Casola engages with her local community. In 2022, she competed at the New York Marathon as a runner with Atlanta Track Club, gaining a new sense of community given the opportunity to represent Atlanta in a different city.
“I was very passionate about it,” Casola said. “I just had a lot of pride in being able to do that with other people from Atlanta.”
Her involvement with Atlanta goes beyond personal hobbies. Casola is “Big Sister” to a 12-year-old girl through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta program. She feels rewarded being able to give back to her community through volunteer service.
“Atlanta is a big city,” Cassola said. “But it’s small enough that once you start getting involved in things that you’re interested in, it almost feels like a small town.”
Feeling at home in a big city can be hard for newcomers. But Casola believes getting involved is the best way to start seeing familiar faces on the streets and feel integrated into a new community.
Haley Casola's Top Five Indicators for Choosing Atlanta
WalletHub’s experts chose the top five indicators when choosing a city to start a career in. Casola identified her own top indicators, and how Atlanta matched up.
Captivated by Atlanta’s assortment of neighborhoods, abundance of job opportunities and arts/entertainment scene - Casola knew the city would offer her the high quality of life she was seeking.
2. Access to Arts and Entertainment
Whether it is live music or theatre, she knew the city would be full of rich entertainment – providing her opportunities to perform and attend.
3. Proximity to the Atlanta BeltLine
This unique Atlanta asset was a large reason for Casola’s choice. The ability to have a place to walk, drink, dine and enjoy the outdoors allowed a place for her to connect with the community.
4. Accessible Transportation Network
Public transportation options throughout the city make commuting manageable and Casola wanted a practical way to navigate the city.
Georgia’s weather assured Casola she would be comfortable outdoors year-round.
Advice to Future Professionals
For recent or future college graduates planning to start their career in Atlanta, Casola encourages stepping out of their comfort zone and embracing new experiences.
Her favorite quote, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done,” affirms her belief in the importance of leading with curiosity, exploring new hobbies, getting involved in community issues, attending free events and continually seeking new opportunities.
“If you keep trying, you’ll find your people,” Casola said.
