Advice for a first time mover to Chennai from Gujarat

some

I am a recent IT graduate(27 yrs old male) and want to move to Chennai to look for IT jobs in Chennai and
nearby cities. I am at present in Gujarat and don't seem to get much interviews as there are not that many IT
companies as in TamilNadu. Where can someone like me find affordable accomodation(around 4000rs for 1 bedroom
apartment including bathroom) in a safe and quiet area? I don't want to be a Paying Guest.
I want to stay alone as most of the time I will be searching for jobs and studying. Where can one search for such
apartments other than local newspaper ads? Are utilities(electricity) in the tenant's name or landlord? How much
do they typically run per month? Is the lease/rental agreement for 12 months normally or there are places
which offer month to month rental also?

I can speak Tamil, but cannot read and write. Some reading on this forum mentions rickshaw drivers
overcharge a lot. Any suggestions on how to tackle/avoid it other than using public transport most of the time?
Is bus the best option for someone without a vehicle?
Is it possible to survive on 7000rs a month in Chennai considering rent for 1 bedroom apartment including bathroom,
meal expenses, transportation(minimum as not employed at present) and broadband Internet connection.
I am at present paying around 1000rs for broadband only with BSNL 256kbps unlimited plan.
How difficult is it to get a new Internet connection for a newcomer and what documents are required?
More or less I will be like most college students without any source of income, but instead of staying
in a hostel or with roommates I want to stay alone. What are the main public libraries there?

Any particular areas/places a newcomer like me should avoid apart from strolling late in the night?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Nick-H

Hello Some, welcome to the site .

Whereas I know that very, very many people live on 7000 or much less in Chennai, I would be completely at a loss to do so. Maybe my wife would begin to know how, having lived here all her life.

Rents are increasing fast here, but yes, you should be able to get somewhere small but decent for 4,000. I used to have a very nice upper portion of a house in a fairly posh area (2B2HKB) for 6,000, but an ex-neighbour tells me that it might fetch 12,000.

I got my BSNL connection with not much more than my tennancy agreement. I got a government-agency gas connection too, but I think you have to have a ration card to get one of those these days. The BSNL should be fairly easy.

The electricity will either be charged to you by the landlord, and some make an exhorbitant profit on it, or it will be in the landlords name with you paying the bill directly every two months. That is, obviously, the best way. Phone, broadband, will be in your name.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

some

Thanks Nick for your prompt reply and warm welcome.
I believe most college students might be living on that budget, but is it pretty hard to live on that?
Will a 1 bedroom be possible in 4000 range and how does one search for them?
Was the tenancy agreement for 12 months or less? Does the landlord ask for 2 or months of security deposit? Do they lend to people without a job typically? Any other issues I need to be aware of while signing such an agreement?
I don't have my own ration card, but my name is on my parents ration card. Will it be too hard to get one for me as an individual?
How much do the electricity, phone, broadband bills cost generally for a single person(I am looking for a range as I realize it all depends on usage)? Is phone required(meaning can you just get broadband without a phone line as VSNL allows here in Gujarat)
Thanks for your time and help.

Nick-H

First the bad news: landlords tend to ask for ten months rent as deposit. Yes, that is a shocker, and pretty tough. I negotiated down to five months, but my landlady was someone who had known me personally for some years. You can expect also, if you go through an agent, to pay them one month rent as commission. The agreement is likely to be for eleven months.

You can check the newspapers, such as The Hindu on a Saturday. There are also local papers and free listings papers. You can ask around local shops, and almost everyone, whatever their core business is, seems to be a property broker if you are looking for property!

You can always get gas connections from private agencies. The cost of the refill is much higher, but if you are not cooking for a family then the cylinder will last you a long time, and the margin over the govt-subsidised bottle will be hardly noticeable.

As you are in India already, you must be as aware of the cost of living as I am --- or your parents will give you a better lesson than I can, especially your mother. Since I got married, I tend to be aware that stuff is in the cupboard and money disappears, rather than the detail of what it gets spent on*. Ask your mother what her budget is. Inflation of food prices at the moment is so bad it is hard to predict the future .

There is an article in today's The Hindu about three families, on various incomes of between 9,000 and 55,000 a month, and how rising prices are affecting them. The 9,000 example is a family of 4 --- so yes, with good savvy and street sense I guess you can live on your 7000. Again; crash course in shopping from your mother would probably be the best thing! Broadband costs will be the same here as where you are now, I would think.

Once you get your IT job, you should do very much better than 7,000. Good luck!




*lazy man, yes: but I did look after myself alone for previous 15 years!

some

Thanks for the quick reply.
I am wondering how do college students who come to Chennai for studies and choose to rent an apartment(rather than live in college hostel) manage ten months of rent upfront?
When I was living in Surat(in Gujarat) alone(in 2002) while I was completing college my monthly expenses were below 2000(rent 550 for a 1 room shared with another person, for meal expenses 1000 at a canteen/mess, travel about 200. I realize for 8% inflation in 6 years it will be much higher now since Chennai is a LOT expensive for property than Surat and I don't want to share a room which I did while in Surat so 7000 seems a bit far fetched at present. The main issue will be gathering the funds for ten months deposit.

The entry level IT jobs I noticed are paying 12000-15000 per month before taxes in Chennai. As I don't have a lot of experience in IT it will be tough for me also to get a better job.
Do you believe a move to Chennai might help someone like me for IT jobs(just your opinion as I understand it varies a lot from person to person, contacts, skillsets and many other things). My main skills are in open systems(C,C++,UNIX) some Oracle and SQL.

Thanks for your advice and time.

Nick-H

I imagine that many such students will live as paying guests, but that is something I don't know anything about.

I know even less about the work market, I'm afraid, and certainly not what skills are in demand just now, but yours sound pretty good!

nayan

some,
I interned in Chennai for 2 months.
1.Drop the idea of your own apartment. It will lead to unnecessary expense and hassle. landlord may not be eager to rent to an out of state person who is "searching for job".... ie no references and no surety of income. you can stay in a "mansion" - they are actually guesthouses for men in your situation - searching for job, doing short term internship etc..... My male colleagues were staying in one such "mansion" in triplicane area. OR you can also opt for a paying guest accomodation.
2. food may be a problem as you may have to adjust to tamil style dabbas. donot know any other low cost options.
3. Nothing much can be done about the autos.

you will manage well within 7000 if you live student style..... but count out the "own apartment".

Nick-H

Good, a post from someone who knows! Thanks Nayan: my experience is really not appropriate to help Some.

some

Nayan,
Thanks for the reply.

Can you please let me know how do I find such places? How much do they cost approximately? How is the "mansion" exactly? Do you get a 1 room and your own bathroom or is it hostel style with small individual rooms for all people and 1-2 bathrooms in a floor? Can you get broadband Internet connection in such places?
Do they need any deposits, tenancy agreements, surety of income and references etc? Any other matters I need to be aware of in such places? And is the local HINDU and Web the proper place to look for them or are there better options?
I thought of this, but realize it might also be expensive and particularly if the household/neighborhood is noisy it might be difficult. Incidentally, do they also need any deposits, tenancy agreements, surety of income and references etc? Any other matters I need to be aware of in such places? And is the local HINDU and Web the proper place to look for them or are there better options?
You mean I have to get tiffin from some nearby canteen in tamil style dabbas so will get limited food?
Does that indicate I should avoid autos as much as possible and rely on buses?
Student style means only rent, meals, broadband Internet and transportation?
Thanks for your advice and time.

nayan

1. Its hostel like acco..... with 2-3 people per room but with attached bathrooms. 1 month deposit may be required. no documentation required. this are mainly found through word of mouth. You reach chennai and settle into a budget hotel for first one week. the hotel staff/ local shopkeepers /internet shop etc will give you the pointers.
2. I meant you will most probably not have access to any kitchen. So you have to depend on outside food. the lower budget food available will mostly be tamil style. if you are ok with that then no problem for you. amount of food is almost never an issue.
3. take buses whenever feasible.
4. studen style means rent, meals, internet, transportation... and also occasional movie, some comfort food etc

some

Thanks for the reply.
Where can I find budget hotels in Chennai? Should I look on web or Hindu? How much do they cost per day? What should
I ask of the hotel staff? That I require a trainee guesthouse? How much do these guesthouses cost per month generally
from your experience? How big are the rooms? Do they have 3 beds with three tables for 2-3 people?
You mean my diet will be mainly rice, sambhar, vegetables, for lunch and dinner and occassionally I can afford
some idli/dosa/uppma etc.?
I realize they must be crowded like buses in other metros, but also frequent and punctual? Here where I live in Gujarat they are not punctual and less crowded, but we have a shared auto system in which four-five travellers
going to the same place ride one auto and pay about 7rs for a 6km ride. Not quite convenient, but affordable and
quick rather than waiting for the bus for a long time.

Any other matters I need to be aware of as a newcomer?


Thanks for your help and time.

pmvelu

Hey Some,

First of all , all the best in your job search .

May be for first time , you are coming out of your Home town and hence you are feeling nervous.

You know Tamil and that will solve much of the problems , as if you know only Hindi and English and try to get settled in chennai, initial days might be real tougher one. You don't need to know to write Or Read Tamil But as you are able to speak that itself will help you a lot.

There are quite a lot of mansions around chennai and From your requirement, Mansions around Aminjikarai , Nelson Manikkam road , Mehta Nagar might suite you (These places are just 2 kms from Nungambakkam Railway Station -Electric Local Train & equidistant from Loyola College (Approximately these places are around 10kms from chennai Central /JN). I know one of my friend staying in a pretty decent clean and calm mansion in the abovesaid area, and it consted him 1500 Rs/ month and the room is shared by 2. (There will be 2 cots, 2 cupboards, 1 fan & Bathrooms /toilets will be at the both ends of every floor & Mess is at the Mansion itself and there are "N" number of messes around that place and it was 5 years back and the same mansion has single room too (At that time it was around 2300 rs/ Month) and he paid 1 month advance and the condition is : he can vacate any time but 15 days notice should be given-- Notice means just he needs to inform the Mansion Manager. They never ask for any Proofs or anything else BUT that particular mansion has all people like you only (Completed Professional courses and trying for a job in chennai & My friend just resigned from TCS and styaed in this mansion for a year or so and prepared for GMAT and when it haven't worked out he joined another S/W company. And in this mansion , they allow to have your system (And internet too I suppose & some extra Electricity Bill need to be paid). Other preferable areas are Near Tiruvanmiyur, Besant Nagar , OMR Or ECR(But they mainly cater to S/W professionals..I mean it will be in a bit costlier side)

There are "N' number of mansions but try to avoid mansions around Triplicane, Thousand lights, Near the Marinia beach as they are crowded with all kinds of people with Very narrow Pathways , wineshops / Noisy neighbours etc which might be a hindrance to your Job Search.

The best way I could say is : Try to find out a Friend's place (if you have any) and stay for 1 week and roam around and see the places and decide OR Come to chennai, get a lodge ( I saw one Gujarat Guest house itself (Run By government of Gujarat) in Wallajah road (around 6 kms from Chennai Central) Or there are few lodges (Look wise not so good) near to chennai central itself when you take "Poondamalle high road". This is the one and only way to find a ideal mansion to stay.

Hope the above clears your apprehensions/ doubts on mansion part.

If you stay in Mansion, Regarding food part:

1)Do not worry about food part at all in chennai.. There are "N" number of Messess / Hotels which serves all flavours of india (Especially AP/ Kerala/ North indian). So it does not mean you need to depend only on Rice & South indian stuff. And you will get chappathis / Dal Fry etc in any mess and so food might not be a problem. If you are so specific on Gujarat cuisine, once in a while you could visit Gujarati Hotel just very near to Vadapalani Murugan temple and it's 50 Rs for Gujrati Thali and 70 rs for Rajathani thali and I tried out and it's the best. (This hotel is just walkable distance from TCS -Vadapalani office.

2) And cost wise, there is no big difference and definitely you can afford upma/ Idli /Doas etc BUT sticking onto Mess is much much economical and that won't create any Digestion issues.
Hope this clears on the food part.

Regarding Transportation PArt:-

1) Yes, Chennai have share-Autos (Equivalent to Phat-Phat) andit runs in all routes across length and breadth of chennai.. So it's easy and affordable !
2) Regarding Chennai Buses, it will be crowded especially from 7-9 and 4 -9 pm and in case you are planning for attending any interviews, Taking auto is the only way (the reason is obvious)
3) Regarding punctuality if city buses, I am not able to understand what it means as in any metro, the runnning time depends on the heavy traffic and the Route the bus takes.

Regarding Your Job Search Part:-

1) I assume you completed your graduation in this cycle .If so, getting a interview call is the main hurdle. Try out posting your resumes to all the companies you dream for. If you get a interview call, you need to mainly concentrate on:

a) Your attitude
b)Your Body language
c)Your communication

and that's it.. there are 1000s of resumes all top IT MNCs get from freshers and hence the focus mainly be on the above said soft skills .

2) Once you got settled try to some course in renowned institutes or Try out some certifications like OCP (Which will help you in a long run)


And Regarding anything else you need to be aware of as a new comer :-

Keep your cool & nothing much to worry as such & FYI, Chennai and Bangalore especially have 1000s of job searchers in IT field like you and within a month you will feel , chennai is your second home town.


And Regaring Auto Part:-

No auto in chennai uses metres, and I am born and brought up in chennai and never I felt happy with chennai autos and so knowing Tamil / Looking like tamil totally is immaterial . Best way is to check with somebody (app. the distance) and ask the autowallah (Don't depend on the metres) and if they tell 100 rs ask for 50 and then bargain and that's the only way.


Hope this write-up helps. If you have anyfurther questions , Post.

some

Hi PmVelu,

THANKS SO MUCH for your wishes and detailed reply.

Will a single room in one such mansion be more than 6000(which was 2300 5 years back) at present? I know it is hard
to be sure but can you please give me some approximate idea?


What are they exactly called in Tamil? In Gujarat such shared autos are called shuttle.
I graduated late and unfortunately did not land a single interview though I am relentlessly posting my resume to
every opening I think I can fit, but alas did not get anything at all till now. The issue is my academics are not
great(62% average of four years in B.E. as it was South Gujarat University whereas most applicants these days have
well above 75%). Also, most applicants at my age(27) have 6 years of work experience whereas I have only 1 which
is also hindering me.
How is the water situation there? In Gujarat there is not much of an issue, but I realize it must be difficult there? Or I need not worry as if I stay in a guesthouse there will be some suitable arrangement?
THANKS again for all your advice and time.

pmvelu

Hi Some,

I checked with the same friend and it seems the single room might cost only 2500 to maximum 2750 now and I made a mistake it was 1500 Rs at that time it seems and he don't have contact info of the mansion too.

In Tamil too, we call share auto as share auto only

And regarding your Job Search:-

I too had the same Confusion initially as you stated your age as 27 and your post appeared to be first time job searcher. Hmmm Not sure on what to tell but that might be the first question in your interview.(What you did for 6 years and what are all the options you tried out and what extra qualification you gained during these years)..

If you feel right, Please try to get a job for 3000 rs or 4000 rs in any small company(Either Testing /Dev/ Maintenance/Conversion and THAT experience will definitely give you a edge rather than spending another year or so to get a big job. There are such companies in chennai (But unfortunately I do not have any contact info) which want to get free kind of work.. Join one of them till you get a proper / dream job and once you tell in the interview you are in so & so company that is definitely going to help you and nowadays all Big IT MNCs expects a Experience Certificate / Latest Salary slip and this will help you. Also you could work in a BPO for time being which will support your job search financially also give u a feel of office environment..

Sorry to REITERATE but first and foremost goal (If I were you) is to get a job whatsover in IT environment as soon as / as quick as possible. Preparing / Reading Still will lead to waste of time only and this may not do any good to your career.


Regarding Water Scarcity in Chennai :-

Yes water scarcity will be there BUT Mansions would arrange water appropriately by hiring more water lorries and you could definitely check this when you are going to rent in BUT that won't be a Bottleneck for mansions atleast !

All the very best again

some

Hi PmVelu,

THANKS again for the prompt and useful reply.

Any chance he knows/remembers the name of his mansion? That way maybe I can look it up.



Do testing/software development/maintenance/conversion jobs pay only 3000-4000 in Chennai? I am surprised.
I thought call center jobs paid more than that?
Also, those jobs also require experience in testing/maintenance. There are some openings for freshers, but not as
much as before due to the IT market at present and the HUGE population of May 2008 students coming with
B.Sc/B.E/BCA/M.sc/M.E/MCA/M.Tech/B.Tech degrees. It seems a fresher generally needs to struggle a bit unless he/she
gets hired in campus interviews
By BPO(Business Process Outsourcing) you mean call center jobs or something else? I might get hired in a call
center but as that experience will not be counted as IT I did not do so till now.
Yes, I am also applying for whatever jobs I think I can do and NOT waiting for a dream job, but it seems
I am out of luck so far. I am trying since some 6 weeks but did not get any call till now.


How could I check if water facility is proper or not at a mansion? Do I need to ask the mansion managers
or actual folks who live there to get the accurate picture? By water scarcity you mean water will be available
only for a certain duration(1 or 2 hrs) in which people staying in the mansion need to finish their morning ablutions
else they will be stranded?


THANKS AGAIN for your advice and time.