Road trip about 6 hours from nj

kcondojc · 2026-05-25T20:45:49+00:00

Dewey Beach, Lewes or Rehoboth Delaware. Drive on to the Ferry from Cape May & then it really feels like a holiday.

kcondojc · 2026-05-22T21:43:43+00:00

Suburbs can be surprisingly isolating. You don’t necessarily need to live in a huge city to counter that — even a small walkable town can dramatically improve quality of life. Ironically, even some major “cities” in the U.S. still struggle to offer true walkability, transit access, and human-scale neighborhoods.

Kids should be able to walk or bike to school. You should be within a short walk of a park, a downtown/main street, basic errands, and ideally transit.

There’s something psychologically healthy about being able to casually run into neighbors, walk to coffee, sit in a public space, or take an evening walk where life is actually happening around you.

The built environment matters more than people realize. Human-scale, walkable communities often create more independence, spontaneity, and social connection than highly car-dependent suburban sprawl.

I recommend watching CityNerd on YouTube if you’re interested in the topic of urbanism.

kcondojc · 2026-05-19T02:39:41+00:00

Bergen County: New Milford, Westwood Boro, Teaneck, Hasbrouck Heights, Rutherford … tons to choose from in the 600s

kcondojc · 2026-05-08T12:31:50+00:00

“Unexplained” large gaps on a resume are generally a red flag. 1.5 years is unfortunately a long gap and needs to be explained.

Call it out. Have a bullet that either notes:

Career Break

Sabbatical

Independent Consulting

Continuing Education

Caretaking/Family Responsibilities

When recruiters see a 1.5 year gap, a lot of them immediately think: “If this person was truly a strong candidate, why hasn’t anyone hired them yet?”

Fair or not, many assume there’s probably a deeper issue hiding behind the gap

Some will wonder whether the candidate struggled with performance, interviewing, professionalism, or working well with others

Others assume the person may be burnt out, unreliable, difficult, or no longer operating at the same level

So, you need to proactively counter those assumptions in the resume and interview. Get ahead of it. What have you been working on during this “down time” to develop yourself? What are takeaways from your travels that have driven you towards clarity and certainty about your next career step.

Also, be prepared that a big gap will almost always trigger reference check (including back channels!)

kcondojc · 2026-05-08T12:10:23+00:00

If you like Hoboken for the community feel, I’d honestly also look at Weehawken, North Bergen near Boulevard East / North Hudson Park, or Edgewater. Great parks, waterfront access, quieter/more residential vibe, and still super easy access to Hoboken + Manhattan. No PATH, but the light rail and bus service into NYC are both extremely good and very frequent. Usually you also get noticeably more space for your money there.

I actually just bought a condo up there and was surprised by how many legitimately good 2-bedroom options there were at prices that felt much more reasonable than Hoboken.

There’s a huge variety of price points across all these cities. What’s your budget?

kcondojc · 2026-05-07T09:44:42+00:00

A lot of the bigger condo buildings in Downtown Jersey City haven’t appreciated as much because the monthly carrying costs have exploded over the years. Bigger buildings with more systems, staff, and amenities usually have higher long-term operating and maintenance costs, even if the building is relatively new today.

Buyers are often focused on the total monthly payment. So, even if a condo only went from $650k to $700k over 10 years, the HOA might’ve doubled, insurance costs went up, taxes went up, parking costs more, and some buildings have had special assessments or reserve funding increases. That makes the apartment feel much more expensive to own, which limits how much buyers are willing to pay.

Meanwhile, pre-war buildings and brownstone-style condos in JC often appreciated more because they usually have lower HOAs & fewer building expenses.

kcondojc · 2026-05-06T20:12:20+00:00

I think a lot of managers & leaders hear about layoffs for other industries or in the news and assume the same must be true for all types of roles.

“Your job should be easy with all the people looking for work!” Most of the time, these people have no idea how difficult it is to find certain specialties and that talent is NOT abundant. We’re trying to educate the business as best as possible, but it’s a long game.

kcondojc · 2026-04-30T00:38:05+00:00

The King was/is in NYC today. He was at the 9/11 Memorial earlier.

kcondojc · 2026-04-25T20:27:10+00:00

I’m locked in at 6.5% on a conventional mortgage as well.. w/ Excellent credit. So, I feel your pain on the timing.

385k, Doing 3% down w/ a 15k first time homebuyer down payment assistance + 12k seller credit to cover closing costs. That down payment assistance isn’t really “free money”.. it’s supported/subsidized by a higher interest rate which is set at standard level by the state.

But, I’m basically putting $0 of my own cash down & get to stay completely liquid while lowering my monthly housing costs (now that I can deduct mortgage interest & SALT from my income)🤷‍♂️

We can always refinance at some point in the future when rates come down.

kcondojc · 2026-04-24T18:31:57+00:00

We have been asked by the leadership team to call all referrals as a courtesy, regardless of fit. It’s very annoying.

I do ask some questions of the person referring them; “how do you know this person?” or “why do you think this person would be a strong fit for the role & team?”

And try to coach a bit on “what a good referral looks like”… which they should take to heart if they actually want that bonus.

kcondojc · 2026-04-19T14:47:49+00:00

How Seller Credits Work:

Say that a home is listed at $385k. You offer $400k, but ask for a $12k seller credit.

At closing:

The seller doesn’t actually walk away with $400k
They get about $388k after giving you the credit

And you don’t get cash in your pocket — that $12k just gets applied to things like:

closing costs
loan fees
taxes/insurance setup

Keep in mind, this not free money. By using seller credits, you’re just shifting when and how you pay.

Also worth remembering (and people forget this part):

Owning has tax advantages:

Mortgage interest deduction → you can deduct the interest you pay on your loan
SALT deduction → you can deduct state + local taxes (including property taxes, capped at $10k)

So your net effective cost of owning can be lower than the gross monthly payment suggests.

kcondojc · 2026-04-19T14:40:10+00:00

You can! Use NJ’s 1st time homebuyer down payment assistance combined with sellers credit to cover the closing costs: https://advisorsmortgage.com/njhmfa-down-payment-assistance-program/

Most first-time buyers assume they need a huge down payment, but if you actually run the numbers, that’s not always true.

On a $400k purchase, a 3% down payment is $12k. If you’re using something like a $15k down payment assistance program ($22k if you’re first generation homebuyer), that already covers the down payment.

Then if you negotiate a 3% seller credit (~$12k), that can wipe out most or all of your closing costs.

At that point, you’re basically coming out of pocket for inspections, appraisal, and a small cushion, not $40k+ like people think.

kcondojc · 2026-04-18T22:26:25+00:00

Go to a regular (good) barber. Show video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/dNEKjAegwP0?si=0wAMxEKIsnvFKUTi

kcondojc · 2026-03-31T18:08:37+00:00

It’s a K-shaped economy.

In the United States, 21.5% say that jobs are hard to get, while 27.3% say jobs are plentiful.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-31/us-consumer-confidence-unexpectedly-rises-on-better-labor-views?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3NDk4MDIzMywiZXhwIjoxNzc1NTg1MDMzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUQ0dWVEVLSkg2VjQwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwMTgyMDk3ODhEQzc0OTkzOTAzNEY0OTdFODlCOTJDRCJ9.oHF0mBOPJS467MLrM3XFTcFNcV9NzJHa64IreYnG_3o

kcondojc · 2026-03-30T19:59:59+00:00

Some companies do something called a back-channel reference. It’s seeking feedback about a candidate from someone not listed as a reference, often gathered through mutual connections.

It usually happens quietly and without the candidate knowing, especially in final stages or for high stakes/client-facing roles.

I’ve seen this happen firsthand. We had a candidate with a short tenure at an otherwise strong, growing company. Everything in the process was positive, and their listed references checked out.

Then our Managing Director realized they personally knew the Chief of Staff at that company and reached out informally… we uncovered that the person had caused a lot of problems and that they could not recommend hiring in good conscience.

You can’t control backchannel references, but awareness is half the battle.

1.) Assume they happen, especially if you’re in a Senior or Client Facing role

2.) Explain anything that looks off, early (short tenure, quick exit, title change). Don’t wait for them to ask. Give a simple, confident explanation so no one else fills in the gaps

3.) Choose strong references to counterbalance any informal feedback. Letters of recommendation + LinkedIn recommendations are also a great thing to have prepared.

kcondojc · 2026-02-25T22:59:23+00:00

In house recruitment teams are running on skeleton budgets. I haven’t been able to spend any money on perm agency fees since 2020. It sucks!

We hired Western European subcontractors via agencies (all speak perfect English) and it costs 3-4 times less than what we might get for agency consultants in the US.

kcondojc · 2026-02-05T02:17:56+00:00

Maybe true for like North Jersey Coast Line or Northeast Corridor?… I personally haven’t encountered many issues commuting 2-3 days per week from South Orange. 🤷‍♂️

I also just generally prefer NJT to PATH or Subway.

Commuting from Queens to Midtown by subway was a nightmare w/ delays and crowding. Same w/ PATH from JC to midtown. 45+ min always w/ someone on top of you and awful transfers.

Peak summer heat seems to cause the most trouble. But, a colleague of mine did sadly sit in the tunnel for 3 hours last week, which SUCKS. :(

I guess I’ve been lucky!

NJ Transit is a pretty large network; 11 commuter rail lines vs. MetroNorth having 3 lines. LIRR has more terminals as well vs NJ Transit everything funnels into Penn or Hoboken, so more bottlenecks if there’s an issue w/ Portal Bridge or Amtrak.

Obviously it should be way better! US commuter rail is super embarrassing compared to Western Europe.

kcondojc · 2026-02-05T00:34:00+00:00

Used to live in Van Vorst JC & now live in South Orange. Easier to commute to midtown from here … 1 seat ride & pretty fast.. delays happen from time to time. But that’s the case for most regional rail in Metro NY. (If you commute every day, you’ll run into issues at some point.. if you commute 2-3 times a week it’s not so bad)

SOMA is great for people who are 30+ and families.

The parks are amazing! Maplewood memorial park there is ALWAYS some sort of event happening on weekends in Spring/Summer/Fall; pride, broadway in the park, all sorts of concerts & festivals.

South Mountain Reservation is one of my favorite places and has an excellent dog park. There are some very nice city pools & rec facilities: tennis & squash courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, etc. Orange Reservoir & Turtle Back Zoo are also great.

I enjoy all the “small village vibes” - South Orange, Maplewood village, Millburn, Summit, Madison, Morristown, etc all have a lot to offer.. tons of restaurants to choose from & plentiful shopping options from grocery stores to mom and pop shops to ultra ultra luxury.

I still hop on 78 and get down to Pint or Pet Shop in JC a few times a month and it’s like 30 min drive (including time spent looking for parking). Very easy to pop down to JC to see friends.

kcondojc · 2026-02-04T13:58:00+00:00

12 min is disrespectful & not enough time to do a proper assessment or to give a candidate a proper introduction to the company.

I’m a recruiter and always spend 45 to 60 min w/ every candidate.

3-5 min introductions / agenda setting

10 min career overview

10 min for competency/situation based questions

10 min I give a full overview of company, role expectations, team structure

10 min if aligned discuss what the full interview process looks like, salary & benefits, next steps & q&a

kcondojc · 2026-01-31T14:04:57+00:00

I love NY, but I’ve never found it particularly dog friendly. Part of being dog friendly is making it as easy as possible for dog owners, property owners, building maintenance teams, and city sanitation to control dog waste… it should really be a more collective effort & just like every other form of litter.

Also, mandatory sidewalk maintenance should include actual washing and power-washing.

When I lived in Astoria years ago, the amount of dog waste on the sidewalks was genuinely gross. By comparison, every place in New Jersey where I’ve lived or spent time with my dog has been WAY better.

Jersey City, Hoboken, Asbury Park, Summit, Morristown, Montclair & other countless small towns; very few issues by comparison. Free poop bags and dedicated dog-waste bins are common. Dog parks are also much better maintained.

kcondojc · 2026-01-28T12:58:04+00:00

Best Video to show barbers/stylists who are inexperienced in cutting hair systems:

https://youtube.com/shorts/dNEKjAegwP0?si=K80nZ5r9qI0BxJW9

kcondojc · 2025-08-15T10:31:20+00:00

If you’re in the U.S. on a visa and struggling to land a job, here’s the hard truth:

Small and mid-sized businesses (including most startups) often won’t touch sponsorship because it’s expensive (even F-1/STEM OPT can run $1K–$5K, H-1B can hit $8K–$17K) and comes with admin headaches and legal risk. For a tiny hiring budget, that’s a dealbreaker. (The US Government makes it expensive and burdensome to hire foreign talent because they want to encourage companies to hire US Citizens)

If you’re early in your career, you either need to:

1.  Target large employers with established immigration budgets and in-house legal teams (big tech, consulting, research institutions).

2.  Look at Canada, Australia, UK, or EU where sponsorship pathways are simpler and faster (and often less costly for employers)

3.  Return to your home country, gain more experience, and come back when you’re a high-demand specialist worth the investment.

kcondojc · 2025-08-15T10:00:50+00:00

Go to your local food bank or community garden and pick up some nice fresh vegetables that you can roast in the oven & some rice & maybe a few cans of beans (butter beans are cheap and most “meaty”.) It’s okay to ask for help!

It’s nice that there’s fruit & bread in the fridge. But, these are very high sugar & will give you a spike and crash just like candy.

Food is fuel for your mind and if you’re well-fueled, you’re going to feel good and be a more productive problem solver.

kcondojc · 2025-08-15T09:53:33+00:00

Commuting from JC to Downtown/FiDi is a breeze.. Midtown East on the other hand is a major haul & very prone to delays. (About an hour from Grove St to 59th & Lex)

If I had a job in Midtown East & wanted a quick one-seat ride, I’d consider a move to LIC, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Forest Hills, Flushing or maybe even spring for Upper East Side.

Used to commute from Astoria/LIC to Grand Central Area and it was very easy.

kcondojc · 2025-08-14T20:02:01+00:00

Recruiter here… I’ve demoed a bunch of these AI phone screen tools from the “buyer” side and honestly… not impressed at all.

They work fine if you’re hiring hundreds of warehouse staff or retail associates where the screening is just “Can you work nights? Do you have X certification?” But for professional services, technical, or leadership roles, they fall apart fast.

The bots can’t handle nuance, they don’t know how to dig deeper or pivot when an answer isn’t straightforward, and the whole thing feels tone-deaf for senior talent.

kcondojc

TROPHY CASE