Austin getting some love on CBS Nightly news (Commerce, Howe: appointed, transplants)

[bpvarian]

Austin, Texas Leads the Nation in Job Growth - CBS Evening News - CBS News

Nice story.
Especially what they say at the very end.

[ImOnFiya]

I, too, appreciated Katie Couric's kind words about our city. However, (nitpicking) I didn't like the way the reporter made it seem like it was 'easier' to get a job here. I have a contact who is an HR manager who recently received over 300 resumes for a copier position!

Austin is not the land of plentiful jobs; rather, it is a place that is suffering less than most cities. I fear for the newly-formed caravans for half-cocked dreamers and desperately unemployed coming to Austin with no backup plan. (Along with the cultural adjustment to moving to Texas for out-of-state transplants) I can see the 'I'm disappointed' posts appearing daily on City-Data.

[Trainwreck20]

Most people really are smart enough to know that it is hard to find jobs anywhere, and understand that easier does not mean easy.

[ImOnFiya]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Most people really are smart enough to know that it is hard to find jobs anywhere, and understand that easier does not mean easy.

I disagree with that statement. You are assuming that everyone comes from a similar background of understanding such as yourself. The CBS news report did not evoke the complex sentiments you are expressing.

You are also assuming alot out of people you do not know. [Not knowing your personal history and job situation] I wouldn't fathom to guess how "most people" would respond. What I can tell is the image of Austin being presented. And I don't believe that somewhat 'skewed' messaging helps anyone.

[capcat]

Austin as an "entire community devoted to job creation" is a bit of a stretch.

[Trainwreck20]

You are also assuming alot out of people you do not know

Ah, but so are you . If people were to really believe the media hype w/o any personal 'filtering' of the story, we would have about 10 million people camped out in the city limit waiting for their easy job :P. People may check into Austin because they hear via the media that there are jobs here, but very few people will move w/o vetting the information for accuracy and/or establishing applicability to their own situation.

[Unclemeat]

There have been a lot of threads on this forum about people who can't get jobs because they're black, white, old, young, fat, hairy, etc. And since this forum represents only a small slice of the community, I'd say there are a LOT of people who don't understand how difficult it is to get a job right now and are assuming their struggles are related to something other than the recession.

But either way, I don't think many people younger than 50 really pay attention to what TV news says. And people over 50 are a lot less likely to just pick up and leave at the moment.

[orbius]

It didnt sound like a news story it sounded like an infomercial. All the foreclosures in the area arent because these people just landed a great new job in the land of job creation. Also the people who pack up and come to the land paved in golden jobs are soon going to be competing with highly educated ex-State employees with deep Texas roots and heavy connections in town.

[Nomadic9460678748]

Originally Posted by bpollard

Austin, Texas Leads the Nation in Job Growth - CBS Evening News - CBS News

Nice story.
Especially what they say at the very end.

B*llocks.

300+ resumes (job boards, Texas Work Force board, company web sites), walked in applications, posting my resume with temp agencies, applying for positions ranging from Wal-Greens, HEB, Target, Wal-Mart, clerical support, data entry, laundry room attendant, car wash attendant, among so many other things, and guess how many people have called me back? Two. I've had two interviews over the last six months and both were, in their words, "hesitant" to offer me employment because I don't own a car and must rely on the disaster which is Capital Metro. Strikingly contradictory for a city which claims it's so green that it is a mark against you if rely on public transportation. Quite frankly even if I could afford a vehicle I'd rather not.

I'm not a "transplant". I'm from here. I have my useless university diploma, a somewhat decent grasp of the English language (I'm quite capable of distinguishing between their, they're, there, and know that the possessive its is not the same the contraction, in other words, I have a brain, but it's apparently not good enough to be used in any of Austin's esteemed low-wage employment opportunities), I'm inquisitive, energetic, and do good work...all of which means nothing in Austin. The jobs which do exist here (bar tending, waitressing) I'm told I have no experience, I know, I've tried to apply for them as well and have even gone so far as to beg for for the chance to prove myself, because that's all I want is one d*mn chance. I don't claim I am being denied opportunities because of my race, gender, or what have you. I had, until now, been vicious in my commitment to pressing on until someone realized that I was worth the bet. But not any more. I'm more depressed than I've ever been. Austin has sucked me dry and the only thing I wake up with is a sense of dread that I have to face another day here. I'm demoralized, own nothing, feel like nothing, and just want it all to be done with. False hope and dumb optimism do not put money in your bank account.


So sure, come on down to this "mecca" of Austin, Texas and have a stab at this fabulous job creation. Once the state budget ax falls it will be that much more fabulous. More people to compete with. Good luck to any who come here, you're going to need it.

[AustinGuy]

Gee, this story really makes me want to move to Austin so I can find a job in the promised land!

Oh, wait, I already live here and this story is a huge puff piece which mostly seems to have been orchestrated by the BazaarVoice PR department and the Austin Chamber of Commerce.