Jobs

[oregonready4change]

Originally Posted by ElphinKnight

Follow up with the temp agencies once a week. If they don't hear from you, they forget about you. Those agents are sales reps and all they're hoping for is a quick "sale"... a quick placement. And whoever they think of first gets the job. Never just apply and sit back any place - you won't get the job. Trust me, I know it's discouraging and I have been through my rough patches as well; so I'm not trying to criticize you. Also, as hard as it may seem, keep a positive attitude because a negative one comes through in everything you do and will make it harder for you to get a job. Try to stay positive. Take a walk, get some fresh air, clear your head... do whatever it takes to clear your mind, de-stress, and re-focus. It will help a lot. Good luck!

OK - first off, they aren't sales reps and aren't looking for a quick sale. Hmph. Yes, they have clients they need to make HAPPY, which would be to place employees that are BEST suited for the job - not the ones that call in incessantly. I worked at a temp agency and really, if you have great skills and the personality to go with it AND if there is a job that will well suit you, then you will be placed. The good ones stand out - it's the mediocre ones that blend in with the crowd. One word of advice - don't over call. Once a week is more than enough, and depending on the agency they will deactivate you if they don't hear from you after awhile. Trust me, you can't just send out whomever you think of first. It doesn't work that way.

[movinonup]

Oregon has been horrid for jobs since I have been here--over 27 years! Can't believe its been that long . . . Good luck.

[ElphinKnight]

Oregonready4achange...
I've worked through several contract agencies and temp agencies. They sure come off like sales reps to me. If you're paid on a commission, you're a sales rep; simple as that. Having said that, you'll note that I said to call weekly just as you suggested. More than that does get annoying. However, I've never had to wait more than 2 weeks for a placement when I used one, and almost every one led to a full time job. My current job came through a temp agency.

The job market is rough everywhere. The unemployment number is a rather weak indicator of the actual job market, and the United States has chronic underemployment right now - which I suspect won't change any time soon. Do you work for minimum wage at a retail store, even with a Bachelor's degree? Then you're officially "employed". Congratulations! You've just helped the unemployment rate go down. However, you are underemployed; and so are millions of Americans.

I'm not running for office. I'm just pointing out that I hear some complaining about employment in Oregon, but it's not easy any place these days. Michigan's January 2007 unemployment rate is 6.9%, Oregon's is 5.2%. (I'm in Michigan). Even if the unemployment rate says 2.5%, the fact is that many people are underemployed. The country is changing. We wanted Free Market(tm) capitalism, we got it. Always remember: Real capitalists control capital; everyone-else are their laborers.

[freedom]

Elphinknight; "Real capitalists control capital; everyone-else are their laborers".

I get where you are coming from with this statement, but it is not true for everyone. We do have choice here. In my opinion the rules lean heavily toward employers (capitalists) in order to create more jobs. By the rules I mean tax code, and pie slices.
The capitalist definitely carries much more responsibility, risk, and he/she can't always clock out after a 10 hr. shift. In my case the work is always there, I don't work 16 hr days anymore, due to relying on others, But I do give many small businesses (usually family run) a heck of a lot of income, and I am glad to be a vehicle for this. As well as appreciate their risk, efforts and loyalty. The average capitalist is middle class, family oriented, community minded etc...
Most are not Captains of Industry that have steel mills and coal mines, assembly plants etc...
This country is incredible for people that want to have a greater sense of destiny through self employment. The dividing factor is usually courage (to take steps out of your comfort zone). Vision (to look beyond ones list of I can'ts). Adventure ( to go where you have never been).

Overcome these three and keep integrity without fear and this country is set up for success. I am constantly amazed at the possibilities that are out there, we just have not been trained in our systems (public schools, higher ed. etc...) to see them and capitalize on them. If one builds a business with honor and service, it will never fail, but it is hard, hard, sacraficing work.
THe pay off is far more than $. It is Freedom.

[ElphinKnight]

Freedom,
No real disagreement with you. I would only say that the average capitalist isn't middle class, but is, in fact, upper-middle class or higher. Nonetheless, my personal belief is that people ought to run their own businesses. Most won't, and that's fine; we need laborers. But those who are smart enough to heed the warning and recognize what capitalism really means should be working to become real capitalists. I like to encourage that in people. And I run a business helping them when they decide to do so.

[Summertime]

Oregon Mom.. good advice to go to a temporary
agency, one that doesn't charge YOU to place
you in a job ...

When I moved here, I went to Kelly Girl,
which is now called Kelly Services, on State
Street, at that time..

They had me working immediately, and one
of the places they sent me was to the Oregon
Police Academy in Monmouth... another
was to a building, maybe it was the Dome Building,
on Center St. where there were all sorts of
interesting offices.. in one of them, a prisoner
on the HONOR system, was working as a filing
clerk/typist...

During a few months' time, Kelly called me for
temporary work many times. If I had stayed
with them, I am sure a permanent job would
have been offered, eventually.

Salem has several temporary agencies.. give
it a try....

[esya]

I don't know about Salem, but in the 1970s Portland was the hardest place I ever looked for, and found a job--in a restaurant, no less. Now I am looking in Oregon again, and find, through talking to headhunters, that a lot of people are moving from California. The same thing happens in Denver--once you get there you are competing with people from bigger places, even if you are living there. Also, I work in small towns where I live now, and honestly, they will pay all kinds of money to headhunters just to find a man to hire, overlooking qualified women right under their noses. Go figure.