Tech Job Market in Oregon? Thinking about moving without a job (Portland: jobs, house)

[timn420]

I’ve been trying to find a job in Oregon for quite some time but it seems you have to be a local to be even considered.

I currently live in Arkansas and sold my house a few months ago. I have about 10 years experience in database development/programming and am considering moving to Oregon without a job in hand. I have enough money to live a off of for a year easily. I was wondering what the job situation looks like in the Tech industry around the Portland area and if the job market is good right now.

My other option is to move to Seattle, where I understand the Tech jobs are a little easier to come by. I still don’t know if I can get into the mindset to move without a job, but I’m just living with friends right now and it wouldn’t be too much to just go.

[wtg]

I can't speak for Oregon, but I made a similar move to Seattle without a job.

There are a lot of tech placement firms that place people in temporary-to-permanent assignments with the big companies (Microsoft, Amazon, etc) out there. If you go to Seattle, they should be your first stop. I spent months applying directly to companies with no luck; once I signed on with a placement firm, I was employed in no time.