Employment

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by suncat

I'm sorry. Please don't take it personally. Portland is so bad that way, and I don't understand how they can't even be bothered to return calls. It's so rude, and unfortunately, pretty common around here.

I've never seen such a xenophobic place.

Suncat, I have been out of work in Portland when one company I worked for folded and again when I got laid off from another. The first time it took 6 months to get a job. The second time around I was out of work for a year when I decided to go to school to learn more skills. It didn't help much because I then bumped up against age-discrimination as well as inexperience in my new field. I finally got a job through a friend which is pretty much the way I got any job in the past.

Even jobs at supermarkets and non-professional jobs can be hard to come by. There is competition for those jobs too. You are correct in that many employers appear rude in not responding to letters and resumes but they are overwhelmed with the hundreds of job applications they get. I remember one place where I worked placed an ad in the Oregonian for a job opening and got 50 responses in one day. I kid you not!

It is difficult to get a good job in Portland. If you fit the image of what the employers are looking for which is usually young, energetic, multi-skilled and willing to work for not a whole lot of money you may find yourself a job. I can't speak for others' experience but this has been mine and sadly, that of many of my friends who have had to move out of state to find employment elsewhere.

So saying if you really truly want to live here, keep trying. You may eventually succeed someday. But it's smart to be realistic too and to know what you may be up against.

[luv the outdoors]

Originally Posted by michaelpdx

I am just about ready to head up to Portland from San Francisco (not an evil homeowner here! Just a young guy looking for something new.) I have been to the Pacific NW many times and love it.

I have a great resume and have applied to quite a few positions that would be perfect. I have a 503 # and whole bit as well. I have not received one call or email back on any. Do employers look and someone who has worked out of state and just write them off right away? I'm just not sure what I should do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Just hang in there. My husband is flying to Portland this morning for an interview and we have only been looking for a couple of months. This is his 2nd trip to Portland for an interview so it is possible to land an interview from out of state. At his last interview most of the company was from out of state. It seems these days everyone is from somewhere else. I think people just move around more than they used to. If you are already there then that should make it easier. There have been alot more jobs posted lately. For many companies it's the start of their new physical year so they have more money. Hopefully something will turn up for you soon.

[trozeboom]

Does it make sense to do something to stand out from the crowd? Write a clever cover letter, call the employer and introduce yourself, ask for an informal interview? Or is it not even worth it because everyone is trying to be unique?

[LynneR]

I think that trying to be 'unique' would really depend on what field you're in. It might work in an artistic field.....maybe not so much in financial.

Hang in there everyone. Once I started seriously applying for jobs (I applied for 12 positions listed on Craig's List in one week), I got 3 responses, 2 interviews and landed the job I wanted 2 days ago. So it only took 2 weeks to find a job. Of course, I'm a bookkeeper, and fortunately, almost every company needs one.

[luv the outdoors]

Originally Posted by LynneR

I think that trying to be 'unique' would really depend on what field you're in. It might work in an artistic field.....maybe not so much in financial.

Hang in there everyone. Once I started seriously applying for jobs (I applied for 12 positions listed on Craig's List in one week), I got 3 responses, 2 interviews and landed the job I wanted 2 days ago. So it only took 2 weeks to find a job. Of course, I'm a bookkeeper, and fortunately, almost every company needs one.

Congrats Lynne, that's encourgaging for the rest of us.