Ease of getting jobs in Portland area?

[brandonlee206]

Agree -- Seattle is a much better prospect. I worked in Portland for a year and it's embarassing what companies pay people in Oregon. PDX ain't exactly cheap when you look at local salaries. If you land a Seattle job and can tele-commute from PDX, then cool. Otherwise -- go to Seattle and do it right from the start.

Originally Posted by SeattlitefromNC

You are definitely NOT going to make 42k in admin in Portland, OR.

Just a hint of what you are up against:

Portland is flush with college students and graduates, and from what I hear, a lot of older workers get "pushed out" in favor of younger, cheaper help. This happens pretty frequently, from what I hear. As a result, wages are ridiculously low because turnover (whether by layoff or discrimination, legal or illegal) is so high.

There are still accounting positions out there, but it helps to be well connected.

Seattle has a much better job market than Portland, but even it is feeling some of the heat from the current economy.

[ruthpurple]

You said: "Over the weekend we found a company where we could get a local address and have our mail scanned/forwarded and also a company where we could get a local phone number that forwards to our phones. you are correct that it is very tough to get a job anywhere right now."

I'd like more information on this. If it's allowed on this forum, I'd like to know the company name since we might consider doing this ourselves.

Otherwise you could email me privately at [mod cut]. Thanks.

[wandering_starseed]

To answer your question about Nike...
Kelly services has it's own branch that handles Nike contracts, though many of the vacancies they need to fill are in customer service or manufacturing.

[sevawnaeco]

Originally Posted by ruthpurple

You said: "Over the weekend we found a company where we could get a local address and have our mail scanned/forwarded and also a company where we could get a local phone number that forwards to our phones. you are correct that it is very tough to get a job anywhere right now."

I'd like more information on this. If it's allowed on this forum, I'd like to know the company name since we might consider doing this ourselves.

Otherwise you could email me privately at [mod cut]. Thanks.

Earth Class Mail for establishing an address and tollfreeforwarding.com to establish a local phone number that will forward to yours. I hope this helps you out.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by sevawnaeco

Over the weekend we found a company where we could get a local address and have our mail scanned/forwarded and also a company where we could get a local phone number that forwards to our phones. you are correct that it is very tough to get a job anywhere right now.

Please be careful and check this place out thoroughly. There are predators out there who would promise a service like this and then take the money and run. And if you are discovered, you could be hurting your chances at getting a job. It seems to me there are just too many ways this trick can backfire on you. I wonder if it is even legal since you are dealing with the US mail.

[sevawnaeco]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Please be careful and check this place out thoroughly. There are predators out there who would promise a service like this and then take the money and run. And if you are discovered, you could be hurting your chances at getting a job. It seems to me there are just too many ways this trick can backfire on you. I wonder if it is even legal since you are dealing with the US mail.

We did our research with BBB and forums, etc... It is legal and they do not open your mail, only scan the envelope. You do fill out a form that states they can receive mail for you. You only have the mail you want to go to this address. The phone number gets forwarded directly to a phone number you want it to go to. Many people use local addresses and phone numbers of people they know when they are searching out of town and this is a great service if you do not know anyone in the area. One should always do their research on a company before doing business with them. It is at their own risk. As far as backfiring, we are willing to fly there for an interview with a days notice and having a local phone number so that businesses do not have to call long distance. We just don't want to be ruled out because we are from out of town when we have the skills and qualifications to apply for an open position. We are willing to take on the expense, we just want to get employed.

[SeattlitefromNC]

Originally Posted by sevawnaeco

As far as backfiring, we are willing to fly there for an interview with a days notice and having a local phone number so that businesses do not have to call long distance. We just don't want to be ruled out because we are from out of town when we have the skills and qualifications to apply for an open position. We are willing to take on the expense, we just want to get employed.

If you can honestly pack up all of your stuff and move within a week or two, then go for it.

However, my experience has been that Portland employers want you to start, like, yesterday. If they are looking for someone, they are looking for someone to start immediately. And if you can't start immediately, then the likelihood is good that they will drop you and move on to the next person.

A friend of a friend of mine owns a business and put out an ad for one position (and not even a well-paying one). She received over six hundred emails in response in 24 hours ... for a crappy, low-wage job. Extrapolate those numbers out for a job with benefits and a decent wage, and the numbers easily pass into the thousands.

Be very, very careful with what you are doing, because chances are that unless you really ARE ready to move within a moment's notice, you could get dropped once an employer catches a whiff of your deception.

Since you live so far away, you might be better off just moving here and looking. At least you'll be local ...

[argo69]

I would just like to say that I have received numerous interested responses to job application submissions over the past few months. These were for jobs in Portland and I made it very clear that I am currently living in Seattle so would be looking to relocate. Of course, I should also add that I had to decline looking into each of these jobs further as the pay quoted was too low, occasionally laughably so.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by argo69

I would just like to say that I have received numerous interested responses to job application submissions over the past few months. These were for jobs in Portland and I made it very clear that I am currently living in Seattle so would be looking to relocate. Of course, I should also add that I had to decline looking into each of these jobs further as the pay quoted was too low, occasionally laughably so.

I suspect that proves that this type of service will only get you the lowest paying least desirable jobs. You might consider taking one of these jobs just to get your foot in the door in being in Portland. Keep in mind many employers will not pay for your experience even though they demand it.

Being hired long distance is risky. I knew a couple from Chicago who got a job in Portland while still in Chicago through a friend who lived here. On their way to Portland their car broke down and they were delayed a couple of days. When they arrived in Portland they found that the jobs they had been promised had been given to someone else because of the delay even though they had called ahead to let the employer what had happened. They stayed here with their friend for a few months but couldn't find work so they returned home.

I still think it best to come here and do your own job searching. It just might be better for you in the long run to tell the prospective employer that you live in Seattle. If you do get a job and your employer finds out your deception regarding your address, you could be let go.

[maricel27]

look on craigs list portlasnd jobs