Unwelcome vibe? (Portland, Detroit: houses, neighborhood, college)

[Sprightly]

Disembodied, I would pay it no mind. I am from the infamous California most recently though not originally. I've had a couple people have a bit of a freeze of the smile when I've said that, but that is in comparison to dozens and dozens of others who didn't seem to care one way or the other.

The real key is the job situation and that varies by individual. Based on what your field is, your experience, and your unique profile. No matter how bad the economy is jobs still exist and somebody gets them. The question is will it be you? I'd suggest talking to a career counselor or placement person based here in Portland to see what your personal prospects are beyond just the general pessimism that exists about the economy.

Good luck

Sprightly

[Deezus]

When I moved up to Portland in 2003 from Ashland, the job situation in town--while bad, wasn't at the horrible level it's at now. But still it took me roughly 3 years before getting a full-time job in a field that was worth pursuing as a career. Prior to that I worked temp agency jobs, freelance writing and graphic design, working with my friends on landscaping projects, basically anything to make a little cash. I also worked several internships and volunteer jobs to expand my skill set and networking connections. This is the reality of the Portland job market. If you don't know anyone it's very difficult to get your foot in the door. My advice is to network as much as possible, start making connections, do anything you can to distinguish yourself from the hordes of other job applicants. The company I work for recieves 100+ resumes a day for even the most menial of positions--and many of these candidates are overqualified and relocating from outside the area. And since the economy has crashed, there are a large number of people from the construction and real estate trades looking for employment.

As said before on this board, the unwelcome vibe is the reality of the job market in Portland..the people up here are great, most people are pretty friendly and polite in this town.

[kagicre]

We moved here in Sept. 2007, without a job lined up - my husband is a fence installer - and he found a job the same day we came to Portland. To find a place for rent with a bigger dog (she is a Labrador-mix and weights around 70 lbs) wasn't that easy, but we found a house after 1 month looking for one - in the meantime we lived in our old RV. Than we thought we would make a better living in Texas, because the rents are much lower and there are lots and lots pet friendly ones (and not only for tiny pooches), so we moved away from Portland, OR. That was a big, big mistake and we are back since 2 weeks. The wages are real bad, the people very friendly, the traffic was terrible, the weather unbelieveble. We lived 3 months in Tulsa, OK, till we couldn't stand the heat and the low wages. The house we rented was great.
Anyway, we knew we wanted to go back to Portland, so we put all our money together and took the plunge. My husband found work after 3 days (not the best job, but a job for a start) and now we are looking for a rental house again in Portland for around 800 dollar with a yard and a garage, where the landlord/landlady is pet friendly. So if anybody knows something, tell me. I appreciate it very much. And my husband is Californian (I am German) and we never had any bad vibes. The people here on the forum they revere to, I think, are the people from Cali who think they are better than the Oregonians. And show themself like that. And I think the Oregonian are very open minded and open for changes, but changes for the good, like living in harmony with nature.

[PHXtoPDX]

Originally Posted by Neal2009

Well its good to hear a success story for once. You came here when things were at their worse and still managed to find a job. I have another friend from Texas as well who came in late May and had to look for about a month, but finally found a job after some hard searching. He isnt working in his dream field, but he is willing to make some sacrifices because he loves Portland and the lifestyle here. I think people realize this, that there may be some sacrifices, but in my opinion Portland is more than worth it.

As much doom and gloom that there is right now, there are success stories and what was written about Will earlier I dont completely buy. The power of will and belief can manifest things including jobs and arent always dependent on the circumstances.

I'd be the first to tell you that it took a LOT of luck. I think Portland's job market is well beyond the point where someone's force of will can manifest a job. What it can do though is help one endure until you do find something, how ever long that might end up being.

I managed to stay at the same level I got laid off from in Phoenix, but that's not saying much as I was already underemployed there. Now I'm underemployed, but with a much more robust culture and abundance of natural beauty to explore on my days off. That alone has been worth it for me.

[Disembodied]

Thanks for all the input.

[angelbug]

Originally Posted by Neal2009

Take everything you read on this board with a grain of salt. The majority of transplants never experience what you are describing and those who do are in the minority.

I agree. My best friends moved to Portland 10 years ago from San Francisco and have never had any problems at ALL because they came from California. They fit in perfectly in Portland and have a huge circle of wonderful friends, many of whom I've met when visiting them. Portland is on my short list of potential relocation places (I'd be bringing my job with me, so no issues there), and I have no fears at all about coming from California, based on their experience and the fact that I know my outlook on life and living style is so similar to theirs.

I think the key is: if you move somewhere, you have to accept it for what it is, and not try to remake it or complain that it isn't like where you came from. If where you came from is so wonderful, stay there. No place is perfect, so the minor adjustments you need to make when you relocate are just part of the process of becoming comfortable there. It's the complaining that puts people off transplants, no matter WHERE they live. I even felt it when I lived back east and had many work colleagues from California who were constantly complaining that it was too flat, too green, too cold in the winter, our license plates changed every year instead of staying with the car forever...you name it, it was wrong. It gets very tiresome.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by angelbug

I think the key is: if you move somewhere, you have to accept it for what it is, and not try to remake it or complain that it isn't like where you came from. If where you came from is so wonderful, stay there. No place is perfect, so the minor adjustments you need to make when you relocate are just part of the process of becoming comfortable there. It's the complaining that puts people off transplants, no matter WHERE they live. I even felt it when I lived back east and had many work colleagues from California who were constantly complaining that it was too flat, too green, too cold in the winter, our license plates changed every year instead of staying with the car forever...you name it, it was wrong. It gets very tiresome.

Bingo! Yep. Complaining about the things that are different than the place you came from is tiresome and silly. If you didn't want things to be different, why would you move?

As a young teen when we moved, we complained a lot about how different CA was from CO. But we were kids and we didn't want to leave what seemed like a paradise to us. As an adult, making a free choice, complaining it is different is silly.

[sarahkate_m]

Oregon could certainly benefit from better mental health services. i imagine there isn't much money to spend on it, though. if you have a way to provide services in a way that the economy would deem feasible: by all means, market yourself. it remains to be seen how that could be done.

the advice to find a way to network in advance of a move sounds best.

best wishes, kate

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by davefr

I think you're misinterpreting the responses.

There are a lot of people posting questions here think that they can move and immediately find equivalent jobs and achieve a better quality of life. A lot of these same posters apparently have never experienced really tough times either.

You're confusing "unwelcome vibes" with "dose of reality". With over 12% unemployment and high cost of living anyone contemplating a move better get that "dose of reality" or they may be in store for a very rough time here.

If I "pop their idealistic bubble" so be it. At least they may think through their decision making process.

(i.e. Get the job lined up first or prepare yourself financially for a lengthy search and/or make interim visits to begin some local networking.) I consider that friendly advice.

Hey, it looks like you're doing your job.
I myself have contemplated this and said goddamn, Oregons COL does not match its unemployment, so I am deciding to either stay put, or consider another US city like Louisville.
If going to the welfare office is a total way of life, then that reality isnt great no matter how good Portland may appear. I had a great time visiting, but living there all yr round while it takes way long to get a job just may not be a pleasant reality. Some do get lucky and I think I could be one of them, but my advice would probably be to get involved with a company in your current location and see if you can get a transfer to Portland and even then, those people can have a hard time if they lose that job afterwards.
I loved Portland, but I cant rush into it and take the risk now.
I don't want to regret leaving the Northeast since at least jobs can be had there even if its a little wait.

[OregonDaisy]

Originally Posted by kagicre

We moved here in Sept. 2007, without a job lined up - my husband is a fence installer - and he found a job the same day we came to Portland.

That's great, and that was also 2 years ago.......the economy and unemployment rate has gotten decidedly worse since then.

Originally Posted by sarahkate_m

Oregon could certainly benefit from better mental health services

Absolutely correct! My mother has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years at her local hospital on the coast, and has spent the last 20 of that on the Psychiatric Ward. She is always complaining that the mental health in this state is horribly under funded and under staffed. They don't have the facilities or the professionals to handle the case load. Many of those in need slip through the cracks.