Part-time/temp work outlook (Portland, Clackamas: good credit, loan, attorneys)

[dlb8685]

Living in Chicago right now (24 y.o.). Been working at a corporate office of a payday loan company since early '08, just about on my last nerves both with the work and with the moral ramifications. I would have quit 2 months after I started if not for the bad economy in Illinois and U.S. in general.

My brother is moving to Portland fairly soon, and there is at least a decent chance my mom will go as well. We lived there 15 years ago in Clackamas and I was old enough then to have a general idea of what the area is like. I really liked it and have thought about moving back for a few years. Since then I've been living in Ohio/Illinois/Michigan. I haven't lived near either brother or mom since I was 18, so it would also be nice to be back around family.

Any ways, planning to take a few math classes as prerequisites, and then go to school next year to get an education M.A., to teach math in the long-term. I'm trying to determine if it is feasible to do this in Oregon. I know the employment opportunities are not great there, but I would like to describe what I am specifically looking for, compared to some of the other numerous employment threads.

I want to work 20-30 hours/week and study the rest of the time. I have $15,000 saved so I can afford to suck it out for some time. I would be looking for work in any of the following categories:

1) Restaurant (2 years experience waiting tables)
2) Legal Assistant (temp... 1 year experience Legal Assistant)
3) Temp office work (2 years experience Operations in corporate office)
4) Anything graveyard shift
5) Anything retail
6) Any other ideas that people can suggest

I can work for $9-$10/hour. As long as I'm treading water or slightly losing money each month, everything is fine.

A lot of the "it is impossible to get a job around here" posts seem aimed at people asking about FT jobs with benefits, supporting families, etc. What is the difficulty of picking up work on the other end of things given parameters above? If I went out tomorrow and applied for a job at every restaurant/store in Portland, what are the odds I would come home without a job?

Also are certain areas of the city more likely to hire? I've read stuff about people not wanting to work as much on the outer fringes of the city because they want to be in where all the action is.


Also longer term, are math teachers in as much need in Oregon as some other places? I've heard conflicting reports.


Really appreciate any help/tips anybody can offer.

[malone7384]

Hi there,

I actually work in the staffing area so hopefully I can give a semi - educated guess for you. As for temp work where you only work part time - you should be okay. And the $9-$10 an hour is pretty reasonable for what you would be applying for. I know that in one of our offices they specialize in the Admin types positions and call center, etc....those usually start about $9 - $9.50 per hour.

Now on the teaching thing - keep in mind that a lot of school districts have laid off teachers over the last year to year and a half. Many of those people have moved out of state or have moved on to other types of work.

I would connect with the districts that you are interested in working in and start making connections now. This town is a very networked town and many of the jobs that are out there are never posted anywhere. They are found by word of mouth.

Good luck on your search. Honestly, since you do have a savings to fall back on, you will most likely be okay. My one big concern for you will be where do you plan to live....are you planning to live with family....going to get a roommate.....going to try to make it on your own????? If you are trying to make it on your own then you are going to find it really tough affording a place to live by working part time on $9-$10 / hour. Use Craigslist as a means to get an idea of what the housing costs out here.

Good luck!

[Minervah]

1) Restaurant (2 years experience waiting tables)

Very, very strong competition. I tried.

2) Legal Assistant (temp... 1 year experience Legal Assistant)

Even the schools giving paralegal training are advising people to move when they graduate because the job opportunities are slim to none with many recently graduated attorneys taking them at clerical wages.

3) Temp office work (2 years experience Operations in corporate office)

Your best bet because companies are hiring temps so they do not have to pay benefits. The company I work for makes no bones about doing this.

4) Anything graveyard shift

Don't have experience with this.

5) Anything retail

From personal experience, I have friends with many years of experience who go from job to job after being laid off time and again. Finding these jobs may not be too difficult but keeping them is another story.

6) Any other ideas that people can suggest

The mantra: have enough money saved to live on for at least a year. It may not take you that long to find a job but there is the strong possiblity it will.

Obtain a skill that few people have that is in demand. Check out various company websites for these as well as the State of OR website.

[philwithbeard]

Personal Opinion:

If you move out here with a built in social / family support group you are ahead of the game.

One of the biggest got-ya's in the Portland employment market is current work history, and credit rating score. If you have a good credit score, and are currently employed, that is in your favor.

Your age is also in your favor. Portland seems to be a youth orientated town.

Read the other posts, and consider their opinions and comments. But there are jobs in Portland, and lots of resumes for each open job. But the Great Recession will end. Do you want to be around for the end of the Recession in Chicago / Michigan / Ohio region or on the West Coast?

[dlb8685]

Originally Posted by philwithbeard

Personal Opinion:

Read the other posts, and consider their opinions and comments. But there are jobs in Portland, and lots of resumes for each open job. But the Great Recession will end. Do you want to be around for the end of the Recession in Chicago / Michigan / Ohio region or on the West Coast?

Anyone else tired of this crap?

I'm not as bad off as a lot of people, but really starting to wear on my nerves.

[Rob Allen]

Not sure what you're objecting to - Phil was agreeing that moving to Portland seemed like a good bet for you. I agree. By the time you get the MA, school systems might be hiring again.

[dlb8685]

Sorry I hope that wasn't mis-interpreted. Objecting to recession in general, not anything any one said. I actually appreciate the feedback a lot.

More of a wtf did I do to cause any of this? I pride myself at being responsible with money and staying out of trouble. Now a lot of people have to put with crap because of the ineptitude of a small minority.

That's what I'm frustrated at (and I'm sure a lot of those same people are out there now waiting to pounce on the next asset bubble)