How hard IS the jobhunt in Portland nowadays? (best cities, rent)

[Darielsdove]

Hello all.

My fiance and I are looking at moving to portland in the next year or so and I have a question. What IS the job market looking like up there in Portland and the surrounding areas, anyway? My fiance is a chef, and I've got my Nursing Assistant certification (and quite a few years' worth of waiting tables under my belt), so those are definitely the areas I'm talking about. As much as I'd love to fill a need for High School Physics teachers, neither of us are nearly qualified. :-)
I've moved blind before and it's never scared or bothered me. I seem to be uncannily able to procure employment (I'm only talking entry level, retail, server positions, etc.) simply by walking in and shaking hands, but I've also experienced prolonged unemployment before and it's not an experience I'm eager to try again. Both of our work histories are sound and professional references good, so I'm just curious - what's the economic situation like? If we end up moving out there without jobs lined up (I know, cue the "THAT'S A BAD IDEA" chorus....), should we be prepared (financially, mentally, emotionally) for 2 weeks' jobsearch? Two months? Six? We're both in our mid-twenties, if that helps demographics at all... I'm just looking for some perspective.

Thank you very much in advance.

[Yankeemama]

Your options don't seem that varied right now but hopefully things will change next year. I have friends with a decade or more of experience than you and your fiancé and they are only working part time- not by choice. You may want to apply to Whole Foods or Starbucks in a suburb of Portland and hope for a transfer to a closer in location down the road. The jobs just are not here. Seattle has the best economy in the nation and is only three hours away. Good luck!

[Minervah]

I have heard that WalMart always seems to be hiring. That could be an option. You may get lucky with your nursing assistant certification. That's one step above what most people have. You can google the hospital, nursing home and clinic websites to determine if there are jobs. Your competition may be with more experienced people in that field or even nurses themselves who cannot find nursing jobs.

I doubt you could get a job by just walking in and offering a handshake. Not in Portland. There are many, many people looking for jobs and about the only way to get an interview is send your resume in response to an ad in Craig's List (but watch out for fraud) or the newspaper or the Internet. Signing up with an employement agency could help.

To get a job right away in Portland you need to be in a highly specialzed field or have very specific qualifications. Your nursing certificate may do that for you. As far as being prepared, hope for the best but bring enough money to live on for at least 6 months. You may not want to hear the "It's a bad idea" chorus but it is a bad idea to move here without a job or good job prospects. People have done it but you need to accept the risks you are taking and plan accordingly.

[philwithbeard]

Be aware, that some landlords require newbies to Portland without a job to put up 1st month, Last month, plus hefty security deposit; up to 3 months rent before you move in. A few landlords won't rent if you are unemployed and no rent history in Oregon.

If you know NetSpeak, and are tech-literate, don't forget Twitter for jobs.

[Darielsdove]

Thanks for all the quick replies. :-) We're not planning on moving out there without any employment, but I thought it best to just sort of get a feel for what it's like. Everyone's been very helpful.

Thanks again!!

[Sprightly]

Originally Posted by Yankeemama

Seattle has the best economy in the nation and is only three hours away. Good luck!

Do you remember what the source for this was? Just curious about what the top ten list would be.

Darielsdove, good luck to you!

[Yankeemama]

I was just in Bellevue a couple of weeks ago and read in Seattle Mag that the Seattle Metro area has the strongest economy in our nation. It was in the Summer issue with a couple on a bike or motorcycle- think it's still on newsstands.

[philwithbeard]

Originally Posted by Sprightly

Do you remember what the source for this was? Just curious about what the top ten list would be......!

Originally Posted by Yankeemama

I was just in Bellevue a couple of weeks ago and read in Seattle Mag that the Seattle Metro area has the strongest economy in our nation. It was in the Summer issue with a couple on a bike or motorcycle- think it's still on newsstands.

It's possible that Seattle Mag article was quoting an older Forbes Magazine top ten list from April 2009.
Best Cities For Jobs - Forbes.com
Portland metro #10
Seattle metro #6

Got to watch what the criteria they are using for these Forbes lists. This one became dated and obsolete REAL FAST during the summer of 2009,IMHO.

Phil

[Yankeemama]

Sorry Everyone,
Wrong magazine! The Seattle Met's July 2010 Issue has an article called 100 Reasons To Love Seattle. The magazine states that within the LAST year, Seattle has been ranked- Nation's Best Economy. I didn't mean to confuse or anger anyone out there.