What are things like in Portland? (Hillsboro: insurance, find a job, transfer)

[nicoleLO]

My wife and I are wanting to move to Portland within the next couple of years. I'm going to have an MBA and she has a Graphic Design degree.
What is the employment rate like?
What is life like overall?
We love outdoors activities like kayaking, hiking and things along that nature.

[J24]

Unemployment rate has dropped quite a bit in the last few years. It's right on par with the national average right now.

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area - 5.7%
(Unemployment Rates for Metropolitan Areas)


Life overall would be an opinion that could vary from person to person. The economy is improving, so there are more job opportunities which helps.

If you like outdoor activities, you'll love Portland. Nature galore, for sure. You'll find plenty of what you mentioned and more. You're less than 2 hours from the Pacific Ocean, an hour from Mt. Hood (skiing, snowboarding), and less than an hour from numerous waterfalls, hiking trails, and amazing scenery.

As I'm sure you know, it does rain more here than it does in NYC. So be prepared for more overcast days and more rain than you're probably used to. However, the summers make it all worth it.

[Nell Plotts]

Need I say that we have lots of Graphic Design graduates??? If she develops a client base in NYC she should maintain those relationships remotely.

As you will be a recent graduate my advise is to find a job where you living today, ideally a firm with a presence in Portland metro, and have a couple years experiance to show on your resume.

[SETabor]

The MBA may be useful depending on what you do with it. The graphic design degree is a dime a dozen around here and will be a tougher row to hoe.

[nicoleLO]

She is actually a small business development new media marketing specialist. which is a lot of words for she helps small businesses with social media and other various platforms of marketing. We are also from a small town so there isn't really anywhere here that has a presence in Portland.

Also, we are from OK not NYC.

[nicoleLO]

Is the rain a constant hard rain or more like a constant slight mist generally?

[urbanlife78]

We have about 50 different names for rain here that all mean different types of rain. Typically it is more a mist or light rain.

The graphic design degree will mostly be useless here due to the high number of graphic designers here now.

[Nell Plotts]

Ah, the OP from another thread is from NYC. My advise remains the same. I do not know if your wife's business will transfer here easily but as others commented we seem to be a mecca for Graphic Designers.

I grew up in Portland, my Mother had a temporary service business. She told me that it is easier to find a job with professional/managerial potential if you have experience. She said that it is better to obtain that experience elsewhere as you will be seen as a seasoned candidate and the mistakes everyone makes early in their career not be fodder for the grapevine here.

Evidently your local employers don't have a presence in Portland metro. My next nugget is to find a job - anywhere but retail of any type. Manufacturer, utility, even a mid-size construction contractor, insurance, health care.

[nicoleLO]

I know there is an SBA in Portland and her boss used to be the director there. So I think she's hoping to get in on that! I think we both anticipated that her graphic design degree would be the same ole thing that everyone has there.
Thank you to everyone who has replied! This has been extremely helpful!

[Nell Plotts]

Heck, the SBA was to one floor down at my former office (USDOL). The Director I knew then was a great guy and I presume his successors are excellent. Leverage your Portland network.