Economy Bad?? (Portland, Hillsboro: rental, mortgage, how much) - Oregon (OR) - City-Data Forum

BLAZER PROPHET · 03-19-2008, 01:31 PM

I placed an ad in the oregonian and ran it for 2 weeks. Entry leverl clerical, $12/hr, full benefits (excellent benefits!) and very little experience required.

One application.

How bad can it really be?

bobmulk · 03-19-2008, 04:41 PM

One unfortunate problem in this economy of the past few years is that there is a HUGE shortage of skilled, employable people. In speaking with HR specialists and headhunters, they all say the same thing...they can't find qualified people. That is, people who can spell, write, show up for work on time, fill out a form, dress properly for an interview. Or, they can't pass a DRUG TEST!!!! Or, they can't pass a background check.

I find this frightening and disturbing. Who is going to work in the jobs of tomorrow if we have so many in the younger generation who can't function beyond an Ipod? And for those in our generation (or any generation) who can't pass a drug test? The future looks interesting.

BLAZER PROPHET · 03-19-2008, 04:49 PM

Employers will have to lower their standards.

Leisesturm · 03-19-2008, 05:04 PM

Hmmmm. Millions (no exaggeration) of highly paid, highly educated people out of work because of first, the dot.com bust, then the 'downsizing' fad and now because of the subprime mortgage mess. Hundreds of thousands of low level service jobs insourced outside of the purview of traditional headhunters and personnel agencies. Is it because the economy is great that Bear Stern's has gone under? That Delta Airlines is offering severance packages to 30,000 people? Benefits? An 18 year old that has never been sick a day in her life except for catching mono at summer camp is going to find benefits exciting? Let's be real, what can $12.00/hr. really do? It's been awhile but what do babysitters get these days? This is a runaway inflation economy we live in, those on the supply side of the equation keep forgetting that. Maybe try advertising in a venue that young people actually use like Craigslist or pitch the job directly to their parents. But IMO teenagers can't be expected to become the software engineers of tommorow if their parents can't even be the supermarket checkout clerks of today.

H

BLAZER PROPHET · 03-19-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

Hmmmm. An 18 year old that has never been sick a day in her life except for catching mono at summer camp is going to find benefits exciting? Let's be real, what can $12.00/hr. really do? It's been awhile but what do babysitters get these days? This is a runaway inflation economy we live in, those on the supply side of the equation keep forgetting that. Maybe try advertising in a venue that young people actually use like Craigslist or pitch the job directly to their parents. But IMO teenagers can't be expected to become the software engineers of tommorow if their parents can't even be the supermarket checkout clerks of today.H

I'm way ahead of you.

First, $25,000 + benefits is a living wage. And for an entry level position with room to move up is fine. What I'm also looking for is perhaps someone a bit older, like a momther whose kids are now out of the houose and entering the work force. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh trust me, benefits will mean somthing to her. Or to someone who has a disabled spouse or child. A living wage, an entry level job with opportunity, benefits- and you really think it's bad?

I'll bet you're a liberal...

cdelena · 03-19-2008, 08:39 PM

That certainly is fair market compensation for an entry level position, even a little high in many markets.

tiffela74 · 03-19-2008, 09:29 PM

i wonder how much too, could be people coming from other areas, or lay offs that are holding out for those jobs starting at what they left the previous at. I know someone that moved from the DC area, very good professional job, terrific resume and all, but said they refused to start out at anything less than they left DC at. Now this too, is from a company that they were at for many years. In Downtown...well, coming here, i just dont think the wages are as high, but neither is the cost of living. They also went from a rental at over 3000.00 A MONTH!!! to a bigger house, way nicer for only 1800.00month, but still felt they should have the same pay at a new job as they had at the place before.....hummmmm......
anyhow, jsut a thought...
I'll work for ya at that rate....if i can work from my home. lol

Tiffany

Leisesturm · 03-19-2008, 10:14 PM

What exactly does 'entry level' mean in a clerical capacity? You want someone with a brain, someone reliable, trainable, etc. Now you up the ante and you want them to be an adult with some life experience. Yes, $12.00 might be a living wage but can someone really live on it after taxes? Anyway, the specifics were not what was important, it was your assumption that because people did not jump at a job offer that it meant the economy wasn't really in trouble. The economy is very much in trouble but people who have been looking for jobs know that their chances of actually scoring a job from an ad they see in the paper are 1:500. For many jobs they are 1:1,000,000 i.e. they have no chance at all. In other words there could be several reasons why your ad did not get a better response but it isn't because it is all peaches and cream out there. I was laid off from a $65K Network Administrator position in NYC. I am currently in school to get my MCSE (certification for network engineers). I recently saw a position just outside of Hillsboro asking for MCSE or MCSA plus Cisco CCNA or CCNP offering $48K. Ten years ago an MCSE would laugh at anything less than $120K in NYC and I imagine 80K in your neck of the woods wouldn't raise any eyebrows in Human Resources. Well, I haven't seen that rents, food, transportation, etc., etc. have gone down in ten years. I don't wear labels well but yeah, I'm probably guilty of whatever you're charging me with.

H

hehmke · 03-19-2008, 10:44 PM

Im working in Seattle at a job now making between 40 and 50k. Im able to live comfortably in north Seattle which is overinflated. Mycompany is transferring me to Portland this summer. I think it all depends on perception. People in places like Texas or Oregon , California dont understand how bad things are in the midwest, Eastcoast. Qualified positions with decent pay get 300 prospectives. Only the top will land lucrative positions. Individuals with a college degree can always get a job but some refuse to settle. Basically the whole US economy is in a shallow recession.
I could see why this guy didnt even get a bite, the apathy in Portland is more than any other city Ive seen. A buddy of mine lives in off 84 and he has no job. living off an inheritance but accorcing to him Portland has no jobs. Ive heard this from multiple people.

Mt-7 · 03-20-2008, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

I'm way ahead of you.

First, $25,000 + benefits is a living wage. And for an entry level position with room to move up is fine. What I'm also looking for is perhaps someone a bit older, like a momther whose kids are now out of the houose and entering the work force. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh trust me, benefits will mean somthing to her. Or to someone who has a disabled spouse or child. A living wage, an entry level job with opportunity, benefits- and you really think it's bad?

I'll bet you're a liberal...

Dear there are no mother's with children out of the house, we have all been working since they have been born. Call the folks at Goodwill, they often have needy people trying to get a foothold in the door. Good luck.