I don’t know why this kind of question annoys me so much, but since this person is not specifically inquiring about a job at the Mercury (at least I don’t think so, unless he is being extraordinarily backhanded about it), it’s not really my duty to advise him on such matters. More importantly, since I have been working at the Mercury since birth (it’s just so funnnn!), I’m somewhat under-qualified to give him this kind of advice. However tempting, though, I would be kind of a jerk not to answer at all (so lazy!). So I’m going to ask you to answer him instead (oh, so lazy!). Here goes:
I am currently a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Thailand. I’ll be going back to the States this spring and have been thinking of moving to Portland (from Minnesota). I looked at your web site today and saw a Peace Corps advertisement. It must be a sign. Is there anything anyone at the Portland Mercury can tell me to help me get off to the right start in Portland? I’m a journalism/English writing major with two years of Peace Corps experience. What is the job market like in Portland? Where’s a good place to search for jobs? I want to move to Portland because it’s a change of pace and it seems like a great place to live. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!!!
Tell me, what would you advise?
Maybe you should tell him to avoid the Portland media market since it’s apparently filled with dick-ish editors who opt to embarrass jobless volunteers online instead of just politely ignoring them.
Tell him to go to /r/portland on reddit to ask his question. There he will be vocally discouraged from even looking at Portland on a map.
REMAIN IN THAILAND STOP FAILING THAT REMAIN IN MINNESOTA STOP FAILING THAT STAND IN FRONT OF WHITE STAG SIGN AND ASK SIGN FOR GUIDANCE FOR IT TRULY MUST BE AND IS A SIGN STOP I WILL NOW STOP STOP
If he/she doesn’t know what he/she wants to do, then he/she shouldn’t be wasting any prospective employers time. It’s hard enough to get a job when you desperately want it, being completely lukewarm about the whole process will undoubtedly route your email to the trash bin.
Sounds like he/she should volunteer around town and learn more about non-profits/social service agencies that way. Best place to start: http://www.handsonportland.org and go from there. Informational interviews are also a good step, but remember these people actually have jobs and do work, so they may not be able to sit down with you immediately.
It’s a brave new world out there young man/woman. Sending an email to anyone asking for advice or help getting a job is about as half-assed as you can get. Get offline and go knock on some doors. Take names and kick ass. Then you shall find what you seek. Godspeed.
In Portland, you will be one of 500,000 baristas with an English degree and Peace Corps experience. Oops, did I say “baristas”? I meant “unemployed people.” Because there are no jobs in Portland.
I hear Silverado’s is hiring.
I would strongly advise against taking the advice of anyone who comments on any of The Mercury’s blogs.
“I looked at your web site today and saw a Peace Corps advertisement. It must be a sign”
Yes, it’s a sign that advertisements pull based on things that you’ve been looking at online.
He couldn’t just Google “Job market in Portland”? Good lord…
Marjorie- I’m REALLY not sure if I’m saving enough for retirement? I put aside a little each month, but I really don’t know if it’s good enough. Do you know what the annual cost of living will be around the year 2050? Do I have the right financial adviser? What neighborhood will have the most affordable accommodations? Thank you!