The PDX job market is really tough. Which is a shame, because Portland is a really amazing city to live in.
Prior to the "national nosedive" of the tech economy, Portland was bustling with activity... especially on the hardware/tech/manufacturing side of things. After the "national nosedive" a huge segment of the workforce lost their jobs, just like everywhere else in the country.
To give you an idea of the job market here...
Here are some anecdotes detailing the job searchs of a few real people I know personally, who recently moved to Portland.
To give you hope:
I spent a full year looking, and eventually found an amazing job at a nonprofit music recording studio . Results are not typical, YMMV.
My friends moved here last June and both found jobs at Powell's City of Books, and then another, better job, at a local university.
Many people who were in the tech industry have switched fields. I was looking for programming jobs, and at some point I became so desparate for interviews I tried to work as a car salesman.
The "Hotbed" that the article discusses, is mostly not really about tech employment it's about wonderful portland nonprofits !
Such as
FreeGeek
which teaches people to build computers, then gives them the linux machine they build.
I have found that Game Revolution's reviews are as fair and unbiased as they come. In fact, sometimes the reviews paint a more accurate picture of games I have already purchased than I can... after having shelled out $50 for a crappy game, how easy is it to admit to your self that you wasted your money, or that the game you bought was less than perfect ?
Slashdot Mirror
Yes Welcome Linus !
... Portland's awesome music non-profits.. like
Oh don't forget
The Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls
The Old Library Studio: a nonprofit music recording studio for teens
and Ethos: community music center
Well the willamete week article was published on the 28th... so ... probably not.
Unless, of course, you wrote the article for WW... then, by all means, continue to feel an odd sense of familiarity with this story.
The PDX job market is really tough. Which is a shame, because Portland is a really amazing city to live in.
Prior to the "national nosedive" of the tech economy, Portland was bustling with activity... especially on the hardware/tech/manufacturing side of things. After the "national nosedive" a huge segment of the workforce lost their jobs, just like everywhere else in the country.
To give you an idea of the job market here... Here are some anecdotes detailing the job searchs of a few real people I know personally, who recently moved to Portland.
To give you hope: I spent a full year looking, and eventually found an amazing job at a nonprofit music recording studio . Results are not typical, YMMV.
My friends moved here last June and both found jobs at Powell's City of Books, and then another, better job, at a local university.
Many people who were in the tech industry have switched fields. I was looking for programming jobs, and at some point I became so desparate for interviews I tried to work as a car salesman.
The "Hotbed" that the article discusses, is mostly not really about tech employment it's about wonderful portland nonprofits !
Such as FreeGeek which teaches people to build computers, then gives them the linux machine they build.
I have found that Game Revolution's reviews are as fair and unbiased as they come. In fact, sometimes the reviews paint a more accurate picture of games I have already purchased than I can... after having shelled out $50 for a crappy game, how easy is it to admit to your self that you wasted your money, or that the game you bought was less than perfect ?