The Fabulously-Hatted Libertine, Nostrapotomus ([info]nostrapotomus) wrote in [info]damnportlanders,
@ 2008-10-19 09:24:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Help a fella out?
OK, DP, here's my story. I just moved to Portland, and I've been couchsurfing for the last week or so, trying to find a room and a job. Thing is, no one will let me rent a room unless I have a job, and no one will give me work without a home address. Is there some way around this little catch-22?

The other part of that is actually finding a job. I'm used to living in the midwest, where job hunting is as easy as going down to The Street With the Stores and applying to all of them. All I'm looking for is some cheesedick retail gig, selling books or movies or records or something, and there's not a lot of call for that in the CraigsList jobs section. So, how do I go about finding such a job?

Thanks, all. I promise I'll post something more interesting some day.

(Post a new comment)


[info]yearofadventure
2008-10-19 04:37 pm UTC (link)
someone just posted about powell's hiring cashiers for the holiday season, look back a few.

as for the address - get a friend to let you use theirs, maybe?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 04:45 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, I saw that, but a part-time, seasonal gig isn't really a great first job in town. Might have to do for now, though.

And I just got here -- I don't have any friends yet.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]yearofadventure
2008-10-19 04:47 pm UTC (link)
oh sorry, i just thought it was a desperate for any sort of job situation.

and by couch surging, i thought it was people you knew not others.

apparently i rule at making assumptions and not helping. sorry!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]acasewanderlust
2008-10-19 05:23 pm UTC (link)
Here in Portland you tae whatever job you can get!

When I got here this time I worked at Papa Murphy's it was a cheesedick job for sure, and all the free pizza/salads/cookies I could eat! Try a papa murphy's

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]gypsie357
2008-10-19 05:42 pm UTC (link)
That's what I did last year when I arrived. I had a temp job for two months at OMSI for Bodyworlds, it ended in Oct, during that time I got another job which I am still at. I have always found it easier to find a job while already employed. Besides right now just about every retail outlet will only be hiring for the holidays. If you do get hired as a temp it also gives you a chance to prove yourself and there is no rule saying you can't ask about permanent employment towards the end of the season.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]beautifulpyre
2008-10-20 01:48 am UTC (link)
A part-time, seasonal gig can turn into more than that if you do a good job! :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]solteronita
2008-10-19 04:47 pm UTC (link)
1.) Use the address of the couch you're surfing on.

2.) Look for help wanted signs in store windows or go in and ask if they're hiring. A lot of places don't bother with paying for a help wanted ad, because it's just as easy to hire people with a free sign in the window.

3.) A seasonal job at least buys you some time.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 04:57 pm UTC (link)
1.) I would, but I'm hopping to a new couch every week or so. I don't know anyone well enough to stay for too long.

2.) I don't even know where to start looking for the sort of places I want to work. This is a big city, and I can't really just walk around until I find something.

3.) This is true, and I think it might have to do. Thanks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]solteronita
2008-10-19 04:58 pm UTC (link)
That sounds like a lot of excuses to me, but good luck! :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]demondogdondite
2008-10-19 09:26 pm UTC (link)
Are you getting to know your hosts? Have you tried asking them if you can use their address?

I am not offering you to use my address because I don't know you BUT if a big part of what is stopping you from getting a job is lack of address it wouldn't hurt to ask.

I have a couchsurfer staying with me now and if she asked to use my address for her job applications I wouldn't hesitate to say yes. When I have friends who move here I offer them to use my address AND my phone number.

If you have asked and they said no and they're reasonable people you might want to ask yourself why they don't feel comfortable with that. Is it because they're unreasonable or because they don't feel comfortable vouching for you. If it's the latter you might try examining that so it's not repeated with your next hosts... Just some aimless suggestions.

I second, (or third or fourth at this point) taking the seasonal job.

Good luck!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 09:28 pm UTC (link)
Good thoughts. Thanks a lot.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]metamadman
2008-10-19 04:51 pm UTC (link)
Just lie about not having an address. It's not likely they are going to go swing by your place or mail you something. Hell, you can use my mine; 833 SE Main St. #230 PDX OR 97214
When I first moved to Portland ten years ago thats what I had to do for my first job and then after I found a place I was like, oh hey I moved and need to update my file, here is my new address...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]lokidecat
2008-10-19 04:57 pm UTC (link)
They do mail out "Piss up a rope" letters. But who cares about THOSE!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 04:59 pm UTC (link)
Ha! Excellent! I may just do that, thank you.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]natsukaze
2008-10-19 07:25 pm UTC (link)
*stalks*

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]lokidecat
2008-10-19 04:56 pm UTC (link)
There's a place downtown, I forget it's name but you might be able to google it. They offer mailing addresses to homeless people so they can get jobs.

And stuff. beats me.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]statedintent
2008-10-19 05:00 pm UTC (link)
I think it's called Transition Projects.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 05:07 pm UTC (link)
Looks like it. Thanks so much!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]bluejayway
2008-10-19 04:57 pm UTC (link)
ha ha, you are from the midwest, "cheesedick"

(Reply to this)


[info]acasewanderlust
2008-10-19 05:21 pm UTC (link)
I saw a sign at like NE60th and Glisan that said hiring now 7-12 a hour, I don't know what the place is but it's new and the sign was HUGE

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 05:23 pm UTC (link)
Well, cool. I'll have to take a look. Thanks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
cheesedick retail jobs
[info]dreamsoft
2008-10-19 05:25 pm UTC (link)
Are in high demand and low supply. Call centers seem to work for folks with no pretty resume. Stream always hires... temp agencies are another way a lot of folks go... express, adecco, bunch of others

(Reply to this)


[info]luzclarita
2008-10-19 05:44 pm UTC (link)
Do you have parents? Can you use their address and then when you show up for an interview say you are moving to town soon?

(Reply to this)


[info]redheather
2008-10-19 05:55 pm UTC (link)
i know people who've moved here with graduate degrees who've had a hard time getting any work whatsoever. even call center work. a job search can take 6 months and you may have to wait a bit even to find a temp gig if you don't have an imminently employable skillset.

actually, finding permanent housing in this city can be a several month process, too.

we aren't in kansas anymore, dude. there are TONS of immigrants coming here constantly.: min wage barista/bookselling/retail jobs get literally hundreds of applicants. it takes luck and persistence, both, and even then it doesn't work for everyone. sorry if this is too grim a reality check.

(Reply to this)


[info]sassyleo
2008-10-19 05:58 pm UTC (link)
many of the mailbox rental places have regular addresses, so it looks like a residence address.

http://www.copypilot.com/services.html mailbox rental $8/mo

http://www.yellowpages.com/Portland-OR/Mailbox-Rental-Receiving?From=qpiCityState

http://local.yahoo.com/results;_ylt=AvaGjHkbNxmmY8tnuFpFY2CKNcIF;_ylv=3?p=mailbox+rental&csz=Portland%2C+OR

as far as jobs, i would apply to anything and everything. the rule of thumb is sending out 20 applications for 1 job offer

good luck!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]sassyleo
2008-10-19 06:00 pm UTC (link)
actually what i meant was 20 applications for 1 call

job offer...maybe 50+ apps

it's better to move here having already secured a job

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]5brokenfingers
2008-10-19 07:00 pm UTC (link)
Walking around a mall is a good start.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nostrapotomus
2008-10-19 07:05 pm UTC (link)
Good thought. I'll make that a priority. Thanks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]5brokenfingers
2008-10-19 07:35 pm UTC (link)
It might suck working in a mall especially during the holiday season, but like a lot of people are saying, the job market is kinda sucky here. i got laid off and spent 5 months really searching for a job and even used 9 different staffing agencies, all of whom could not get me a single thing. i finally lucked out and was able to talk my way into a place but it is rough out there, i agree with those who have said take what you can get right now!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]yemayas
2008-10-19 07:39 pm UTC (link)
Target at Glisan and 122nd is hiring.

(Reply to this)


[info]plasticrapping
2008-10-19 09:53 pm UTC (link)
Most of the cheesedick jobs you are thinking of just put a sign up and hope some one walks by. This means you'll have to walk around. Hit up every corporate hunk of shit joint though and ask about working there for the holiday season.

Dress nice and prepare to pass a piss test there nostraPOTomus.

(Reply to this)


[info]circumambulate
2008-10-19 11:35 pm UTC (link)
#1 - post-office box
#2 - There's always lots of light-industrial temp work, or office work if you have the skills, just get the Oregonian and see which agencies have ads posted.

(Reply to this)


[info]ruthie384
2008-10-20 12:46 am UTC (link)
I've seen signs that they're hiring at Target... and probably pretty much every other retail store will be hiring for seasonal help, at least that'd tide you over til you found something more permanant.

Where in the Midwest did you move from?

(Reply to this)


[info]anomar
2008-10-20 05:07 pm UTC (link)
Just go to the mall and fill out some apps? Lloyd Center is in NE and Pioneer Place is downtown.

I just read a really interesting tidbit in an article about the WWeek Restaurant of the Year, Sel Gris. The head chef had spent a lot of time working in restaurants like Chez Panisse, etc... and when he got to Portland he was so overqualified that his first job was as a barista at Peet's Coffee.

So yeah. Good luck, take the first thing that comes along and with luck you'll find something rad soon!

(Reply to this)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…