Writing about my experiences trying to find a job in Western Pennsylvania has been a real eye-opening experience.
I assumed I'd get a lackluster response from some of our elected officials when I contacted them. I just had no idea just HOW lackluster this response would be.
According to the U.S. Census, the Pittsburgh metro area lost 60,000 residents in the period from April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2006. If these folks' job hunting experience was anything like mine, I know why they're gone.
I personally can name at least ten people, including my two younger brothers, who have left Western Pennsylvania for opportunities elsewhere. Given that it's been a year here with no job prospects, I don't anticipate staying here much longer myself.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Careerlink
What's my problem with Pennsylvania Careerlink?
Simple: the jobs listed with Careerlink are awful, at least the ones on this side of the state. They're mostly dead-end, 'one-step-above-McJob' positions.
Let's see...within a 25 mile radius of my zip code, some of the jobs listed on the site include:
Simple: the jobs listed with Careerlink are awful, at least the ones on this side of the state. They're mostly dead-end, 'one-step-above-McJob' positions.
Let's see...within a 25 mile radius of my zip code, some of the jobs listed on the site include:
- carpet cleaning technician
- cater delivery driver (I think they mean caterer or catering)
- portrait studio sales consultant
- general office clerk
- housekeeping aides
To be fair, there are a few jobs listed on the site that require an advanced level of knowledge, scuch as licensed practical nurse and chemist, but for the most part, the majority of the jobs lon Careerlink are pretty sad.
Great Suggestions From a Fellow Blogger
I sent the link to this blog to Michael J. Madison, University of Pittsburgh law professor and author of Pittsblog (http://pittsblog.blogspot.com/), commending him for his sharp, insighful commentary on the state of affairs in the 'burgh, and asking him if he had any suggestions for finding a job here.
Bless his heart, Mike replied promptly and suggested that I do the following:
1 -- Network with Pittsburgh's intermediary institutions. Have to introduced yourself to the gang at Innovation Works? Have you gone to Entrepreneurs' Thursdays? Met the folks at the new SBDC at Duquesne? Somewhere on my blog there's a list of most of these organizations -- economic development firms, agencies, etc. etc. There's a networking event on the North Shore next week -- the HELP launch. My blog has links and details -- just about anyone who has juice in Pittsburgh will be there.
2 -- Can you leverage the blog itself? I'll post and give it a tiny nudge, but if you can manage a post or two a day, and include some that are personal (not too personal!) and a few that are more detached and analytic, then you might build yourself a brand in Pittsburgh: The go-to person for strategizing a new professional career in the reinvented Pittsburgh. There's no way to guarantee yourself a job this way, but it's a voice that Pittsburgh doesn't have right now.
Great suggestions, both of them. (And that Mike didn't suggest Pennsylvania Careerlink earns him an even bigger gold star.)
1. I am in the process of following up with these intermediary institutions, per Mike's suggestion.
2. His other idea, to leverage the blog itself, is less appealing to me. While I have been urged by others to blog professionally, I started this blog as a way to get hands-on experience with blogging in general, and to vent about the miserable experience of trying to find a job here. I would prefer to not be the poster child for Pittsburgh's gawdawful job market.
Mike, thank you for your great suggestions and for getting back to me so quickly.
Bless his heart, Mike replied promptly and suggested that I do the following:
1 -- Network with Pittsburgh's intermediary institutions. Have to introduced yourself to the gang at Innovation Works? Have you gone to Entrepreneurs' Thursdays? Met the folks at the new SBDC at Duquesne? Somewhere on my blog there's a list of most of these organizations -- economic development firms, agencies, etc. etc. There's a networking event on the North Shore next week -- the HELP launch. My blog has links and details -- just about anyone who has juice in Pittsburgh will be there.
2 -- Can you leverage the blog itself? I'll post and give it a tiny nudge, but if you can manage a post or two a day, and include some that are personal (not too personal!) and a few that are more detached and analytic, then you might build yourself a brand in Pittsburgh: The go-to person for strategizing a new professional career in the reinvented Pittsburgh. There's no way to guarantee yourself a job this way, but it's a voice that Pittsburgh doesn't have right now.
Great suggestions, both of them. (And that Mike didn't suggest Pennsylvania Careerlink earns him an even bigger gold star.)
1. I am in the process of following up with these intermediary institutions, per Mike's suggestion.
2. His other idea, to leverage the blog itself, is less appealing to me. While I have been urged by others to blog professionally, I started this blog as a way to get hands-on experience with blogging in general, and to vent about the miserable experience of trying to find a job here. I would prefer to not be the poster child for Pittsburgh's gawdawful job market.
Mike, thank you for your great suggestions and for getting back to me so quickly.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board
I'm particularly dismayed by the lack of any response from Ron Painter, CEO of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, to an email I sent him almost a MONTH ago.
On August 16, I sent Mr. Painter an e-mail message inquiring about possible job leads, suggestions or ideas that he might have. To date, I have heard nothing back from him or anyone at TRWIB.
Last week, I followed up with a phone call to Mr. Painter, and ended up speaking with a woman named Laura Holden. I emailed Ms. Holden the same message I had sent to her boss, Mr. Painter.
Still nothing.
According to its site, the TRWIB ' is an employer-driven policy-making entity that supports and oversees the local workforce development system in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, including a network of PA CareerLink centers that serve jobseekers and employers.
Our board members are appointed by the mayor of Pittsburgh and the chief executive of Allegheny County.
TRWIB, Inc. is the corporate entity and fiduciary agent for the TRWIB. All TRWIB funds, including federal Workforce Investment Act funds, are managed by TRWIB, Inc. '
I'm confused. TRWIB is more than willing to accept MY federal tax dollars, ostensibly to help retain jobs in this area, but no one at the TRWIB is able to return my phone calls?
On August 16, I sent Mr. Painter an e-mail message inquiring about possible job leads, suggestions or ideas that he might have. To date, I have heard nothing back from him or anyone at TRWIB.
Last week, I followed up with a phone call to Mr. Painter, and ended up speaking with a woman named Laura Holden. I emailed Ms. Holden the same message I had sent to her boss, Mr. Painter.
Still nothing.
According to its site, the TRWIB ' is an employer-driven policy-making entity that supports and oversees the local workforce development system in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, including a network of PA CareerLink centers that serve jobseekers and employers.
Our board members are appointed by the mayor of Pittsburgh and the chief executive of Allegheny County.
TRWIB, Inc. is the corporate entity and fiduciary agent for the TRWIB. All TRWIB funds, including federal Workforce Investment Act funds, are managed by TRWIB, Inc. '
I'm confused. TRWIB is more than willing to accept MY federal tax dollars, ostensibly to help retain jobs in this area, but no one at the TRWIB is able to return my phone calls?
And please, please, please -- for the love of God, do not direct me to Pennsylvania's Careerlink to find employment. The jobs available at that site are an utter joke. I have no interest in being a convenience store night manager or an underpaid telemarketer. Thanks but no thanks.
When do you say 'Enough!'
I'm sitting here in front of my computer, reviewing all the jobs I've applied for and for which I didn't get an interview, and looking over the list of people I've contacted who can't even muster the effort to make a one-minute return phone call or even send a one-sentence reply.
And I ask myself, "What is the point? Why am I putting myself through all this nonsense just to try to get a job here? Just write off the Pittsburgh area, pack a bag, and get the hell out of this town before your career goes into even more of a death spiral."
And I ask myself, "What is the point? Why am I putting myself through all this nonsense just to try to get a job here? Just write off the Pittsburgh area, pack a bag, and get the hell out of this town before your career goes into even more of a death spiral."
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