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.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Have you tried contacting Bill Peduto?
I'm been impressed by his involvement with local grassroots action groups and the few times I've met with him in person.
I know local economic development is his main goal and he's pretty blog savvy, so you might want to start up a conversation with him.
Also, please keep writing and try to stay in the area. Just found your blog and I'm really enjoying reading it.
What's wrong with this picture when young people have to call city councilmen for a marketing job?
You should place a call to the governor's office. Or, more specifically, the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development (DCED)-- they produce many of the state's retention efforts/ad campaigns.
Don't torture yourself too much about this though. It's really the city that is the problem.
It's not as if you aren't good enough. I had the same issues and now my sister has been jobless for six months.
When people talk about how the city is "turning around", there won't be a sea change until there are more jobs. Restaurants on the South Side are cool, but no one moves somehwere without a job.
Hi Mary,
I'm a 23-year-old Allegheny College grad with a degree in Political Science that had the same problem for quite a long time.
Now, I work at Half Price Books and I love it so far. But, I also work for a catering company on my days "off" to make extra money. I still live with my parents mind you...
I don't have the 15 years experience in a specific industry obviously, but if you ever read the book "Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream" by Barbara Ehrenreich, the unemployment and "under-employment" problem persists throughout our country, regardless of age.
Then, if you read "The World Is Flat," "Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success," listen to a speech by President Bush, and watch any documentary by Michael Moore - you might wonder how anyone still has a job, supports a family, and enjoys life in the U.S.
Businesses are cutting every corner, laying off workers, outsourcing, cutting benefits, hiring unpaid interns, making unions nonexistent...shall I continue or do we all already know this sad story?
But I wonder if it's all as bad as this blog and the aforementioned references might imply.
I also read the book "Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time" by Keith Ferrazi which made me start networking like crazy. What I realized though while networking throughout Pittsburgh since around March 2007, is that building relationships should be done all the time, not simply to find a job.
It gives you a sense of community, a sense of self, and enriches your life experiences. Going out to new events, volunteering, meeting new people and being introduced to new ideas may indeed help you find a path to a great career. But is that your only goal in life - to earn a paycheck?
Jia, from the earlier comment to this post, directed me to your website. Pittsblog directed him. I met Jia at Bootcamp Pittsburgh, which was part of the series of PodCamp Pittsburgh events planned by a bunch of technology-savvy Pittsburghers working to improve our city (a few of which started Refresh Pittsburgh which I see you've attended).
Currently, I'm considering applying to be a Board Member of Pittsburgh Young Professionals. In addition, I started a blog with a Pittsburgh artist I met at the Creative Treehouse in Bellevue during an event he planned called "Doughnuts and Art" - you can find our site at www.echoflip.com.
Wonderful things are happening in Pittsburgh. I hope you stick around and join in the efforts to improve this great city.
On that note, I have a close contact at MARC USA who I can forward your resume if you are interested - e-mail me at jvesci@gmail.com.
I hope to be in touch,
Jackie
Mary,
You might have already tried this, but there are some local recruiting agencies such as HDJ Associates. Calling companies you want to work for after 5:00 or so sometimes allows you to talk to a decision maker who is not swamped during normal business hours.
Hi,
I too am going through the exact same process, and would leave in a second if I could...married.
You also touch on another point which is the lack of respect for others. I say this due to the prevalent lack of response to emails, calls, etc...I too see this problem. I say it is a lack of respect because 'they' see it, read it, then don't 'respect' the other person to respond either way.
thanks for the great blog.
KD
I am in the same position as you. I relocated to Pittsburgh earlier this year after several years of experience in a major cosmopolitan city. Although I have a graduate degree, many years of experience, and cutting-edge tech skills for our field, my best offers have been for salaries in the $30s. Some observations on top of what is already in your blog:
* I was told by an employer that although many corporations and PR firms have left Pittsburgh over the last 20 years, many individuals have stayed behind to do freelance work. Obviously, this gums up the market on the demand side of the equation and depresses salaries and opportunities.
* An observation on PR/marketing/communications executives in Pittsburgh -- while I have been proactively building skills and experiences, almost every executive who has interviewed me has never left Pittsburgh and has been squatting at his/her company for 15 or 20 years. Their skills are at least five years behind and they don't demonstrate an understanding of larger trends happening in the world outside of SW PA. Somehow, someway, PIT still seems to allow sentiment and status quo to trump talent and intellectual ability.
I could share more, but I will be direct in how I feel about PGH: I love Western Pennsylvania and its people; however, that strength is also its weakness. Pittsburgh has not adapted and is not adapting to the rapidly changing global economy. I don't buy the sloganeering by politicians and economic development organizations. I know what I have experienced in and out of Pittsburgh and what I read in the media and blogs. While I had expected that my background would get me a reasonably good job (I had adjusted my expectations ahead of time to PIT conditions), I greatly overestimated the health of Pittburgh's economy in regards to our field. I don't understand why the city keeps erecting taxpayer- and resource-draining sports stadiums when there is a clear shortfall in talent, opportunity, and other essentials needed in the 21st century global competition. Economically speaking, Pittsburgh is a backwater and people aren't willing to make the sacrifices to change that. That goes for the politicians and those who elect them.
Perhaps the best approach is indeed to go to another city and get Pittsburgh out of your mind for a while. Then, someday, perhaps you'll either catch lightning and get that rare, quality Pittsburgh job in our field or you'll find that there are a lot of other places and people out there that can make for a nice home as well.
What now? Where's the next post?
Post a Comment