City of Portland: Now hiring

When looking for a job, people often overlook their own city’s ability to employ them. But keep in mind that the public sector offers a diverse array of internships as well as temporary and permanent jobs.

“Most don’t know this option exists,” said Diane Avery, a development analyst for the City of Portland’s Bureau of Human Resources. “We are a public entity. We are one of the largest employers in the city of Portland.”

Avery and Keri Caffreys, also a development analyst for the City of Portland, met with Portland State students and graduates on Tuesday from 4–5 p.m. in the Smith Memorial Student Union to discuss job and internship opportunities available to students, as well as how to apply competitively.

One benefit of working for the public sector is that the jobs most often pay more competitively than those in the private sector, and also include health benefits, Caffreys said.

Many forget that the city employs people for jobs beyond police and fire services, Avery said. “Any field in the private sector can be done in the public.”

Avery also shared a surprising fact: “If every city employee eligible for retirement does retire in the next two years…50 percent of the city’s work force [will be] retiring.

Caffreys explained that within each bureau of the City of Portland there are employment and internship options.

One popular bureau is Portland Parks and Recreation, which hires thousands of new employees each year and is currently looking to fill seasonal jobs and internships for the summer, she said. Jobs within this field might include working with youth athletics or giving swimming lessons.

Another job opportunity that PSU students should be aware of is working as a parking meter enforcer, which can pay nearly double Oregon’s minimum wage, Avery said.

Avery also explained that many students and graduates who are seeking permanent jobs often overlook temporary positions and internships.

“Many part-time positions lead to permanent jobs,” she said.

One important difference between the public and private sectors is that the City of Portland accepts resumes and cover letters that total up to four pages combined, and that the application process is extensive, Avery said.

However, applicants shouldn’t simply try to find information to fill these pages, Avery and Caffreys said in a discussion about the best way to go about writing a cover letter.

When applying, students should take note of the list of qualifications under each job description.

“We want you to explain how you meet each and every…qualification,” Avery said.

Students should even go to the extent of copying and pasting each qualification into a Word document to ensure that every single one is addressed fully, they said.

“Explain, one by one, with specific details,” Avery said, adding that students should include any summer volunteer work or internships as well as their education history and job experience.

Never assume that the city understands your experience, she said. “Don’t just say you can do this job. Explain how you know that you can do this job in detail.” Avery also encouraged students to be specific about their roles and responsibilities as well as the duration of those experiences.

“If an applicant does not address each individual qualification in their cover letter, their application is screened out,” Caffreys said.

All job and internship opportunities can be found and applied for at portlandonline.com.

Ngoc Phan, a recent graduate from PSU who attended the discussion, said she is looking for either a job or an internship in the health care field. “I want to know how to search for jobs as well as the pathway to meeting employers,” Phan said.

More than 50 attendees, mainly PSU seniors and graduates, participated in the event, which was co-hosted by the Multicultural Center and PSU’s Advising and Career Services.

The City of Portland sent representatives to speak at PSU in the fall, explained Anne Mestrovich, an employer relations coordinator who helped organize the event. However, the previous discussion was geared toward faculty more than students, she said.

“This is a great opportunity to create relationships with employers and to get them on campus,” Mestrovich said.

Ryan Jumamil, the Multicultural Center’s program coordinator, said that the presentation by the city’s development analysts was a good opportunity for students to learn about their employment options.

“I want students to know that there are other opportunities outside of PSU. I want them to be involved and well-networked by the time they are seeking a job,” Jumamil said.