So, what should I do now?

[East Coast Hustle]

I have, quite honestly, never found myself at a complete and utter loss before.

My last good prospect for gainful employment in Portland, which I was SURE was going to offer me the job, just called to tell me to go fuck myself. I really don't know what to do. I know that I have no desire to stay in a town that is so insular and small-minded that they won't hire someone who is extremely well-qualified because he has committed the heinous crime of not being from around here.

So...I've decided to make things even worse by asking you spags for your opinions and/or advice.

What should I do? Where should I go? What assortment of felonies should I commit on my way out of town?

Options are:

1) Stay here in Portland and try to find work here. refrain from committing acts of arson and/or poop-flinging. (note: this option is not an option)

2) Go up to Seattle and try to find work up there, where there is a chance that I will be the beneficiary of the social cliquishness instead of being excluded because of it.

3) Start selling my shit, wait for my tax return to be deposited in a month or so, and fuck off back to the islands (where there probably aren't any jobs either, but the beaches are nice)

4) Go back to Maine for one more season and try again next fall. Wear a mask all summer to avoid having to look anyone in the eye.

[Jenne]

What's the downside of Seattle again?  I think if you have the $ to do so, try there?  It's sad PDX was a washout for you.  Sounds like you really liked it there until they rejected you.  Have you tried another job market in the area besides chef?

[rygD]

I say 2 or 4.  I would not sell your stuff off unless you have absolutely no other way to survive.  I also think 1 is an option.  My personal feeling, though, is that you might be on the wrong coast. 

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

I'd say 2 with 3 as a backup if I were you.

[LMNO]

Seattle.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I don't think it's because you're not from around here, I think it's because the restaurant business is incestuous and jobs go first to friends and friends of friends. So, it's sort of because you're not from around here, but indirectly. And it's a tough job market. I'd suggest sticking around and continuing to try, and also doing as much networking as possible. I really wish I was more help in that regard.

[East Coast Hustle]

I say 2 or 4.  I would not sell your stuff off unless you have absolutely no other way to survive.  I also think 1 is an option.  My personal feeling, though, is that you might be on the wrong coast.  

If I were to go with option 3, I'd be selling my stuff not for the money, but because shipping all of my stuff to St. Thomas would be a waste of time and money and I wouldn't need most of it there anyway.

Also, West Coast > East Coast, even if parts of the West Coast have turned out to suck balls. I mean, I'd rather stay here and rot in Portland than live somewhere like New Jersey or Virginia.

[East Coast Hustle]

I don't think it's because you're not from around here, I think it's because the restaurant business is incestuous and jobs go first to friends and friends of friends. So, it's sort of because you're not from around here, but indirectly. And it's a tough job market. I'd suggest sticking around and continuing to try, and also doing as much networking as possible. I really wish I was more help in that regard.

It irritates me to no end that no one here has the balls to tell me why they didn't hire me. One thing I appreciated about maine was that if you applied for a job and didn't get it because the manager had a cousin that needed a job or a niece who's babydaddy needed a way to pay child support on time, they'd tell you "hey, I liked you but I gotta hire this guy because of..."

the people here seem incapable of being GENUINE, and that, I think, is what bothers me more than anything else.

[Cramulus]

stay in portland!

if anything, because WE SHOULD ALL MOVE TO PORTLAND.


if the rats start jumping off early, it makes boarding questionable.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I don't think it's because you're not from around here, I think it's because the restaurant business is incestuous and jobs go first to friends and friends of friends. So, it's sort of because you're not from around here, but indirectly. And it's a tough job market. I'd suggest sticking around and continuing to try, and also doing as much networking as possible. I really wish I was more help in that regard.

It irritates me to no end that no one here has the balls to tell me why they didn't hire me. One thing I appreciated about maine was that if you applied for a job and didn't get it because the manager had a cousin that needed a job or a niece who's babydaddy needed a way to pay child support on time, they'd tell you "hey, I liked you but I gotta hire this guy because of..."

the people here seem incapable of being GENUINE, and that, I think, is what bothers me more than anything else.

It's pretty much illegal in Oregon to hire people because of the real reasons most people get hired, like being a friend or a relative, so everyone's afraid to tell the truth.

IME the best way to get a job is to put in applications at places that AREN'T hiring.

[East Coast Hustle]

Apparently, one of my best friends' best friends is the new head chef at the Ritz on STT.

I intend to make a trip to Seattle to see what I can find up there, but if I get offered any sort of employment at the Ritz on STT, I'm the fuck out of the states.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I have, quite honestly, never found myself at a complete and utter loss before.

My last good prospect for gainful employment in Portland, which I was SURE was going to offer me the job, just called to tell me to go fuck myself. I really don't know what to do. I know that I have no desire to stay in a town that is so insular and small-minded that they won't hire someone who is extremely well-qualified because he has committed the heinous crime of not being from around here.

So...I've decided to make things even worse by asking you spags for your opinions and/or advice.

What should I do? Where should I go? What assortment of felonies should I commit on my way out of town?

Options are:

1) Stay here in Portland and try to find work here. refrain from committing acts of arson and/or poop-flinging. (note: this option is not an option)

2) Go up to Seattle and try to find work up there, where there is a chance that I will be the beneficiary of the social cliquishness instead of being excluded because of it.

3) Start selling my shit, wait for my tax return to be deposited in a month or so, and fuck off back to the islands (where there probably aren't any jobs either, but the beaches are nice)

4) Go back to Maine for one more season and try again next fall. Wear a mask all summer to avoid having to look anyone in the eye.

5.  Punish them.

[East Coast Hustle]

Oh, that's in the cards.

that.

is.

in.

the.

motherfucking.

cards.

RCH,
doesn't respond well to snubs

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Oh, that's in the cards.

that.

is.

in.

the.

motherfucking.

cards.

RCH,
doesn't respond well to snubs

If you're still there in May, I will hold the gas can for you.

[-Kel-]

stay in portland!

if anything, because WE SHOULD ALL MOVE TO PORTLAND.


if the rats start jumping off early, it makes boarding questionable.

I concur!

Been debating that myself as I have family and friends up there, and I'm almost done with school.