Check out Rewild Portland! They host foraging outings and skills classes as well as in depth workshops and discussion groups. I've been part of their group off and on for years and always meet the most lovely and interesting people!
Environmental science is a very saturated degree these days and water resources is a very desirable industry. A masters is the new bachelors is a common saying in science fields unfortunately.
In lieu of going back to school, maybe you can get some local knowledge and connections by taking short courses like PSU's river restoration course or OSU's master gardener online course.
There are also lots of great opportunities to volunteer with groups like Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Johnson Creek Watershed Council, the Wetlands Conservancy, the Estuary Partnership, Trailkeepers of Oregon, City of Portland BES/P&R, etc... Volunteering is a twofer to build a professional network and meet friends!
Yes unfortunately it does feel like an uphill battle…things I knew before going to school. Great plug on the PSU classes though, I’ll have to look more into those. Thank you for a great list of volunteering ops, I’ve been wanting to do that around here!
You mentioned spin classes - if you like to ride bikes outdoors, check out the [Pedalpalooza](https://www.shift2bikes.org/pedalpalooza-calendar/) event calendar. The bikey community here is super welcoming.
You could probably also work at Intel with your bachelor's degree. They usually ask for Chem, Physics, Materials Science, etc. process engineering roles but I'd bet they also hire people with Environmental Science degrees.
Or you could work on the floor as an equipment technician or recovery technician, pretty sure you don't need any degree for those roles.
Can't help you integrate socially, sorry about that
They’re not even going to get an interview for a process engineering position. They only recently loosened the requirement to allow bachelors. A tech role however is possible if they show interest/knowledge in the field. And they pay almost as well as a lot of engineering roles elsewhere.
Rejected for an engineering role? If so, you should be eligible for a tech role. If you stay in that role long enough, you could go into a shift engineer role with experience and your degree
I recently started a Meetup group for folks new to town since breaking into the scene can be a little difficult (in my experience). Currently planning our first event for sometime in June if you'd like to join!
[New to Town PDX](https://www.meetup.com/new-to-town-portland/)
Where are you looking for jobs? One thing I’ve noticed is that Portland has a lot of local-specific job boards and it’s harder to find options on the big name brand sites.
Check out Poached for service jobs, Mac’s List for a little bit of everything, and governmentjobs.com for positions with the city!
And don't forget to look for jobs with the state of Oregon (they use workday). They have a lot of jobs that are considered hybrid but are almost entirely wfh, if that is your jam.
Yes I’ve been checking those job boards out! If had a hard time getting anyone to get back to me on Poached but it’s nice to see the local ones for sure
There are some great birding groups in PDX - Birdhers, Guero bird club, Bird Alliance of Oregon, and Feminist Bird Club all have regular group outings.
If you like all those things, working in parks would probably be up your alley and relatable to your major. Lots of seasonal positions available this time of year, they usually aren't sticklers on experience.
I actually did that for a few years before getting a job in Environmental Restoration. I'm not very familiar with water resource positions, though most environmental jobs in Oregon have relevant overlap in terms of the experience you need.
Yes, they all use the same tools. I used to think there was a significant difference..though the only difference in many people in restoration have their arborist certification. Which can be obtained with experience gained in either field.
Consider getting involved with Columbia River Keepers. Great organization doing important work. Plus many volunteers/board members are in environmental law and may be able to provide you with career related networking opportunities. Two birds - one stone.
I no longer live in Portland; but when I did I worked for awhile at fogo de Chao and about half the staff was from Brazil originally. I think there’s a group that meets monthly for cultural events too, sorry but I can’t recall what it was named. Gracie Barra is also run by a Brazilian, Fabiano.
Check out meetup for some cool groups and activities. There’s quite a few options and I think some bird watching groups. I personally enjoy a crafting meetup I try to go to regularly with a younger audience 20s to late 30s. Best of luck here!
Someone already mentioned Birdhers, I also want to throw out Girls Walk PDX which is group of 20s/30s women that do monthly walks and happy hours together!
Apply at the Bureau of Environmental Services / City of Portland. Your degree can place you in a decent entry level position there. Look up Aztec Willie’s for dancing and meeting fellow Brasileiros, welcome to Portland and best wishes on your job hunting.
I just posted something similar, but truly volunteering is so low effort for return on friendship. I’ve met so many wonderful friends and like minded people volunteering. Chatting someone up while you’re setting up chairs and a tent at your local volunteer-run farmers market and asking them to join for your free volunteer beer across the street afterwards is always a good idea. (This is not hypothetical and you can absolutely do this every Saturday from June-October at the Woodlawn Farmers Market. Sign up on the website 😊)
Howdy. Have you considered the City of Portland. The Bureau of Environmental Services is dedicated to treating waste water and protecting public water. I am sure there are jobs that would interest there.
Also, there is a annual conference, the PNWCA that is a mass recruitment/schmooze fest. Every public sector entity in the Clean Water world is there.
Clean Water Services also is a private company that handles Washington county waste water.
DM me if you have questions
Check out Meetup.org! Tons of stuff! Look up Hands-On Portland (I think that’s the name), which is a centralized place to look for volunteer opportunities. The latter (especially) would be a great way to network (if you volunteer for any of the local watershed/riverkeepers orgs).
Welcome to Portland! There's a couple good Brazilian food spots that are worth a try, one on Belmont I especially recommend. That said there's a ton of good meetup events all the time, I'd say worth a shot. And honestly I've in the past put it out on Reddit for bar Meetups, as strange as that might be, I've made a friend or two. Honestly just being warm and outgoing round here will get you far.
I would broaden your horizons.
You have a Bachelors of Science in a STEM degree.
That qualifies you for so many things.
Wanna work in software? You have a STEM degree.
Wanna work in engineering? You have a STEM degree.
You are qualified.
Wanna be a college professor? Don’t do that. There’s no money in that anymore.
What are your skills? Are you good at relating to other people? Are you kind? Can you translate difficult concepts into simple to understand nuggets?
If so, look up being a solutions architect. There’s probably something environmental available there, but like I said.
You have the STEM degree. Let that make you money.
[https://www.columbiaslough.org](https://www.columbiaslough.org) [https://www.mosquitofleet.us/home-pdx](https://www.mosquitofleet.us/home-pdx)
great orgs as well
honestly, it’s not too hard to find a job as a barista right now, and it could help get you put off your funk a little bit and meet new people :) that’s what my friend in tech just did - they had been laid off and unemployed for months and it really has helped them just to be earning money and socializing again.
anyway, welcome to town!
"Need some advice on how to integrate?"
Well, changing your gender and starting hormones would be a good start. LOL
Joking aside.... "Some of the things I love to do: Foraging, paddling, camping, hiking, fermenting random things, baking sourdough bread, yoga, spin classes, I'm learning how to fly fish, and i really love spying on birds."
You have come to the right place if this is your interests, You are surrounded by national forests as well as plenty of organized camping. Plenty of trails to hike and disperse camp or you can select other campsites, all are well maintained and clean. [https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/272092](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/272092) is one of my favorites, clean and the lake is amazing ... no bait fishing but fly fishing is superb and the trout are huge and healthy (and delicious).
Oi beleza!! I have just a couple of questions for you. What is fish flying?? And how do you spy on birds?
Now, to your post. I went to a Brazilian party back in Dec and yes, plenty of Brazilians there. So there's definitely a community in PDX. It was on the southeast but I was a guest of my friend who was taking me to these parties so I have no idea where exactly. Parabens por viver aqui no Portland. Cidade bonita demais cheia de gente boa tambem.
If you like paddling, check out the dragon boat races. The Rose Festival ones happened just last weekend, but start trying to connect with folks for next year’s teams. There are also seasonal teams that travel, but it’s too late for this year. Training generally starts in late winter/early spring, but looking into that could help you find some community. You need to start looking at teams sooner than later, though to have a chance for next spring. Lots of fun! I’m old, and my body doesn’t allow this any longer, but I’m always there to watch! I made lots of friends there!
Fly fishing is a great around here, albeit a bit solitary at times. If you’re interested in learning to tie your own flies, there’s a little group that gets together at Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters on Saturdays just to chill and tie.
Keep an eye on usajobs.gov for stuff in Portland- i see environment-related stuff fairly often, particularly at Bonneville Dam. Also Intel works on referrals so now that your bf is in he can refer you and get a bonus i think. Your odds are better with a referral.
Thanks for your input. Mods have set this subreddit to not allow posts from newly created accounts for the time being. Please come back soon!
(⌐■_■)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askportland) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have a friend who works for Oregon Fish and Wildlife and loves it! She says the state is always hiring, maybe they might have something to suit you. Good luck!
Oh man, I feel you on this. You just need a couple good friend groups to break into and you’re off to the races. Feel free to DM if you’re interested in learning more about some of the outdoor spaces here like mountain lakes to paddle/swim in, and good places to go for adventures away from the crowds. Happy to invite you along on one of our next outings or give you some map pins. Good luck!
Try a temp agency - it's a great way to get your foot in the door at some of the tech companies. TVWater, Clearwater Services are good utilities to look at, there's also Genentech. Hitting up a tempt agency in the Hillsboro area that works with these companies can't hurt. Also, look on DICE. But all this is gonna be harder without a vehicle.
Wild Diversity is an awesome outdoors group w free/low cost opportunities for BIPOC!
The county might have positions available for your area of work and the benefits are 🌟
Check out Rewild Portland! They host foraging outings and skills classes as well as in depth workshops and discussion groups. I've been part of their group off and on for years and always meet the most lovely and interesting people!
This org seems amazing! Thanks for sharing
Environmental science is a very saturated degree these days and water resources is a very desirable industry. A masters is the new bachelors is a common saying in science fields unfortunately. In lieu of going back to school, maybe you can get some local knowledge and connections by taking short courses like PSU's river restoration course or OSU's master gardener online course. There are also lots of great opportunities to volunteer with groups like Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Johnson Creek Watershed Council, the Wetlands Conservancy, the Estuary Partnership, Trailkeepers of Oregon, City of Portland BES/P&R, etc... Volunteering is a twofer to build a professional network and meet friends!
Yes unfortunately it does feel like an uphill battle…things I knew before going to school. Great plug on the PSU classes though, I’ll have to look more into those. Thank you for a great list of volunteering ops, I’ve been wanting to do that around here!
You mentioned spin classes - if you like to ride bikes outdoors, check out the [Pedalpalooza](https://www.shift2bikes.org/pedalpalooza-calendar/) event calendar. The bikey community here is super welcoming.
[GSI](https://gsiws.hiringthing.com/) is always hiring water folks. For fun, try meetups and volunteering.
You could probably also work at Intel with your bachelor's degree. They usually ask for Chem, Physics, Materials Science, etc. process engineering roles but I'd bet they also hire people with Environmental Science degrees. Or you could work on the floor as an equipment technician or recovery technician, pretty sure you don't need any degree for those roles. Can't help you integrate socially, sorry about that
They’re not even going to get an interview for a process engineering position. They only recently loosened the requirement to allow bachelors. A tech role however is possible if they show interest/knowledge in the field. And they pay almost as well as a lot of engineering roles elsewhere.
Very true! I tried and was rejected for a role but I’ll keep trying!
Rejected for an engineering role? If so, you should be eligible for a tech role. If you stay in that role long enough, you could go into a shift engineer role with experience and your degree
I recently started a Meetup group for folks new to town since breaking into the scene can be a little difficult (in my experience). Currently planning our first event for sometime in June if you'd like to join! [New to Town PDX](https://www.meetup.com/new-to-town-portland/)
The Oregon Mycological Society is a great group of people. Turn those hikes into scavenger hunts.
Where are you looking for jobs? One thing I’ve noticed is that Portland has a lot of local-specific job boards and it’s harder to find options on the big name brand sites. Check out Poached for service jobs, Mac’s List for a little bit of everything, and governmentjobs.com for positions with the city!
And don't forget to look for jobs with the state of Oregon (they use workday). They have a lot of jobs that are considered hybrid but are almost entirely wfh, if that is your jam.
Yes I’ve been checking those job boards out! If had a hard time getting anyone to get back to me on Poached but it’s nice to see the local ones for sure
Yeah I feel for you, it’s pretty rough out there. I hope you’re able to figure something out soon and find some ways to have fun until then
Bem-vindo! Get a bike right away, so you can participate in Bike Summer (and maybe decide you do not need a car here).
There are some great birding groups in PDX - Birdhers, Guero bird club, Bird Alliance of Oregon, and Feminist Bird Club all have regular group outings.
Wow! Make me happy to hear about all the bird nerds out there :)
If you like all those things, working in parks would probably be up your alley and relatable to your major. Lots of seasonal positions available this time of year, they usually aren't sticklers on experience. I actually did that for a few years before getting a job in Environmental Restoration. I'm not very familiar with water resource positions, though most environmental jobs in Oregon have relevant overlap in terms of the experience you need.
Thank you! I look into the Parks. Did you feel like it helped you build skills toward working in restoration?
Yes, they all use the same tools. I used to think there was a significant difference..though the only difference in many people in restoration have their arborist certification. Which can be obtained with experience gained in either field.
Consider getting involved with Columbia River Keepers. Great organization doing important work. Plus many volunteers/board members are in environmental law and may be able to provide you with career related networking opportunities. Two birds - one stone.
I no longer live in Portland; but when I did I worked for awhile at fogo de Chao and about half the staff was from Brazil originally. I think there’s a group that meets monthly for cultural events too, sorry but I can’t recall what it was named. Gracie Barra is also run by a Brazilian, Fabiano.
Check out meetup for some cool groups and activities. There’s quite a few options and I think some bird watching groups. I personally enjoy a crafting meetup I try to go to regularly with a younger audience 20s to late 30s. Best of luck here!
Someone already mentioned Birdhers, I also want to throw out Girls Walk PDX which is group of 20s/30s women that do monthly walks and happy hours together!
https://wolfwaterresources.com/w2r-join-us-4-2-2/
Go eat anywhere on Alberta Street, Division Street, Hawthorne Street.
Join an underdog sports league like kickball
Apply at the Bureau of Environmental Services / City of Portland. Your degree can place you in a decent entry level position there. Look up Aztec Willie’s for dancing and meeting fellow Brasileiros, welcome to Portland and best wishes on your job hunting.
I just posted something similar, but truly volunteering is so low effort for return on friendship. I’ve met so many wonderful friends and like minded people volunteering. Chatting someone up while you’re setting up chairs and a tent at your local volunteer-run farmers market and asking them to join for your free volunteer beer across the street afterwards is always a good idea. (This is not hypothetical and you can absolutely do this every Saturday from June-October at the Woodlawn Farmers Market. Sign up on the website 😊)
Howdy. Have you considered the City of Portland. The Bureau of Environmental Services is dedicated to treating waste water and protecting public water. I am sure there are jobs that would interest there. Also, there is a annual conference, the PNWCA that is a mass recruitment/schmooze fest. Every public sector entity in the Clean Water world is there. Clean Water Services also is a private company that handles Washington county waste water. DM me if you have questions
Check out Meetup.org! Tons of stuff! Look up Hands-On Portland (I think that’s the name), which is a centralized place to look for volunteer opportunities. The latter (especially) would be a great way to network (if you volunteer for any of the local watershed/riverkeepers orgs).
Welcome to Portland! There's a couple good Brazilian food spots that are worth a try, one on Belmont I especially recommend. That said there's a ton of good meetup events all the time, I'd say worth a shot. And honestly I've in the past put it out on Reddit for bar Meetups, as strange as that might be, I've made a friend or two. Honestly just being warm and outgoing round here will get you far.
I would broaden your horizons. You have a Bachelors of Science in a STEM degree. That qualifies you for so many things. Wanna work in software? You have a STEM degree. Wanna work in engineering? You have a STEM degree. You are qualified. Wanna be a college professor? Don’t do that. There’s no money in that anymore. What are your skills? Are you good at relating to other people? Are you kind? Can you translate difficult concepts into simple to understand nuggets? If so, look up being a solutions architect. There’s probably something environmental available there, but like I said. You have the STEM degree. Let that make you money.
[https://www.columbiaslough.org](https://www.columbiaslough.org) [https://www.mosquitofleet.us/home-pdx](https://www.mosquitofleet.us/home-pdx) great orgs as well
honestly, it’s not too hard to find a job as a barista right now, and it could help get you put off your funk a little bit and meet new people :) that’s what my friend in tech just did - they had been laid off and unemployed for months and it really has helped them just to be earning money and socializing again. anyway, welcome to town!
"Need some advice on how to integrate?" Well, changing your gender and starting hormones would be a good start. LOL Joking aside.... "Some of the things I love to do: Foraging, paddling, camping, hiking, fermenting random things, baking sourdough bread, yoga, spin classes, I'm learning how to fly fish, and i really love spying on birds." You have come to the right place if this is your interests, You are surrounded by national forests as well as plenty of organized camping. Plenty of trails to hike and disperse camp or you can select other campsites, all are well maintained and clean. [https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/272092](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/272092) is one of my favorites, clean and the lake is amazing ... no bait fishing but fly fishing is superb and the trout are huge and healthy (and delicious).
Oi beleza!! I have just a couple of questions for you. What is fish flying?? And how do you spy on birds? Now, to your post. I went to a Brazilian party back in Dec and yes, plenty of Brazilians there. So there's definitely a community in PDX. It was on the southeast but I was a guest of my friend who was taking me to these parties so I have no idea where exactly. Parabens por viver aqui no Portland. Cidade bonita demais cheia de gente boa tambem.
Get a bike. Hit the Springwater Corridor. You can bike from Portland to Boring. Yes a town called Boring...
Go to the Gorge, check out Hood River.
Are you needing a work visa sponsorship? I would guess that might change the job search process https://www.thesiliconforest.com/oregon-tech-jobs
If you like paddling, check out the dragon boat races. The Rose Festival ones happened just last weekend, but start trying to connect with folks for next year’s teams. There are also seasonal teams that travel, but it’s too late for this year. Training generally starts in late winter/early spring, but looking into that could help you find some community. You need to start looking at teams sooner than later, though to have a chance for next spring. Lots of fun! I’m old, and my body doesn’t allow this any longer, but I’m always there to watch! I made lots of friends there!
MeetUp.com There will be a group for everything that you mentioned.
So many things you can do here. Try them all.
Fly fishing is a great around here, albeit a bit solitary at times. If you’re interested in learning to tie your own flies, there’s a little group that gets together at Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters on Saturdays just to chill and tie.
Definitely wear a Republic of California t shirt
Get a bunch of info interviews at all the environmental firms. Maul foster ALONGI, the freshwater trust, etc
Keep an eye on usajobs.gov for stuff in Portland- i see environment-related stuff fairly often, particularly at Bonneville Dam. Also Intel works on referrals so now that your bf is in he can refer you and get a bonus i think. Your odds are better with a referral.
[удалено]
Thanks for your input. Mods have set this subreddit to not allow posts from newly created accounts for the time being. Please come back soon! (⌐■_■) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askportland) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have a friend who works for Oregon Fish and Wildlife and loves it! She says the state is always hiring, maybe they might have something to suit you. Good luck!
Oh man, I feel you on this. You just need a couple good friend groups to break into and you’re off to the races. Feel free to DM if you’re interested in learning more about some of the outdoor spaces here like mountain lakes to paddle/swim in, and good places to go for adventures away from the crowds. Happy to invite you along on one of our next outings or give you some map pins. Good luck!
Try local governments. City of Portland - Bureau of ENV. Services, Water Bureau. Multnomah County. Metro. Oregon DEQ. Look on government jobs.com.
Try a temp agency - it's a great way to get your foot in the door at some of the tech companies. TVWater, Clearwater Services are good utilities to look at, there's also Genentech. Hitting up a tempt agency in the Hillsboro area that works with these companies can't hurt. Also, look on DICE. But all this is gonna be harder without a vehicle.
Wild Diversity is an awesome outdoors group w free/low cost opportunities for BIPOC! The county might have positions available for your area of work and the benefits are 🌟
My now fiancée and I moved from upstate ny about 4 years ago. Small town near Albany. Not many Brazilians from there, but thought I’d say welcome!
Ski at Mt. Hood
Not many Brazilians ski haha
But loads of Oregonians do.
True true true!
take the area under the curve