THE ECONOMY:

On the road back to work

Paula Gray hands out cards by the highway, hoping they will lead to interviews and, eventually, employment

Leila Navidi

Gray looks at a traffic light while handing out a card. The former administrative assistant hopes to impress prospective employers with her “determination, creativity and resourcefulness.”

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Saturday, April 11, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Job search

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Download Paula Gray's resume (Some personal information has been removed)

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Paula Gray on her new job search tactic
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Paula Gray on people's reaction to her tactic
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Paula Gray on what she is doing to make ends meet
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Paula Gray on what people should know about her
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Budget panel releases $6 million for worker training (4-3-2009)
Bill advances to increase jobless benefits (4-1-2009)
Building, casino job losses fuel jobless rate (3-27-2009)
Manpower opens new branch, program (3-20-2009)
State jobless rate jumps; numbers worse in Las Vegas (3-13-2009)
Laid-off workers get break on COBRA; employers to foot bill (3-13-2009)
State's jobless rate jumps to 9.4 percent (3-6-2009)
Businesses cutting costs with more than just layoffs (2-6-2009)
Forecast: 1 in 10 Nevadans jobless (1-2-2009)

Sun business and economy coverage

Paula Gray stands on the northbound off ramp of Interstate 15, the same spot, she says, “where the homeless guy stands” and panhandles.

She flashes a smile, her green eyes highlighted by jade earrings, hoping that people stopped at the red light will roll down their windows.

But the 51-year-old is not homeless and she’s not asking for money. She’s an out-of-work professional and she wants a job.

After eight years as an administrative assistant at a construction company, Gray was laid off in July, placing her firmly among the ranks of the nation’s 13.2 million unemployed.

She used up her savings three months ago and since then has been withdrawing money from her 401(k), robbing from her future, as she puts it.

But Gray has a plan to end her longest bout of joblessness since high school. She has printed 1,500 cards with her name, followed by the phrase, “seeking employment,” a list of her abilities and attributes and her phone number. She is handing them out on the streets and highways of the Las Vegas Valley.

“My theory is that they’ll eventually get into the hands of somebody who can give me an interview,” she says.

“They show determination, creativity and resourcefulness. I believe somebody will be impressed by this,” she adds, offering evidence of the last item in her list of attributes, an “infectious positive attitude.”

Thursday was the second outing in her new venture. She skipped Wednesday to recover from the mild heatstroke and sunburn she suffered the day before. This time, she brought a broad straw hat and a bottle of water.

She chose the Sahara Avenue northbound off ramp because she lives nearby and has seen panhandlers there many times.

On Thursday, one of them, a skinny guy in jeans and a black T-shirt, paced back and forth across the street from her four or five times, apparently bothered by being beaten to the spot.

Gray removes her glasses before starting, to try to avoid looking too much “like a granny.”

She stands with the cards in her right hand, not unlike a soccer referee flashing a red card. She shouts to each driver, “Good afternoon! I’m looking for a job ...” The smile never leaves her face. If the windows let in her hands and voice, she passes a card and continues, “Maybe you know someone who knows someone who knows someone?”

She occasionally walks into traffic, over to an open window.

Some people shake their fingers, as if being offered something they don’t want. Some keep talking on their cell phones.

Some offer suggestions. Try Metro Police, for a dispatcher job. Try the county. Try the union. A blonde woman in a yellow Hummer with the words Century 21 on the side asks, “Any experience in real estate?”

A white car pulls up. A man in a blue tank top stands in the passenger seat, pokes through the open sunroof and snaps her picture. He’s a tourist. Look what I saw in Las Vegas!

Gray estimates that one in five cars are from out of town. One guy took her card after asking if she would be willing to relocate to London. “Sure,” she answers.

Gray has no family here, though she has lived in the valley 16 years. Her parents and her husband have died in that time. She tends to stay in a job, having held only three since 1993. In her most recent position, she handled the logistics and administration of a mid-sized construction company, which included a contract to provide more than 1,000 trees to the Wynn.

“I’ve never been in this situation before,” she says.

To survive without income, she refinanced her house. She applied for an extension in unemployment benefits. She converted her dining room into a bedroom and rents it out to a stranger.

Standing on a street corner “makes you uncomfortable,” she says. “It’s a little embarrassing that I find myself in this position at this time in my life.”

But after eight months, she can count the number of interviews she has landed on two hands. “I’ve waited ... for something to happen, doing what I’m supposed to do. It’s time to do something else, something more proactive.”

On Thursday, one guy wants to give her a few dollars. She doesn’t take them. “I want an honest day’s work,” she says. She remembers when a panhandler asked her for money at a gas station about a year ago. “I told him, ‘Why don’t you get a job?’ Now I feel bad about having said that.”

Around 5:30, the traffic thickening, two Las Vegas marshal squad cars pull up. It wasn’t the first time authorities had noticed Gray during her brief sojourn. On Tuesday, a Metro Police officer had told her to be careful and a Nevada Highway Patrol officer told her she would have to stand somewhere else. So she left.

Now the marshal was telling her the same thing, adding that he didn’t “want to pick her up off the pavement.” She mentioned that she had seen panhandlers there and wondered how they get away with it. The marshal told her that the panhandlers get arrested. She just has to move.

But Gray’s lemons-to-lemonade character won’t allow her to leave it at that. She passes one of her cards to the officer and tells him, “You might know someone who knows someone ...”

Sun photographer Leila Navidi contributed to this story.

Discussion: 12 comments so far…

By Me

4/11/09 at 7:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

When did an administrative assistant become a professional?
By laniac

4/11/09 at 9:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

I applaud Paula's efforts. She is one of the innocent victims of this economic collapse.

Good luck - I hope you find a job soon.
By davidwayneosedach

4/11/09 at 12:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Simply brilliant! While some people think she is looking for a buck - she is only interested in getting a job.

And through all this publicity she will get one!

ps to Gray: London is a fantastic city to live and work in. Go for it!
By LasVegas2009

4/11/09 at 1:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

You go Paula! Don't let anything stop you!
By Lenny_V

4/11/09 at 3:43 p.m.

Suggest removal

Good for her.

And what the hell is a marshall, don't they transport prisoners? They have no jurisdiction. The metro officer was nice, just told her to be careful. Highway Patrol? They're the biggest a-holes in uniform.
By geenab65

4/11/09 at 4:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Good Luck Paula. The government entities seem to be hiring again. GO FOR IT!!
By LasVegas2009

4/11/09 at 4:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

Paula you should go be a teacher because when the bottom falls out of the economy they wont even take a 3% cut in pay.
By stevem

4/11/09 at 6:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

this story just proves that cops are jerks.

this lady is trying to get a job...that will give her income...to pay their salary and they give her a hard time, yet if she robbed a liquor store and killed a worker, they'd never be able to find her.

oh, and a GOOD administrative assistant IS a professional, folks.

you don't realize how great it is to have a good one until you get stuck with a bad one.
By bearpbpaula

4/11/09 at 7:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

Thanks for the kind comments everyone, and all the great suggestions. I will follow up on each and every one!

The download of my resume failed to transfer in the correct formatting, my version is somewhat more readable, & better organized.

Also, I have loads of experience in various management positions, as well as having served as an Admin. Asst.

I wish all the unemployed of Las Vegas the best of luck in finding jobs.
Paula Gray
By casey22

4/11/09 at 11:59 p.m.

Suggest removal

Anyone out there want to help an unemployed American. Donate a phone call. Over 13 million Americans are looking for work while 7.7 million illegal aliens have jobs in our country and our elected officials are trying to pass an Amnesty. The first one is the Dream Act. Get involved and make some calls. (866-220-0044) gets you thru to all House and Senate members. Tell your lawmakers E-Verify and No Amnesty. Save our Country !!!
By illsaywhatsonmymind

4/13/09 at 7:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

In response to ME, you stated
"When did an administrative assistant become a professional?"

What gives you the idea that administrative assistants are not professionals? You need to come off of your high horse and realize that just because someone is not at the top of the ladder doesn't mean they are not a professional. Sometimes, it is the person in that administrative assistant position who is really running the company.
I truly hope that Ms. Gray is successful in her job hunting. She shows some really good qualities (persistence & creativeness come to mind) in her searching.
By joannjagroop

4/27/09 at 11:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

Paula,
I find myself in the same situation so I can relate. Have you been successful in finding a job since this story? Please contact me through me blog www.thisdamecooks.wordpress.com