Chemical Engineer HELP!!! Madison! (Milwaukee, Green Bay: low crime, job market, university)

[Kuma]

My wife is Chemical/Process Engineer from the University of Michigan. We picked up and moved from Ann Arbor to Tempe AZ (what were we thinking?). We absolutely hate it here. She is a fairly new grad so it's been hard to find companies willing to hire her without a ton of experience. We desperately want to live in Madison and would transport ourselves. Could someone give us some advice?

[ChairborneRanger]

There are jobs in Madison and environs for ChemE's, but there are also lots and lots of ChemE's that are available in town, too. You have to remember that UW-Madison has one of the top 5 ChemE programs in the U. S. and many of those graduates would also like to stay in town.

I'd suggest that you check out the various biotech companies in town, as well as the big battery company there---you know who I'm "talking" about---and see what openings they may have. My suggestion, especially if she wants to earn the best money, is to look somewhere else in the Midwest than Madison.

[Kuma]

Well, that’s a little disheartening, but makes total sense. Ann Arbor has the same issue. We refuse to give up though; we’re going to keep looking. Maybe there’s better news in Seattle. Thanks for your input.

[kjs36]

ok, here's the deal, i'm going to say (write) this but every comment afterwards will blast on me for this idea. they will say (write) that i am a stupid face that is so much of a jerkstore that i shouldn't even be allowed to be alive more or less logged on to this site and suggesting what i'm about to suggest. but here's an idea...Milwaukee.
Now they'll go on and on how milwaukee is dead, crime is so rampant that you can not look at someone without getting shot etc. but in reality, it's not that bad of a city. it's big enough to have some stuff to do but not too big that you are overwhelmed. yes it has some problems, as all cities do but there is a need for chem eng. and all sorts of eng. there and i bet you could find a good paying job, and get this, a lower cost of living than madison. and if the mood hits you on the weekend, take a road trip to madison!
now it's time for sleepy sleep. cinco de mayo bye bye-o.

[rdudejr]

One thing I always here about Milwaukee is how bad the crime is and how segregated the city is. I really think that depends on what you compare it to. If you are comparing Milwaukee to the rest of Wisconsin, then yes the crime is bad and yes the city is segregated (although I was hard pressed to find a black person outside of Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison when I lived there.) But as far as the crime, its not so bad. Just follow normal city precautions. Go look at Atlanta, NY, even Birmingham, AL and you will see places with far worse crime. And the police in Milwaukee are excellent, to boot!

[KCF]

I'm a Milwaukee native and I love it there, so I would highly recommend that you check it out. But that's another city with lots of 4-year-colleges per person, which probably means lots of BAs to compete with.

Why not try the Green Bay/Appleton area? It's got great job growth, nationally-recognized quality of life, lots of large companies that would value a chemical engineer, two major interstates to take you to Milwaukee's big-city lights (and one to Michigan's UP), lots of arts and entertainment, low crime, friendly people, young professionals groups, wonderful recreational opportunities ... and no competing chemical engineering program for miles around. (Although we do have three great local colleges.) There are lots of web sites with information; thenewnorth.com is one, titletown.org is another, and if you go to the nwtc.edu web site and click on "Searching for a New Vice President," there's a section there all about northeast Wisconsin that includes quotes from people who moved here from out of state.

Good luck!

[lynrose]

I am assisting in a search for a chemical engineer for Fontarome Chemical in Milwaukee. Email me with a resume if interested. lyn_devorkin@fontaromechemical.com

[radraja]

Madison is ridiculously competitive. It sucks, but it's true.

Milwaukee could work, but the job market there is tough too. And the grittier, uber-urban environment isn't right for everyone. It depends. You could try.

I don't know about Seattle...you might have luck there. You may also want to look at maybe Houston.

[Harpoon]

Try the Minneapolis area...3M has a bunch of Chem E's.

[JackieR]

My husband is having the same problem. He is a biologist/scientist. He has been trying so hard to land one of the many positions in the Madison area that he is well-qualified for. He has put out at least 25 to 30 resumes in the Madison/Milwaukee area alone, since the beginning of May. But we live in Maryland. We have come to the conclusion that one of the reasons he is not getting results is because there is a large potential employee pool right there in the area. We are still hoping to get something out there, and he is currently in the running for a UW position, but in the meantime, we are also looking in the Twin Cities area, since it is our second choice of where to settle. My husband is from Minneapolis. I am still hoping and praying for Madison though!! Good luck Kuma!