can't find a job (Milwaukee, Madison: environment, travel, salary)

[B.H81]

I know your all have read my post about wanting to move back, I posted my resume online and I apply for each job I'm qualified for and some I'm not. I have only received a few phone calls. I questioned myself for a while, but then people from Chicago and Minneapolis called me and even flew me out to Minneapolis for job interviews. I'm about 45 days away from desperation mode where I will accept a job somewhere else. I have a offer on the table for the DC metro area, but I would prefer to move home. What gives? I interview well. I have a marketable skill set and tons of experience. I thought a city would love to take care of one of its veterans returning home. I have even used some of the veterans job placement service and still no bites from Milwaukee.

[radraja]

You're right. Milwaukee does not have a very good economy at the moment. It's really tough to find a job here. I have friends who graduated from top schools but still can't get jobs here.

I don't think you're alone in your situation though - I think the vast majority of people who are moving to WI are people who are originally from here, but want to come back to be by family.

But - since the economy is what it is, you may be best served to pick whichever city you can get a job in. If you chose Chicago or Minneapolis, you'd still be close enough to visit fairly often. DC isn't a bad choice either; lots of the MD and VA suburbs offer similar architecture and neighborhoods to Milwaukee's northeast suburbs. You might end up liking it.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by B.H81

I know your all have read my post about wanting to move back, I posted my resume online and I apply for each job I'm qualified for and some I'm not. I have only received a few phone calls. I questioned myself for a while, but then people from Chicago and Minneapolis called me and even flew me out to Minneapolis for job interviews. I'm about 45 days away from desperation mode where I will accept a job somewhere else. I have a offer on the table for the DC metro area, but I would prefer to move home. What gives? I interview well. I have a marketable skill set and tons of experience. I thought a city would love to take care of one of its veterans returning home. I have even used some of the veterans job placement service and still no bites from Milwaukee.

I hate to be a pessimist, but you are correct, you're probably not going to get hired unless you live there.

While I love the area and the city, the general hiring climate is exceedingly provincial. It isn't that the economy is a problem, the jobs are there for people who fit the mold. The issue is usually, fitting the mold. Unfortunately a lot of people in Milwaukee simply don't get out much. In my opinion some feel threatened by outsiders. And also (again, my opinion only), it injures the potential of a lot of companies in Milwaukee and the vicinity, because they are continually in "status quo" mode.

Furthermore, the Milwaukee business climate has a recurrent theme: "We're different here." The implication being, what works in the rest of the world is not going to work for [enter company name of choice here].

Add to all of this, the number of people who get a job and stay with a company for a long time. Therefore, the expectation is that all the employees are highly familiar with, and adapted to the environment and the business. Of course, this also means that hiring someone takes forever, because they're looking for that "perfect fit"... which doesn't exist.

[B.H81]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

I hate to be a pessimist, but you are correct, you're probably not going to get hired unless you live there.

While I love the area and the city, the general hiring climate is exceedingly provincial. It isn't that the economy is a problem, the jobs are there for people who fit the mold. The issue is usually, fitting the mold. Unfortunately a lot of people in Milwaukee simply don't get out much. In my opinion some feel threatened by outsiders. And also (again, my opinion only), it injures the potential of a lot of companies in Milwaukee and the vicinity, because they are continually in "status quo" mode.

Furthermore, the Milwaukee business climate has a recurrent theme: "We're different here." The implication being, what works in the rest of the world is not going to work for [enter company name of choice here].

Add to all of this, the number of people who get a job and stay with a company for a long time. Therefore, the expectation is that all the employees are highly familiar with, and adapted to the environment and the business. Of course, this also means that hiring someone takes forever, because they're looking for that "perfect fit"... which doesn't exist.

I use my mothers address on my resume right on 18th and Cherry and have a 414 area code on my cell phone. They have no clue that I'm not in Milwaukee. I don't feel like I'm a outsider, I grew up there went to Highland Community school, Jackie Robinson and Washington HS. I'm born and bread there. I did college elsewhere, but still Milwaukee has to do something. All the people we have with talent are beign lured away by other cities. How can we continue to use Marquette and UW milwaukee, MSOE and MATC, as Breeding grounds for Minneapolis and Chicago to come and pull people away. I'm going to write a letter to my city concil man, I doubt nobody will care, but the long term problems for this will be more and more people leaving the city never to return, and milwaukee continuing to decline.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by B.H81

I use my mothers address on my resume right on 18th and Cherry and have a 414 area code on my cell phone. They have no clue that I'm not in Milwaukee. I don't feel like I'm a outsider, I grew up there went to Highland Community school, Jackie Robinson and Washington HS. I'm born and bread there. I did college elsewhere, but still Milwaukee has to do something. All the people we have with talent are beign lured away by other cities. How can we continue to use Marquette and UW milwaukee, MSOE and MATC, as Breeding grounds for Minneapolis and Chicago to come and pull people away. I'm going to write a letter to my city concil man, I doubt nobody will care, but the long term problems for this will be more and more people leaving the city never to return, and milwaukee continuing to decline.

I'm guessing you must have out of state references/jobs/residence, at least for a period of time. Either that, or there aren't jobs that specifically relate to what you do, or they feel that you can't be hired for a salary they are willing to pay. Assuming that you are getting interviews and offers elsewhere, your resume is obviously getting noticed.

Personally, I find DC tough to live in because of the congestion and cost of living. But, given those things, there is definitely a very good job market, and pay is very attractive. I left a year and a half ago, but I'd go back if it came down to that.

Although the "Brain Drain" may not be as bad as some people have said, there is most certainly a movement out of the area for educated people. The city needs to focus on killing crime and luring business, and generally making the city more liveable and easier to get around.

[EnjoyEP]

Two questions - not to be nosy but to try to help a bit with feedback:

1) What is your profession?

2) I thought (and please forgive me if I am wrong about this) I saw in one of your posts that you were seeking salaries plus-six figures?? Milwaukee's general salary code for MOST professions wouldn't be on par with a DC's or a Chicago's (cost of living is significantly less here too)...so is it possible your salary expectations are too high (and thus you are being ruled out with that)?

I am a native Milwaukeean who recently got a job back up here from afar (Albuquerque, NM) and don't have an *incredible* work history (I am proud of it, but it isn't like I am a PhD or an engineer, etc.). So it can be done for sure - I don't think the hiring economy for many professions here is as bad as some other cities currently. But largely this'll depend on stuff like the above two questions.

[B.H81]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

I'm guessing you must have out of state references/jobs/residence, at least for a period of time. Either that, or there aren't jobs that specifically relate to what you do, or they feel that you can't be hired for a salary they are willing to pay. Assuming that you are getting interviews and offers elsewhere, your resume is obviously getting noticed.

Personally, I find DC tough to live in because of the congestion and cost of living. But, given those things, there is definitely a very good job market, and pay is very attractive. I left a year and a half ago, but I'd go back if it came down to that.

Although the "Brain Drain" may not be as bad as some people have said, there is most certainly a movement out of the area for educated people. The city needs to focus on killing crime and luring business, and generally making the city more liveable and easier to get around.

Yes everything since 18 has been out of state. I have been on 2 destroyers and 1 aircraft carrier. I haven't even been called back for references. I have done everything our separation office has told us to do, and all my calls are out of state for employment. I still don't understand if that's possible for people not to call you back. I see job postings for IT engineers, so I know there is stuff available.

[B.H81]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Two questions - not to be nosy but to try to help a bit with feedback:

1) What is your profession?

2) I thought (and please forgive me if I am wrong about this) I saw in one of your posts that you were seeking salaries plus-six figures?? Milwaukee's general salary code for MOST professions wouldn't be on par with a DC's or a Chicago's (cost of living is significantly less here too)...so is it possible your salary expectations are too high (and thus you are being ruled out with that)?

I am a native Milwaukeean who recently got a job back up here from afar (Albuquerque, NM) and don't have an *incredible* work history (I am proud of it, but it isn't like I am a PhD or an engineer, etc.). So it can be done for sure - I don't think the hiring economy for many professions here is as bad as some other cities currently. But largely this'll depend on stuff like the above two questions.

1. I'm a IT guy. Networks or Servers, I do both.


2. In other post some jobs were willing to pay me over 6 figures, but they were in IRAQ and other bad places, but I was just using that as thats what I'm being offered. I have only been asking for 50K in milwaukee, I have gotten offers in DC from around the 70K to over 100K depending on the work and amount of travel. The ones that pay more I doubt I will be taking due to the job requirements. I still have about 45 days plus before I have to take something, but I want to accept a job in the next 20 days if possible. I have 2 interviews coming up a company in minneapolis and 1 in DC. I'm just hoping that somebody will come through in milwaukee and give me a call.

[radraja]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

I hate to be a pessimist, but you are correct, you're probably not going to get hired unless you live there.

While I love the area and the city, the general hiring climate is exceedingly provincial. It isn't that the economy is a problem, the jobs are there for people who fit the mold. The issue is usually, fitting the mold. Unfortunately a lot of people in Milwaukee simply don't get out much. In my opinion some feel threatened by outsiders. And also (again, my opinion only), it injures the potential of a lot of companies in Milwaukee and the vicinity, because they are continually in "status quo" mode.

Furthermore, the Milwaukee business climate has a recurrent theme: "We're different here." The implication being, what works in the rest of the world is not going to work for [enter company name of choice here].

Add to all of this, the number of people who get a job and stay with a company for a long time. Therefore, the expectation is that all the employees are highly familiar with, and adapted to the environment and the business. Of course, this also means that hiring someone takes forever, because they're looking for that "perfect fit"... which doesn't exist.

Milwaukee can be very locally oriented. But the funny thing is - when I try to point out the exact same thing as what you've been saying on other threads, tons of people start voicing objections.

But the provincial aspect is there. It's unavoidable.

That said, I still think the economy comes into play at least a little bit...the friends I was talking about in my first post went to Madison. They're local.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by radraja

Milwaukee can be very locally oriented. But the funny thing is - when I try to point out the exact same thing as what you've been saying on other threads, tons of people start voicing objections.

But the provincial aspect is there. It's unavoidable.

That said, I still think the economy comes into play at least a little bit...the friends I was talking about in my first post went to Madison. They're local.

I don't care if people object. Milwaukee is provincial. There are exceptions, but the majority of my experience points to the opposite. I've got very ample experience (director level in a large company, in the billions).

As much as I love the city, a lot of people have never really experienced anything but Milwaukee. And as I've said before, I've met people from there, who have never been to Chicago.

That kind of atmosphere is not good for new faces.