Job opportunities in downtown Minneapolis? (St. Paul, Bloomington: apartment, attorney, find a job)

[xandrex]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

My husband once interviewed for a Target IT position. Looking back, we're both happy that it never worked out. I've heard poor things about the company culture, although I also know a few people who do enjoy it.

I'm a bit biased as I'm a Target employee (not corporate, but I know a lot of people who work there), but I'd say the culture isn't so much bad, but that it has a learning curve. It has its own quirks, but much like any other company, it's more about who you work under. Even in the stores, I've had a range of bosses (worked in the Duluth and both Minneapolis locations) and they go from crazy corporate culturalists to laid back and flexible.

That said, a lot of the people I know who secured IT-like positions at Target and elsewhere had a 4-year degree, like many others have said. Of course, the fact that I'm in the process of getting a 4-year degree might bias who I know by fact of proximity.

[justsayinman]

I disagree that the economy is in the toilet. This has been a great year. Last week, the dow jones closed at it's highest since 2007.

[golfgal]

Also, keep in mind that only a small percentage of the jobs in the metro area are in downtown. You have a greater chance of finding a job in a suburb, especially in IT, since most of the major, big, businesses in the Twin Cities are not in downtown so don't limit yourself to looking there.

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Also, keep in mind that only a small percentage of the jobs in the metro area are in downtown. You have a greater chance of finding a job in a suburb, especially in IT, since most of the major, big, businesses in the Twin Cities are not in downtown so don't limit yourself to looking there.

That's not really true. Granted, there are many jobs outside of downtown, but many of area's major companies are still located downtown (so "most of the major big businesses" located elsewhere is a major stretch!!), and downtown Minneapolis remains the region's primary job center. According to the Star Tribune, downtown has more than 12 companies downtown with 1,000 or more employees, and of course there are many, many other smaller companies, too. That said, I also wouldn't limit myself to ONLY downtown, as there may be other excellent opportunities elsewhere.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Also, keep in mind that only a small percentage of the jobs in the metro area are in downtown. You have a greater chance of finding a job in a suburb, especially in IT, since most of the major, big, businesses in the Twin Cities are not in downtown so don't limit yourself to looking there.

This is rather overstated. I have been working downtown for many years and there is a lot of jobs period and substantial numbers of IT jobs as well. My guess is around 10% of all jobs in the metro are downtown and if you narrow it down to professional jobs, it goes up a great deal.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

This is rather overstated. I have been working downtown for many years and there is a lot of jobs period and substantial numbers of IT jobs as well. My guess is around 10% of all jobs in the metro are downtown and if you narrow it down to professional jobs, it goes up a great deal.

Again, 10% is a very small percentage of jobs in Minneapolis. There is also another large city down the road from Minneapolis that has a similar percentage of jobs, largely in IT, moving out you find 3M, Medtronic, Carleson Companies, Thomson-Rueters, Best Buy, General Mills, US Bank, Wells Fargo etc, etc, etc, etc. Move Target out of downtown like planned and that 10% drops to next to nothing. Again, the point being, the OP needs to consider other places for work, especially in a market like this.

I stand by my statement that most of the major companies are NOT in downtown.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

That's not really true. Granted, there are many jobs outside of downtown, but many of area's major companies are still located downtown (so "most of the major big businesses" located elsewhere is a major stretch!!), and downtown Minneapolis remains the region's primary job center. According to the Star Tribune, downtown has more than 12 companies downtown with 1,000 or more employees, and of course there are many, many other smaller companies, too. That said, I also wouldn't limit myself to ONLY downtown, as there may be other excellent opportunities elsewhere.

There are 12 companies in Eagan with 1000 or more employees....

[uptown_urbanist]

I think it's very clear walking around downtown that it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that the percentage of jobs (especially professional jobs!) is "next to nothing"!

I'm not sure what the rest of your statement is about; Wells Fargo has TONS of jobs in downtown Minneapolis (which is, after all, home to Wells Fargo Tower!), as does US Bank (and not only in the US Bancorp Center; they have jobs all over downtown)

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by golfgal

There are 12 companies in Eagan with 1000 or more employees....

What are they? And, for that matter, I think it's CLEAR that Eagan does NOT have more jobs than downtown Minneapolis! (especially if you're looking at professional jobs, like what the OP is looking for)

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

What are they? And, for that matter, I think it's CLEAR that Eagan does NOT have more jobs than downtown Minneapolis! (especially if you're looking at professional jobs, like what the OP is looking for)

1 West (Thomson Reuters)
2 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota 3
3 Delta Airlines
4 Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors
5 United States Postal Service
6 United Parcel Service
7 Coca-Cola Enterprises
8 Ecolab
9 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
10 Prime Therapeutics

Never said Eagan has more jobs, just that downtown doesn't have as many jobs as the suburbs.....