Job opportunities in downtown Minneapolis? (Minnetonka, Golden Valley: job market, transfer, buy)

[Ecto1]

Hello, recently I will be moving near downtown and I will start looking for work. My question is what is the job market like downtown. I know the economy is still in the toilet and all but for someone who is looking for any kind of job are they out there. I will be trying to find a IT job as I am in school for that at the moment, I only have a year left until I get my associates degree in network security so something along those lines but if all else fails i can get a college job if i need too. So what is it like out there right now.

[ttaleg]

i have friends who do that IT thing......seems Target corporate is always the place for that....

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by ttaleg

i have friends who do that IT thing......seems Target corporate is always the place for that....

Except that Target prefers 4 year degree as do most companies filling IT positions at the moment. Gone are the days when you could buy a cheap certification and land a good paying job. Today, you need experience and most likely a full bachelors degree to get a good IT job.

[ManBearPig1]

And Target is also in the process of transferring all of their IT jobs out of downtown

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ttaleg

i have friends who do that IT thing......seems Target corporate is always the place for that....

I've heard from multiple people that Target's IT culture is somewhat biased towards young forward-thinking yuppy types. Nice for career advancement, perhaps, not so good for stable systems (in my view).

[ttaleg]

i have friends who do but I wouldnt do the corporate cubicle thing if i got 150k a year

[pete6032]

Table 1. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ttaleg

i have friends who do but I wouldnt do the corporate cubicle thing if i got 150k a year

I would. I could use the $$.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by Ecto1

Hello, recently I will be moving near downtown and I will start looking for work. My question is what is the job market like downtown. I know the economy is still in the toilet and all but for someone who is looking for any kind of job are they out there. I will be trying to find a IT job as I am in school for that at the moment, I only have a year left until I get my associates degree in network security so something along those lines but if all else fails i can get a college job if i need too. So what is it like out there right now.

Does it have to be downtown? There are lots of companies with their offices out in the suburbs that might be looking for qualified people.

[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 wouldn't worry about it until you get an interview or offer there, though; there are lots of other IT opportunities in town. Your trouble will be landing an interview without the four-year degree, assuming you don't have years of experience under your belt. Does your school help with placement? Or internships? I'd work those connections as much as possible. You may also have to be open to suburban jobs, although the benefit of living somewhere so central is that you can at least possibly hop on a bus or train and do an easy reverse commute, depending on work location. The 12 bus runs out to the big job centers out in Minnetonka, for example (UnitedHealth, etc.), and has some buses that directly serve the reverse commute crowd. (or, if driving, the commute might not be too bad; downtown to somewhere like Golden Valley, for example, is a fairly direct, fast commute, whether by bus or by car)