Starting a career in Milwaukee can be an adventure that offers a lot of possibilities in different industries like manufacturing, healthcare and technology. With its rich history, diverse culture and expanding business environment, Milwaukee is a city of contrasts, with urban facilities and suburban comforts being its best attractions, which is why it has become a popular place to work. You can start your career or you want to change something the city offers a favorable environment to develop and grow your career.
The article is going to provide you with the necessary tips and insights that will allow you to navigate your professional journey in Milwaukee, as well as learn the local job market, how to network effectively, and how to take advantage of the resources the city has to offer.
How to Start Your Career in Milwaukee
Below are some essential tips for starting your career in Milwaukee! This guide will help you find job opportunities as well as understand the local Milwaukee market.
Understand Milwaukee’s Job Market
It is important to study the job market within the area you are going to work before you begin searching your job. Milwaukee has a wide-ranging economy with a specific power in healthcare, manufacturing, finance and technology. The city is also home to a strong startup culture, particularly in such spheres as fintech and software development.
In order to be updated on the current trends and job opportunities you can follow local job websites like Indeed.com, Monster.com and MilwaukeeJobs.org. Also, you can do networking in industry related events which can give you a valuable idea about the job market and the organization where you can work. Greater Milwaukee Committee and Milwaukee Area Business Alliance are wonderful tools in networking with professionals of diverse industries.
Developing a Good Network
The networking is crucial to every individual who is beginning his or her career in Milwaukee. A good network may lead to an avenue that may not be publicized. Go to local meetups, conferences and workshops to meet people in the field you want to get into. Meetup.com and LinkedIn groups are also a great place to search and join other related professional groups.
The other way to expand your network is through volunteering in your community. Volunteer organizations such as the United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America will usually recruit volunteers that will provide new insight and expertise to their organizations. Volunteering also allows you to meet some significant people, as well as add some value to the community.
Polish Your Resume and Online Presence
First impressions of employers on you are based on your resume and online presence. Adjust your resumes to maximize on your skills and experiences that are relevant to the vacancies you are targeting. Make language simple and clear, generic statements are to be avoided and quantifiable achievements should be mentioned.
Moreover, have a sleek LinkedIn profile since most recruiters begin by looking at the LinkedIn page of the applicants and then contact them. Be sure to make regular updates to your LinkedIn profile and commenting on posts related to your area of business and have others endorse and recommend you, to lend weight to your credibility.
Using Education and Training Resources
The city of Milwaukee is located within the vicinity of other notable establishments of higher learning such as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), Marquette University, and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). These are universities that have a great variety of programs and courses and prepare students on different careers.
To the people who are already in the workforce, on-going education and professional development may be very valuable. Most of the local organizations including the Milwaukee Public Library and the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation have free or cheap training programs available. Such programs include such topics as basic computer skills and advanced technical certifications.
Internships and Entry-level Openings
Internships may be an amazing experience to acquire experience and build network in the industry prior to joining the job market on a full-time basis. JC, Harley Davidson and Fiserv are the companies commonly offering internship to college students and recent graduates. Such internships are also likely to result in stable jobs, and therefore, this is a great channel to a good career.
Another important step towards building your resume is the entry-level jobs. It is not a big deal to start at the bottom and climb up the ladder. You may not have a dream job in mind, but a job can allow you to gain some experience and references that you can use in your life career.
Use Local Job Boards and Staffing Agencies
Job boards are like a gold mine to search job opportunities in Milwaukee. Other job sites such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter are powerful, but you cannot ignore industry-specific ones that deal with certain industries in the area.
Also, the staffing agencies may provide you with temporary or permanent working positions and you may experience many different spheres and choose the career to follow. There are several good staffing agencies in Milwaukee such as Kelly Services and Adecco and these are usually affiliated to the local businesses.
Being Diverse and Inclusive
Milwaukee is famous by its inclusiveness and diversity. Its population is diverse, so it has its own challenges, as well as great opportunities to become improved as a person and develop in the professional sphere. The Milwaukee employers appreciate qualifications in candidates that have proven to be culturally competent and committed to inclusiveness.
Engaging in diversity and inclusion activities in your organization or society can improve your image and influence you to become an appealing candidate to prospective employers. Seek ways to get involved with groups such as the Milwaukee Urban league and the Latino Health Coalition to increase awareness of these problems and what you can do to help.
Also Read – Top Highest Paying Tech Jobs
Consider Cost of Living
The city of Milwaukee is regarded as a generally affordable city as compared to other big cities in the U.S. The prices may differ with your location in the city and your lifestyle choice. In some parts of downtown, rent may be expensive, yet there are lots of cheap options in the other neighborhoods.
In budgeting their living expenses, they should take into consideration, housing, transport, utilities and food. Such websites as Numbeo and Expatistan can give you detailed cost-of-living comparisons so you can make better decisions.
The Government Programs and Resources Utilization
The Milwaukee County Office of Workforce Development and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development provides a range of resources to job seekers. Financial benefits of the workers to train and become certified in the high-demand areas are offered through programs such as the Wisconsin Fast Forward program.
Besides, the City of Milwaukee, Department of Employee Relations arranges job fairs and offers the possibility to access job listings on its site. By utilizing these sources, you can make your job search more effective and raise your employment opportunities.
Research Neighborhoods and Commute Options
The geography of Milwaukee and commute may affect your lifestyle and job satisfaction greatly. The city is diverse in terms of neighborhoods with each having its own personality and facilities.
Downtown Milwaukee is a city of restaurants, night life and cultural attractions and thus a good place to live in, for those desiring to live in urban centers. Alternatively, there are such neighborhoods as Bay View or Riverwest, where people live in a quieter environment and can easily reach nature.
Choosing a neighborhood, it is important to pay attention to such factors as vicinity to work, transportation, and quality of life. Get to know the routes and schedules of the public transportation, or check out bike-sharing programs such as Bublr Bike, which might be an efficient substitute to driving.
Understand Local Work Culture
The local work culture should be learned so that one can easily cope with the new environment. Milwaukee has a reputation of an easy-going and friendly city, and yet it is also a city that appreciates hard work and professionalism.
The city employers tend to value teamwork, cooperation and work-life balance. Spend some time understanding the unspoken rules and the social norms of your work place. This contains knowing the hierarchy, level of communication and the company traditions.
One of the best methods of measuring the work culture is by talking to some of the current or former employees in the course of your interview. Their experiences will be able to provide you with a practical outlook and allow you to identify whether the company fits your expectations and values.
Take Advantage of Career Development Resources
Milwaukee has a lot of resources that can assist you in developing your career. The Career Pathways program of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation offers scholarships, mentoring, and placements of underrepresented populations.
In the same way, vocational training programs and workshops are provided at the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) according to the emerging industries. Using these resources would allow you to gain more skills and certifications that would render you more competitive in the labor market. Lifelong learning also shows your dedication to self and career development, which will make it look good to prospective employers.
Conclusion
To begin a career in Milwaukee, you will have to conduct research, build up networks and be persistent. With the local job market knowledge, the ability to create a great professional network, the utilization of educational opportunities, the willingness to embrace diversity and inclusion, the cost of living, and government programs, you will be able to position yourself in this exciting city.
Milwaukee is filled with endless possibilities of career and life as it is a vibrant community with a diversified economy where the community supports and assists all individuals to achieve their goals. Regardless of whether the city is more appealing because of its booming tech industry or long history of manufacturing, Milwaukee is a city where you can create a fulfilling career and leave your mark.
