Light at the End of the Tunnel

HEALTH CARE'S INSULATION EFFECT

    Other factors have played into insulating the Chippewa Valley as well. Industries that have remained more stable are education and health care – industries that have a lot of presence here. 

    “The health care industry insulates an area, this area in particular, very well. We have a huge health care sector here with large employers such as Luther Midelfort and Sacred Heart Hospital, which has kept us from having as high unemployment rates as other counties around the state,” said Hodek. “Health care will always be in demand. When it comes down to saving your life, you may not want to pay for a procedure, but you will.”

    The education and health services industry has remained fairly stable over the year, and the number employed actually increased by 2.1 percent, or 300 people, since May 2008, according to the WI DWD.

    “Education has remained pretty solid. When people are out of work, they go back to school,” said Pronschinske. “Technical colleges and universities know it’s just short-term, though. They’re not expanding, but just operating within their current structures.”

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THE HUNT FOR GREAT OCCUPATION

    Of course, higher education is a great resource if you’re unemployed or looking to switch careers. UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, Chippewa Valley Technical College, and Globe University each have a wide variety of programs geared toward careers in health care, for example, among many others.

    “Whatever your situation is, continuing education is at least worth researching,” said Jessica Witte, of UWEC’s career services. “Many people think going back to school isn’t right for them – they don’t have the time or can’t afford it. What they don’t realize is how varied class schedules are, with night and online classes, and how affordable it can be, especially after considering financial aid.”

    If you have been laid off, though, and are just looking to get back on your feet, there are resources available for you, too.

    “One resource for those who have been laid off is to go to their local job center,” said Pronschinske. “There is federal funding for people to go back to work or take classes. The job center is good for career exploration and networking as well.”

    The next step is finding that job. Times are tough, but that doesn’t mean that jobs aren’t out there or that new businesses aren’t opening or relocating to the area.

    “Most job markets are in decline right now around the state, but there are still jobs out there,” said Hodek. “The competition’s going to be a lot stiffer, though. You’ll be competing with people with college degrees, people with experience, people who are older, people who are younger, etc. You need to do something to set yourself apart from the crowd.”

    There are many tools for finding a job (like the Smartt Network, job boards, and classifieds), but the best tool you can have when job searching is networking.

    “Your best job resource is your network,” said Witte. “You need to go to events, join a group, take a class. Meet people and make connections. People often don’t realize how powerful or far-reaching their own network can be.”

    It’s all about face time and showing your personality, rather than becoming just another résumé on the pile.

    “There’s nothing wrong with using job search boards, but I would take different tactic and go door to door to companies that you do research on. You never know where it might lead you,” said Pronschinske. “There are places that aren’t posting jobs because they get flooded with applications. I would try to find a day to drive around, not just go through the mainstream of doing things online or faxing in a résumé, because you’ll become one of many. You need to draw attention to yourself – let people see you and shake your hand.”