RECALCULATING ROUTE. Sometimes the road to a job is unobstructed, but other times there are detours. (Photo via Unsplash)

The year 2024 stunned the Chippewa Valley job market. The healthcare field, which is normally considered recession-proof, experienced unprecedented job losses with the closures of Sacred Heart Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Prevea’s Western Wisconsin operations. The 1,407 healthcare job losses exceeded the 1,375 workforce of the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. factory in Eau Claire which shocked the area when it closed in 1992. Access to healthcare for the hundreds of patients impacted was also dealt a blow.

Leaders in the Chippewa Valley rallied and formed a tri-county task force composed of individuals from Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, and the surrounding area. New jobs are being created with new entities, such as OakLeaf Medical Network spearheading the drive for an independent community hospital, as well as groups like Northlake Community Clinics headquartered in Ashland.

Even with these events, the unemployment rate in the Chippewa Valley is still lower than long-term averages. As of April, the unemployment rate in Eau Claire County was 2.5%, lower than the long-term average of 4.64 percent. During the same time period, the unemployment rate in Chippewa County was 3.3% and Dunn County was 3.2%.

And when the state Department of Workforce Development released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job totals for May, they showed Wisconsin’s total employment hit an all-time high of 3,048,000. Meanwhile, the statewide jobless rate was 2.9%, more than percentage point lower than the national rate of 4%.

College grads may take longer to get that desired first-time, entry-level job compared to prior years. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, overall hiring projections are down about 5% from last year, perhaps returning the job market to more “normal” hiring levels following historic job growth the past years.

With unemployment low, along with labor shortages and labor tightening in certain sectors, what’s a job seeker to do nowadays? We reached out to some Chippewa Valley experts to update our list of top 10 tips for job hunters in 2024.

1. MINDSET & SELF-CARE.     

A mindset of being confident and genuinely positive is critical. Eating right, staying hydrated, getting the amount of exercise and shut-eye your body requires is key, along with being with people who bring you joy or finding things to do that make you happy. Laughing’s good.

2. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND BE ORGANIZED.     

“Think about what you want in a career: pay, location, hours, purpose. Start looking for employment opportunities or connecting with employers who meet that criteria. Being organized and prepared can make the job searching much less stressful! Having a tailored résumé, cover letter, and references ready to submit is extremely important, along with keeping detailed notes of each position and company you are applying to.” –Carlee Norby, career services specialist, Chippewa Valley Technical College

“To kick start your job search, focus on your application materials and elevator pitch of your relevant work experience and the transferable skills you bring to the job market. If you have completed an internship or have full-time work experience, give examples from that experience in the interviews. You want to convey that you are qualified and able to do the work they are hiring for.” –Staci Heidtke, director of Career Services, UW-Eau Claire

“Stay organized in your search, including keeping track of positions you applied to (and which documents you sent them), people you networked with (including contact info and conversation notes), positions you interviewed for, and sourcing new opportunities.”
–Bryan Barts, director of Career Services, UW-Stout

3. BE RESOURCEFUL, AND DO YOUR RESEARCH.    

One of your first stops for research might be the Job Center of Wisconsin, your public library, or your school’s career services center – which have access to hundreds of resources plus specially trained career counselors. Also, be sure to check out recruiting agencies and partner with a recruiter to help you find your dream career.

Many resources are online. The Job Center of Wisconsin, for example, offers virtual workshops (dwd.wisconsin.gov/det/workshops/virtual.htm). The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire offers LinkedIn Learning (ecpubliclibrary.info/linkedin-learning), a resource that can help research a company or an organization, tailor a résumé, prep for an interview, including potential questions, and post-interview actions.

“Research the most in-demand skills and certifications within your industry. This will help you understand what employers are actively seeking. From there, tailor your résumé and skills to showcase how you address those needs.” –Stephanie May, skilled recruiter, SEEK Careers/Staffing, Eau Claire branch

“Remember to do your research BEFORE interviewing. There is nothing more devastating than finally landing that job interview, and then realizing you know very little about the company or organization you are interviewing with. Taking the time to prepare before you meet with your prospective employer can mean the difference between getting the call saying you’re hired versus getting the call saying they chose another candidate.” –Forrest Buck, director of career development and first-year experience, CVTC

“Staffing agencies streamline the application process by matching your skills, passions, and career goals with the best available opportunities. Because staffing agencies have strong relationships with employers, they often have access to job opportunities before they’re publicly advertised.” –Stephanie May, skilled recruiter, SEEK Careers/Staffing, Eau Claire branch  

4. USE TECH AND SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT BE SMART ABOUT IT.

Do make sure to have all lines of communication open if you are actively job searching and serious about obtaining new or better employment. This means setting up voice mail and clearing out your messages, even if you text primarily. Key to your job search are an active functioning email address, phone number, voice mail, texting and messaging capabilities.

“Make sure your online persona is accurate, up-to-date, and that you are active using the resource.” –Bryan Barts, director of career services at UW-Stout

“Beware social media platforms as they can send red flags depending on your posts or what you are tagged in.” –Carlee Norby, career services specialist, CVTC

“Recent graduates are searching for jobs using LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, and Handshake, a career management system used by universities and technical colleges. … Job seekers should be prepared for in-person and virtual interviews. Do your homework by researching the company, understanding the work they do or product they offer the marketplace. From there, tailor your application materials and interview prep to match the particular job’s requirements.” –Staci Heidtke, director, Career Services, UW-Eau Claire

5. CUSTOMIZE WITH KEY WORDS AND QUANTIFY

“Modify your résumé and cover letter to specific companies and job requirements. Make a positive first impression and convey your authentic self to the employer.” –Staci Heidtke, director, Career Services, UW-Eau Claire

According to a recent article on Money.com, companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to pore through résumé. The ATS scans for keywords applicable to the job. About 75% of candidates are taken out of consideration before a human even sees a résumé. Make your résumé and application match the job’s criteria, and be able to back it up with skills and experience.

And when a human does look at your résumé? Seventy-nine percent of recruiters spend less than 60 seconds reviewing a résumé, according to the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). Stand out from the crowd by quantifying your achievements whenever possible. For example, instead of saying/writing “Increased sales last year,” say/write “Increased sales revenue by 63% in 2024 compared to the prior year.”

6. APPLY EVEN IF YOU DON’T MEET EVERY QUALIFICATION, AND DON’T SETTLE.

Don’t meet every single qualification? Still apply.

Nowadays, on-the-job apprenticeships that offer a paying job with training plus education are being offered. CVTC currently offers 17 apprenticeship opportunities in fields ranging from data analyst, IT service desk, IT software developer, and early childhood educator to blue collar jobs such as welder, tool and die maker, plumber, mold maker, and electrician, among others. 

“It’s no secret that there are far more open positions than there are applicants. This is great for someone who is job searching. You have the chance to pick and choose: Find a job closer to home, a nicer shift or schedule, higher pay, better benefits, a flexible schedule, in a different industry, easier on your body physically or just all around better for you and your family.” –Stephanie May, skilled recruiter, SEEK Careers/Staffing, Eau Claire branch

7. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.

“The old adage of ‘it’s who you know, not what you know’ still rings true today. Many take the art of networking for granted. Get out into the community and make the connections in the industry you are interested in. This can often lead to career conversations in the near future.” –Forrest Buck, director of career development and first-year experience, CVTC

“Networking is an often overlooked aspect of the job search. Reach out to your professional network and tell them what type of work you are seeking. Many of today’s jobs are in the ‘hidden job market’ where employers do not advertise or publish them publicly.” –Staci Heidtke, director, Career Services, UW-Eau Claire

8. DON’T BE AFRAID TO FOLLOW UP.    

“Do follow-up by calling the employer to find out the status of your application … typically one week after applying. State who you are, what position you applied for, and ask for your status. Employers may still be collecting applications, pull yours to the top of the pile, or they may say come in for an interview or not.” –Carlee Norby, career services specialist, CVTC

9. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE INTERVIEWING.     

With the many forms interviews can take – phone, Zoom, Facebook, online, and face-to-face – practice to make a good impression. And if you get an opportunity to interview, take it to get the experience. Each opportunity to go over interview questions or in a different scenario will give you confidence.

“Interviewing is a skill. It is something those entering the workforce for the first time and those with experience re-entering the workforce often overlook. Take the time to practice talking with someone you feel comfortable with. Or if you have yet to graduate, work with your career services team on a mock interview. This can help you feel more confident and prepared as you go into your interview.” –Forrest Buck, director of career development & first-year experience, CVTC

10. FINALLY, BE PERSISTENT!

Never give up. Never quit. Persist!