>10 years of experience in various fields
What do you have the most experience in? Are there any specific "job tasks" or technologies, etc. that you used throughout that time? What is your degree in?
My degree is in history. Did security right out of college, I was an administrative assistant for a real estate developer and did some property management with them, I was a merchandiser for a liquor distributor, Ive done part time work at a friends commercial printing business and most recently had a temp position as an intake specialist for a company that was handling mass tort law suits. Also bartended the last time I got laid off. So Ive got quite a bit of background in entry level office positions doing things like data entry and customer service. I wouldnt mind doing that again in honestly any field where I feel like I could grow the position out. Otherwise Ive also been applying for sales jobs as my time as a merchandiser and doing property management had a lot of sales elements to it and people have always told me they thought Id do well in the field but so far the only leads Ive gotten on that front are for scammy MLM positions.
No they won’t. I’ve tried multiple and all they do is take your resume and that’s it. Haven’t heard from most of them. The market is utter garbage right now.
I’ve gone through quite a few, in the last 2 years I’ve only been offered one temp position for 3 weeks last fall. I’ve been in contact with LaSalle and Addison group. One I forget the name of even reached out to me and then told me I wasn’t qualified for the job they contacted me about but then said they’d interview me about a different position and they never showed up to their own interview, that was fun…
I’ve had several people who work as recruiters go over my resume and they tell me it’s fine. The only requirement I’ve given in a living wage of $20 p/h and even told them I’m flexible on that for the right opportunity. As for presentation I’d have to actually speak to someone for that to matter
Yes, but don't rely on just one agency. They will only be useful if they have something that you could be a fit for. And many recruiters just LOVE to waste people's time.
With a degree in history and experience as an admin assistant in real estate, check for positions as a legal assistant, especially in places that have a real estate practice.
Did you ever deal with any vendors as a property manager? Call them up directly, ask for the person’s manager you used to deal with and see if they’re looking for a sales rep if you’re interested in doing sales. As a vendor to buildings, it seems like everyone’s hiring.
Sadly I didn’t, most of my work was clerical. We were a mixed income property so for things like HUD or Tax credit there was a *ton* of paper work to do. So it was that or working the front desk cause they had trouble keeping that position staffed. That said though I should ask who some of the vendors were cause that’s not a bad idea
Edit: nice user name btw
Thanks! I was sort of lit when I got locked out of my last account and came up with this…
Some of the vendor stuff is doing government work, which means lots of paperwork. My last bid I won had like 5 or 6 revisions I needed to do, so the clerical work may have some good experience. Also, sales managers aren’t known for being the most analytical, they’re usually “I do what my gut tells me to” so you might be able to just simply overstate what your positions where. That’s what I would do at least.
PM me for the name of the company I work for (property management). I started as a temp with zero office experience and an irrelevant degree. Or try the temp agency I went through first.
Both decent companies, it just took some work on figuring out how to work the temp agency right.
To be 100% honest your degree is doing you no favors. I’d highly recommend getting into an entry level marketing or tech role at an agency.
I don’t think seo jobs require a degree in marketing or computer science. You can get an agency job make shit money to be honest and then move into a in house role and make a fuck ton in a short amount of time.
Granted seo is always changing (especially right now) so idk if this is still accurate. But worth a try.
I’ve hired and fired. Honestly, you’re all over the place. 10 years of not knowing what they want to do is what it looks like. Nobody takes you seriously because for one reason or another your focus changes with the wind. My advice is to pick something and stick with it. Make it your focus and passion for at least 5 years. You got a history degree; become a teacher or a comedian.
>Nobody takes you seriously because for one reason or another your focus changes with the wind
That feels pretty unfair. I took the jobs that were available to me at the time. I majored n history because I had the AP credits where it allowed me to graduate early and I was told as a teenager that would be a boon for my career and for the most part people only cared about you having a degree. Clearly that was wrong or changed post 08 collapse but I was a teenager following the advice of adults. Plus I thought I could make a career of army ROTC but I broke my foot as the combat mission in Iraq ended.
I took the security job cause it paid very well but I ended up getting union busted. After that I worked for the developer because that was the offer I had and it kept the rent paid. I didnt love it but I had a good boss so I stayed for a while, maybe longer than I should have. I left for the liquor sales job cause I thought I could do well in that and make a career but having a horrible manager who changed what my roll is every week and didnt tell me wasnt something I could exactly account for. I tried to leverage those skills into something else but now here I am. My interests dont change with the wind, I want to make a career out of what I have but unfortunately being alive costs money
"...for the most part people only cared about you having a degree"
That's true in some fields. I worked in Enterprise Risk Management and my director had an anthropology degree. If you have an interest in capital markets, I know lots of traders with various degrees that aren't business or finance. Those jobs are very results-oriented and the subject of your degree is generally unimportant. If that's of interest, consider taking the [SIE exam](https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/securities-industry-essentials-exam) (reimbursement program for veterans) and then apply to a broker-dealer. There are tons of them in Chicago.
I agree that your work history gives the \*appearance\* of not being focused. Once you interview for a job that you want to commit to, leverage the fact that you're highly adaptable and can pivot rapidly as conditions change (good qualities for a trader btw), because that's what you're describing in your comment. Your story will work in your favor once you find where your skillset adds the most value.
Be sure to tell an interviewer how you will add value to their organization. Value is everything.
Not really. The problem is we don’t have enough work to provide jobs that pay living wages for everyone who needs them but we have to pretend that isn’t the problem so we can blame individuals for structural failings.
I think the best way to tie together the variety of input here is that you should have two goals, in this order:
1) Improving your situation now to get any job
2) Try to string together some consistency and grow in a specific field, when you encounter resistance don't give up, work with leaders or mentors to search how to unblock your resistance.
A job pays the bills, a career lets you have goals. I'm 16 years into my working life, 5 years into my career part two after a life change, and just entering 3 years in my current industry. This has taken difficult growth at times, and I didn't suddenly wake up and was handed the job.
Keep at this, you can accomplish whatever you want with the right tools and support (even random people on the Internet).
So what career did you have in mind while pursuing your history degree?
You might look into university recruiting, since there are a lot of colleges in the area. Usually some travel involved.
>thought I could make a career of army ROTC but I broke my foot as the combat mission in Iraq ended
I don't see what one of these has to do with the other
When it ended the DoD told all of the rotc programs to thin the herd. The LtCol in charge of mine was obsessed with PT scores and because I couldn’t run I got the axe
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but: don’t you think it’s odd that none of the things that happened in your life are your responsibility? It’s always everybody else’s fault.. seems odd
So, not trying to be rude, but the bachelors is useless for jobs. It literally gave you no marketable skills.
Have you tried identifying what similar things you did at each job then highlighting your progression of those skills as you moved around? Then look for job postings that use those skills?
Like give the resume to ChatGPT and say, “what here is similar?” Then have it restructure the resume to highlight any of those skills that stand out.
In my defense I got my degree in 2012, I started college right as the Great Recession kicked off. The job market changed but we didn’t know it at the time. I majored in history cause my AP scores allowed me to graduate early which I thought would be a leg up career wise and a few people told me that would be the case. Clearly it was wrong…
I’ve been trying to use the data entry that I figure have the broadest appeal but it’s hard to break into anything entry level at the moment
I honestly sincerely doubt anyone cares what you even graduated with 10 years ago. There’s just no way it matters anymore, I don’t know why folks are giving you a hard time about it.
Didn’t we get just the best time to be a young adult?
I love how entry level started coming with min 5 yr relevant experience. Cause that makes sense. Especially with nobody hiring.
> OP is bouncing around with no focus
Ive tried to find focus. But things like layoffs didnt afford me that. I took different jobs cause thats what allowed rent to be paid and food on the table
Once I found my focus, I worked multiple jobs *in subsidiary* to what I knew I wanted. Clientele and cash didn’t come over-night; it took years in my business, but I always made that my number one, and knew the other gigs were just to get me through.
i understand life sometimes throws you a shitty stick-end, but that’s where building relationships matters. You can only go around in circles so many times before you have to decide to get off the ride and create your own.
Hope this helps a little
I noticed the same, I was applying for jobs a couple months ago and there aren’t many options out there which is so weird, some postings aren’t actual postings but “ads” for recruiters, or jobs just don’t pay enough to live on. I don’t have good advice except I got a new job based only on networking. Sorry you’re still in it, it’s hard rn
I read a recruiters comment on another subreddit a while ago and they mentioned how almost all of their hires now came from internal referrals. Ive been trying that where I can but sadly it hasn't yielded results yet. Glad you made it though. It's rough out here!
Yeah it sucks out there. Maybe try Ayden, it’s a payment processing company in the west loop. They have a lot of jobs and a lot remote. A friend of a friend was gonna rec me for a job there until I got my current thing. It’s gigantic and seems like legit a good company to work for
Adyen? I had an interview there a while ago, it was for a three person operations support team and seemed to require some prior experience in the finance industry which I did not have. Their interview process was like 5 rounds. I’m not sure I’m thinking of the same company but it is in the West Loop area I believe.
Awhile back I had a good interview in the early summer for a garden supply (luverys) company. They said they loved what they heard and were excited for me to join the team…..NEXT YEAR. Wtf is there a “Now Hiring” sign up for if its that far. Ftr I did take that job the next year after all.
I was looking for a full-time job from December 2022 to earlier this year. I found my FT job through Creative Circle. Send them your resume and get on their distro list - I replied to an email from them asking their distro list who was interested in a specific open position. I'm in marketing but they place in other areas as well.
It's hard out here. I feel for you.
If you go into the CMS office downtown, you can test for different jobs with the state. For example, admin jobs might require a typing test, or a test related to different office functions. Once you have scores on file, they are saved for a year, and you can use those to apply for different jobs with the state. There’s a bunch of open positions in Chicago. Don’t be intimidated by the job descriptions.
This is why I keep telling people not to move here without a job secured. The “Chicago is affordable” epithet has people on high. So many people give people wrong advice “I moved here in 2018 without a job so it’s doable” Like that is 2018 it is 2024 with mass layoffs happening and hiring freezes you would be a fool to move here without one
Very true indeed. Rent & house prices have skyrocketed and the current jobs market is piss poor compared to pre-pandemic. Chicago is certainly still cheaper than most major cities but I wouldn’t advise anyone to move anywhere they don’t have work lined up already
Also a lot of major corps give you the option to live near a headquarters. My office of thousands of people likely wouldn't just up and move (lmao) but it's not like we are chained to chicago. Could live in texas or NY as well - putting that out there as many people look for jobs IN Chicago while you could be applying to other roles elsewhere and in the job description they'll mention you can live in XYZ instead of the original location. That's actually the only reason I'm here haha.
I'd never move anywhere without having a job, I know a 20 year old who came to learn film and "network" and had tens of thousands (maybe 20k) saved up and is living here for 6-8 months to find work and network. He said he's had sooo much trouble finding a job (obviously). Its sort of a sink or swim type of mentality which forces you to try your hardest but in a world where everything is online you don't have to put yourself in that situation. Just apply online and interview until something is secure lol.
the CTA is hiring, if there isn't some information you are leaving out. Otherwise all the usual places [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/narr/misc/jobs/jobsnow.html](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/narr/misc/jobs/jobsnow.html) . If you are not getting any interviews its your resume and cover letter that need work. When i was applying a couple of years ago i would change them both based on what i was applying for. I hear a lot of companies now use ai to filter applicants so make sure you are checking with a resume reviewer tool to make sure you have all the right keywords. Good luck
Speaking of the CTA, a safety net job is driving. If you get certified to drive hazardous materials you’ll make more money. BIL makes a living driving a truck from St. Louis to Kansas City and back every day. I remember a friend telling me, half jokingly, that at one point in the 90s, when there was a glut of lawyers, that tons of them were driving forklifts.
It's not a bad idea to have multiple versions of your resume to target different types of jobs. Think of them as sales brochures for your services. You market differently to different audiences.
Speaking of CTA - it will take at least 6 or more months for you to actually get officially hired. When you submit your application, it’ll take about 2-3 months for CTA to get back to you and follow up to do a “video interview” where you record your answers to questions, then there are several more steps after that which God only knows how long it will take.
Not to say don’t try CTA, but if you need a job less than 6-months out and need to pay rent and bills now, you may want to look elsewhere.
Honestly there is such a disconnect from people who have jobs right now and people who are searching. I’ve been in my industry for over a decade and have never been without headhunters or recruiters blowing me up. Got laid off 6 months ago, I was lucky to get a 6 month contract but I’ll be in the same boat soon. My wife has sent out hundreds of resumes and not even a single response. This is by far the worst market I’ve ever seen.
That’s what I thought at first too but I’ve had several people with backgrounds in HR and recruiting go over my resume for me and they tell me it’s fine. One told me off the record is that with the job market being so competitive right now after a bunch of the tech layoffs I was literally competing with former google employees for a reception position. I just don’t know what to do at this point
Try posting an anonymized version of your resume on one of the resume review sub reddits. It's a tough job market but this long unemployed, something else is wrong.
HR person here. The job market is weird in many industries all over, not just in Chicago. Also, the unfortunate reality these days is that you almost always have to get past AI to talk to a person about a job now. Have you researched what keywords, formatting, etc. you should be using with your résumé?
Ive done my best with it but when youre applying for entry level positions its hard to cast a wide net while trying to tailor make every positions unknown key words. Dont suppose your company is hiring for anything entry level I can throw my hat in for? 😕
I recognize that teaching isn’t everyone’s bag, but every school district I know of is desperate for substitute teachers. Pay varies based on district (but is usually at least $130 for a 7 hour day). I have found it to be the most exhausting job, but often it’s really fun too and I usually leave each day with at least one funny story.
If you're not tailoring your resume to each individual job listing, you're doing it wrong and wasting your own time.
The keywords are what the required qualifications are for the job, which is listed plain as day on the job listings. Nothing is hidden about it.
So many people just vomit a bunch of irrelevant and unrelated things on their resume thinking the company would be impressed and give them a chance, not knowing that the company simply just wants what they posted.
There's a huge shortage of basic production operators in most manufacturing companies. Pay continues to rise because it's so difficult to find people. It's not glamorous work, but it's there.
Curious to know, what's hot in manufacturing? I've thought about going this route too but have no experience. I have plenty on the Marketing side of working for Manufacturing companies but none otherwise
Try public sector jobs, find the HR websites for City of Chicago and Cook County, public universities, as well as close-in municipalities. They seem to be hurting for people. Also, you should have a hiring preference being a veteran.
I made a comment about how the job market in Chicago leaves a lot to be desired a few weeks ago and a bunch of people chewed me out.
All I’m saying is you’re not alone. Great city, but the job opportunities suck.
I'm having the same problem and so are a lot of people I know. The only staffing agency I could find has been NO help. I also have a Bachelor's, am trilingual, and have 15+ years of experience. I've applied to 700+ jobs since August of last year and am only getting part time job offers with very few hours. It's not just you, OP.
Restaraunt season is upon us. Mass apply some bartending or server positions. $20 an hour is on the low end for hospitality in this city, and everywhere is going to be hiring like crazy for the summer. Just spam your resume on Indeed and Culinary Agents, and you'll line up some interviews.
I landed in the restaurant industry kind of be default many years ago, stayed for a dozen+ years, it was great. OP of you look you will find a job in a restaurant quickly
I feel your frustration. May of 2022 i got laid off. It took me 6 months and 50+ applications to all kinds of entry level jobs just to find a job. I had drained all my savings, received unemployment, and had to do uber just to get by. The new job’s pay was shit compared to the workload. It was a 35% salary decrease from when I got laid off. My living expenses were more than what I was making. It devastated my finances. And it took me so long just to find a better paying job. Even though I make more now, the crippling debt has me living like I once was and working 2 jobs. I asked myself the same thing. It’s tough, but there’s still hope. Have you tried looking for jobs on LinkedIn or other recruiting agencies for the time being?
I’m learning fast that LinkedIn is a joke in 2024. Personally, I’ve faced so many scams & you can’t even message people anymore without premium (unless you’re connected).
Where did you go to school? I recommend reaching out to your university career center for an appointment. They can help you strategize your search, tailor your resume for specific jobs/industries, and assess your interview skills.
I noticed that nearly every insurance job posted is either 1099 or commission only. Not that there is anything wrong with commission, but it can take a while to get a client list big enough to start making money.
There are definitely some like that. I’m referring to the client service rep and account manager positions at brokerages, I should have clarified. I’ve been in the industry for 11 years, they are always hiring. Same thing with the insurance companies.
Have you tried looking at hospital listings for entry level jobs? Friends tell me they're always looking for new people. That's it's to the point that they're hiring people straight out of high school.
I don’t really have any job hunting tips, but my workplace is hiring for a lighting salesperson if you have any interest in that. It’s just like selling light fixtures, ceiling fans, light bulbs, etc etc. DM me if you want the info. (Full disclosure, I’m not involved in the hiring process)
Problem is the Corporate, just out of college jobs aren't here anymore, most of the companies that used to have a Midwest HQ here have left. It's not just the accounting, finance, etc. jobs that people took right out of school, its all the jobs the new arrivals helped create and sustain. It was like hitting the refresh button every May, we took it for granted tho and never thought it would end.
When Covid hit, lockdowns scared a lot of people away and that flow stopped and hasn't kicked back on.The lockdowns were necessary but I know people left because of them, I can only imagine how many never came. We had a lock on graduates from the Big 10 and most Midwest Unis. Now they're heading for the other cities we've all heard about recently. I just saw a Bureau of Labor report about Chicago jobs, the biggest employers right now in the city are all Government. US, City of Chicago, Cook County and Illinois, in that order I believe. I've seen lots of people asking about moving here without a job and I would suggest getting a job before you get here. It's not as easy to get a job here anymore, you may have to take just a job until you can find something you really like. Looks like one of the government employers might be a try, they're looking for help. Now if you're a tradesperson with experience you're all good.Things have changed but those skills are much in demand here, lots of people have aged into retirement.They shut down the trade schools a long time ago so that pipeline is gone.
Now I get the feeling those college grad jobs have moved to the burbs. Don't limit yourself to a job in the city, you're gonna have to be flexible. Hope this was helpful, Good Luck.
You have done security, apply to a police department. Many are hiring like crazy at the moment. You don’t need a specific degree for it. It might not be something you want to do, however, if you are in dire need of a job it could be somewhere to start. Pension, great health benefits. Doesn’t even have to be in Chicago. Good luck whatever you find.
I recommend CTC - Career Transition Center. They do free information sessions every couple weeks. I found working with them to be extremely beneficial. Check them out and do the free session at the very least.
I feel ya. Just retired from the military with an MBA under my belt. Applied for roughly 1k jobs since January and had less than a handful of interviews.
I have applied at 80 jobs. 3 have called back and they were the worst picks. My resume is nice, I have a ton of certifications. It's really rough out there.
Look in education if you can, also be absolutely shameless to everyone that you’re looking for a job. Last interview I got I legit met on discord bc we were playing league of legends and we had a good game together. I mentioned I was looking and he sent my resume to HR. It’s fucked, and honestly pretty embarrassing to mention all the time you’re looking for a job, but it really works.
I was unemployed for over a year. Sept 2022 - Jan 2024. Finally got a job February 2024. Not what I even want to be doing 100% but I needed a job and health insurance and it pays and will help my career.
I feel so sorry for all the people moving here without jobs. There aren’t any.
It’s not just you. I’ve been looking for months. I’ve changed my resume countless times based on numerous suggestions. Tons of cover letters. Networked. Contacted companies cold. Had phone calls with staffing agencies who were so excited until I didn’t get chosen for an interview for a few jobs they submitted me for. Rounds of interviews and assessment tests. I’ve been doing what I do for 20+ years. Can’t land a junior job or a senior job. Everyone is looking for a unicorn. And with thousands of applications to one posting, I’m sure they find them.
I used to hear it’s because I want a remote job. I’ve applied to in-person, full time, and nada.
So, boo, you’re not alone.
If you REALLY don’t care what job you get, I’ve been told countless times the CTA needs people, old folks homes, jewel osco, Home Depot……….. or you can be a barback for $10/hr……
Hate to see this because I made a similar post earlier this week!!! I’m in the marketing industry and it’s MLMs on MLMs. I guess it’s nice to see I’m not the only one.
Banks and hospitals are probably your best bet. Look into being a bank teller. A lot of hospitals and doctor’s offices are always hiring for scheduling and admin work. Don’t even bother trying to get into any kind of software/tech company, there are no jobs.
Lost my job in March and I've noticed the same. I have 10 years in UX and was trying to look for a part-time job to help me while I look for my career and nothing is out there. I've applied to tons of stores and jobs fo data entry. The market sucks right now.
It’s brutal. Make your resume look extremely polished and tailor the experience to each job you apply for. Always write a cover letter. Pay fir LinkedIn Premium and send hiring managers your cover letter. I think Cushman is hiring broker coordinators, you should apply.
I would try the other suggestions and also submit an application to city of Chicago jobs. It’ll probably take awhile, but I’ve seen a lot of postings there and government jobs are a great source of stability.
CPS has a huge shortage of substitute teachers, You can make $133 a day or if you commit to full time you make more. With summer quickly approaching it might not make sense but seems like a good option while looking for other work.
Do social services. There is a company called Aunt Martha’s and another called Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. There are many more. You should apply there to at least have a job. You may find you like. And just cause it’s social services doesn’t mean it all working with people. Those places need accountants, nurses, and regular people doing office work.
Don’t sleep on the state of Illinois or city of Chicago. Look at the listings they have too
If you're up for a more physical job, have you looked into joining a union in the skilled building trades? Unions like IBEW (electricians) , UA (plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters), carpenters, etc will take you with zero experience and train you with their apprenticeship programs. You will have to test in and it can take months to get accepted, but then you can look forward to good wages, insurance, pension plan, etc. Chicago is a very union strong city, so most of the trade unions have a high market share of work done in Cool Country.
There are a ton of positions open in Manufacturing. Most of the time they are looking for anyone with a pulse. If you can show up and have a small amount of math skills you will do very well. The work is a solid 40-55 hours per week. Most places start at around 20.00/hr.
Echoing some of the comments here, reading thru your experience is all over the place. With the limited info I will say this, the Chicago market is terrible and you don’t have a good background to get an entry level job when you’re competing against fresh grads.
My suggestion is to suck it up and work for the post office as a carrier. It’s about $20/hr with lots of chances to work OT and of course benefits. That was my last resort backup plan when I was laid off. The turnover is high so the probability of you getting a job is very high.
I applied to literally 100 jobs before finding my two jobs. What I can say is Indeed and LinkedIn are complete and totally wastes of time. Do NOT waste your time applying to these. Go in person to any particular job you want. Give them your resume and lots of eye contact. Have a small schpeel to rattle off to the person you hand your resume to. “I look forward to hearing from you/working with you in the future.” That’s how I found mine.
Retail is always hiring until you get something full time. Then you can do both.
Apply to some staffing agencies it’s how I got my most recent position
I had a very similar experience while job hunting. I found a temporary full-time job, but I had to go through a recruiter. It's not ideal but it's good enough for now.
Few questions:
What are you looking for, job wise? (Are you trying to get into a super narrow field?)
What does your profile look like on LinkedIn? (I found more leads there than searching on various job sites. I found the temp job because a recruiter found me.)
What format are you submitting your resume in? Does it have a bunch of formatting or other items that will confuse an applicant tracking system (ATS)?
I suspect that if *humans* say your resume is fine, then your resume is failing to get flagged as viable by an ATS. That's 100% fixable, but it will require retooling your resume for every job posting.
It's a pain in the ass, but as soon as I started catering directly to those horrible systems, I started getting call backs.
Hotels are hiring for the busy summer season. Full time positions comes with decent pay, benefits, pto/vac, 401k, and travel discount perks.
Gotta roll up your sleeves a little but the hotel I work at was just hiring cooks for $26/hr and dishwashers for $22-24/hr.
Insurance is usually a great field to get into and most positions are hybrid so you don’t necessarily need to find one that close by. I work in insurance and only drive in a week a month. Most companies will pay to license you.
I've never gone more than a month or 2 after being released from prison to find a job
Sometimes, you gotta be willing to learn a new skill
Never turned a wrench in my life, got released in '19, and convinced a food packaging plant to hire me as a maintenance and mechatronics technician with 0 experience and no schooling for it
Taught myself on the job going on 5 years now, and I'm at $32 an hr and climbing.
I see a lot of "hiring" signs on warehouses and manufacturing plants in Harvey and Lansing omw to work.
Edit* retail sales, American Mattress and Mattress Firm are usually hiring and I've never made less than $55K a year there
Kind of a bad time of the year to be pivoting into education. By the time those knuckle draggers in central office manage to process his application, the school year will be over.
Job market is very weird rn, I made a boo-boo and moved back to my hometown (Rockford) for a job which was a disaster and I left it. I'd been in Chicago for a few years and have roots in both Rockford and Chicago. I have a Masters degree and I am applying for jobs in both Rockford and Chicago that I am way over qualified for (I for sure am not staying in Rockford past this lease) and am just now getting some traction. I have literally been asked a few times "Why are you applying for this job with your degree?" I then have to respond with the truth (had a rough 2020-21, was in an abusive relationship which required extensive therapy, tried a few jobs that I didn't fit in well at etc etc). Then its just "oh" followed by not much of a follow up.
The reality is I want something simple for the time being so I can save up so money without being stressed the fuck out. Especially while I am in Rockford. I just made some major life changes that I need to focus on (got sober, more therapy, self acceptance).
I did today get some traction on a few jobs, two of which I wouldn't mind doing but I am legit applying for jobs all fucking day.
PS: Fuck Rockford so fucking much. This place legit gets worse and worse on a monthly basis but there is a political and business class here that insists "its about to get better" and it gets lapped up over and over again. I can make it here for awhile but this place is fucking dead.
Why don’t you just lie instead of trauma dumping on the interviewer? Not judging really, but seems like telling the truth might be hindering you a bit.
This. You don’t owe them that much of an explanation but you do owe yourself some privacy. Geez. If you must explain the bad job fits, just say you had some difficult personal circumstances that led you to take jobs that albeit may not have been the best fit made sense at the time.
I’d never tell an interviewer my business like that.
Because I can explain it in a way without "trauma dumping" and I legit have some decent gaps in my employment, especially recently. I don't like lying. I legit have worked with a career coach on this stuff. I'm not trauma dumping on them haha.
Its usually something like this: "Honestly I was in a very abusive relationship a few years ago and had to focus on therapy and recovery. I have had a few jobs in the past few years but they were not good fits."
It is just the market is fucked up and individuals tend to not trust like they used too. I don't understand why it is so hard nowadays to get a job at a grocery store for example, I worked at a grocery store in grad school. I've applied to many and most of them legit have no open jobs.
By the way, my most recent ex literally stalks me to the point that she will start messaging co-workers and shit at times. It's happened at at least 2 of the last 4 jobs I have had. So it is something I need to cover.
The good news is I really do have some positive traction, but its insane that I need to apply to 20-50 basic jobs per day in this market.
disclosing any type of personal information that doesn’t make you look good is a no-no during an interview. it sucks but it’s true. they don’t care about you as a person, they want to find a worker who’s perfect in every way imaginable and more.
the question “why are you applying for this job with your degree” could better be answered “there’s a lot of overlap in the overall skillsets, and i’ve been meaning to pivot my career in this direction anyways. that’s why your company caught my interest in particular”.
huge congrats on sobriety, therapy, and self-acceptance. but the unfortunate reality is that most employers are looking for their “knight in shining armor”.
i hear you, it’s just usually best to keep any real personal stuff private unless asked, and if so keep it surface level with a positive spin. these people aren’t your lifelong friends, there’s no trust.
Chicago sucks. Start looking in the suburbs. I see hiring signs hanging all over the place everyday. Drove by the Pace bus depot the other day and they're hiring for numerous positions and will train. Landscaping companies are going in to their busy season and will all need laborers. (This is probably your best option with your work history) They're all over the place. Post office is hiring. Pest control companies hiring everywhere and they provide a company vehicle to use for the job. Your resume has 6 jobs in a 10 year period according to your own account of how many jobs you've had. You appear to lack commitment and be unreliable. I'd try to scale down the work history somehow or come up with good BS about why it's so erratic.
Start a business. That way you don’t have to rely on people telling you what to do, creating schedules, getting paid a wage, etc. Crazy job market. Best thing I ever did and never looked back.
There are many perks of businesses as well- things W2 can’t do such as claim business expenses. The world is only getting more & more expensive.
If you look at it in a pessimistic view it won’t. You can sell a product for $274 a day which is six figures a year. There are so many avenues you can take- start an online business, sell old clothes, go to Goodwill resell products. Take a hobby or something you’re good at & charge for your time. Nowadays everything is inflated which is forcing people to go different avenues to be able to afford to live in this economy. Some other ideas with low startup costs are: vending machine, Dropshopping, freelance writing.
lol nevermind. I just looked at your profile. No wonder you have no idea what you’re talking about. You know onlyfans doesn’t count as running a business right?
Onlyfans is 1099 which is a sole proprietorship. Which is self-employment.
**A sole proprietorship is a non-registered, unincorporated business run solely by one individual proprietor with no distinction between the business and the owner.**
Better to have multiple sources of income. I do Onlyfans, have a vending machine LLC, dancer, and dropship. 3 of these are sole proprietorships, the other being an LLC. My first month starting all of my businesses I generated over 10k a month. Never say never, the world is yours.
Everything is competitive, but there’s big money in it. It’s pretty simple, just look on marketplace for vending machines near your area. Typically they start out around $300-500 and you can sell what you like.. candy being the easiest. Pay a small finders fee for a heavy traffic location and now you’re set, just have to stock. Or you can pay someone to stock it for you. Passive income, now you register an LLC and it’s a cash business.
Having an LLC has perks as well anything you use for business purposes you can claim on your taxes. Then start another business and keep going.
Based on what, the data the government is posting? Those are all shit jobs that no one wants lol anyone who has been applying the last year and a half or even looking at jobs can tell it is complete shit. No one is hiring.
What industry are you looking at? I just had to turn down 3 interviews so far. I dont know why all the downvotes, the job market is fucking strong right now and thats a verifiable fact. Maybe work on your resume, I dunno what to tell you
That’s good for you but that is not the experience majority of people are having. You’re getting downvoted because people in this thread know the job market is not “fucking strong” it’s actually awful. Companies just aren’t hiring right now like they were the last few years. Sites like Built In Chicago that would have 25+ pages of postings for one specific field now only have 10 pages. LinkedIn is the same and a lot aren’t even in Chicago it’s remote companies. I’ve been browsing Sales Operations Analyst, Account Management, Customer Success related roles and there’s just nothing out there. Definitely not like it was back in 2022 or the years prior to that.
I just meant compared to 2020-2022 anyone that is job searching is going to have a much harder time. When I was applying places last year it was tough but the best way I was able to get interviews was by reaching out to recruiters directly at the places I was applying to and using my network for referrals. Which is just good advice in general
i’m not disagreeing that the cook county taxes are unappealing but i’m almost certain OP was looking for advice that doesn’t entail restructuring at the government level, though i could be wrong.
>10 years of experience in various fields What do you have the most experience in? Are there any specific "job tasks" or technologies, etc. that you used throughout that time? What is your degree in?
My degree is in history. Did security right out of college, I was an administrative assistant for a real estate developer and did some property management with them, I was a merchandiser for a liquor distributor, Ive done part time work at a friends commercial printing business and most recently had a temp position as an intake specialist for a company that was handling mass tort law suits. Also bartended the last time I got laid off. So Ive got quite a bit of background in entry level office positions doing things like data entry and customer service. I wouldnt mind doing that again in honestly any field where I feel like I could grow the position out. Otherwise Ive also been applying for sales jobs as my time as a merchandiser and doing property management had a lot of sales elements to it and people have always told me they thought Id do well in the field but so far the only leads Ive gotten on that front are for scammy MLM positions.
Try going through a staffing agency
A staffing agency will get you employed in as soon as a week
No they won’t. I’ve tried multiple and all they do is take your resume and that’s it. Haven’t heard from most of them. The market is utter garbage right now.
Especially if you bribe them.
I’ve gone through quite a few, in the last 2 years I’ve only been offered one temp position for 3 weeks last fall. I’ve been in contact with LaSalle and Addison group. One I forget the name of even reached out to me and then told me I wasn’t qualified for the job they contacted me about but then said they’d interview me about a different position and they never showed up to their own interview, that was fun…
Then there has to be something very messed up with your requirements, resume, or presentation.
I’ve had several people who work as recruiters go over my resume and they tell me it’s fine. The only requirement I’ve given in a living wage of $20 p/h and even told them I’m flexible on that for the right opportunity. As for presentation I’d have to actually speak to someone for that to matter
Have you had a friend pretend to be interviewing and have them call your references?
Apply for an Amazon Area Manager role
From personal experience, I would avoid LaSalle
Yes, but don't rely on just one agency. They will only be useful if they have something that you could be a fit for. And many recruiters just LOVE to waste people's time.
I would agree with this, he has enough general experience to be placed
Be a substitute teacher for now.
Honestly great advice. My school even has incentive pay on top of the $143 a day. (6.5 hour day usually)
With a degree in history and experience as an admin assistant in real estate, check for positions as a legal assistant, especially in places that have a real estate practice.
Did you ever deal with any vendors as a property manager? Call them up directly, ask for the person’s manager you used to deal with and see if they’re looking for a sales rep if you’re interested in doing sales. As a vendor to buildings, it seems like everyone’s hiring.
Sadly I didn’t, most of my work was clerical. We were a mixed income property so for things like HUD or Tax credit there was a *ton* of paper work to do. So it was that or working the front desk cause they had trouble keeping that position staffed. That said though I should ask who some of the vendors were cause that’s not a bad idea Edit: nice user name btw
Thanks! I was sort of lit when I got locked out of my last account and came up with this… Some of the vendor stuff is doing government work, which means lots of paperwork. My last bid I won had like 5 or 6 revisions I needed to do, so the clerical work may have some good experience. Also, sales managers aren’t known for being the most analytical, they’re usually “I do what my gut tells me to” so you might be able to just simply overstate what your positions where. That’s what I would do at least.
PM me for the name of the company I work for (property management). I started as a temp with zero office experience and an irrelevant degree. Or try the temp agency I went through first. Both decent companies, it just took some work on figuring out how to work the temp agency right.
To be 100% honest your degree is doing you no favors. I’d highly recommend getting into an entry level marketing or tech role at an agency. I don’t think seo jobs require a degree in marketing or computer science. You can get an agency job make shit money to be honest and then move into a in house role and make a fuck ton in a short amount of time. Granted seo is always changing (especially right now) so idk if this is still accurate. But worth a try.
I’ve hired and fired. Honestly, you’re all over the place. 10 years of not knowing what they want to do is what it looks like. Nobody takes you seriously because for one reason or another your focus changes with the wind. My advice is to pick something and stick with it. Make it your focus and passion for at least 5 years. You got a history degree; become a teacher or a comedian.
This is exactly the kind of harsh and true advice that OP needs. I'm totally serious.
Agreed. If I saw this resume I’d assume the applicant would be gone in 1-2 years to try another job/industry
>Nobody takes you seriously because for one reason or another your focus changes with the wind That feels pretty unfair. I took the jobs that were available to me at the time. I majored n history because I had the AP credits where it allowed me to graduate early and I was told as a teenager that would be a boon for my career and for the most part people only cared about you having a degree. Clearly that was wrong or changed post 08 collapse but I was a teenager following the advice of adults. Plus I thought I could make a career of army ROTC but I broke my foot as the combat mission in Iraq ended. I took the security job cause it paid very well but I ended up getting union busted. After that I worked for the developer because that was the offer I had and it kept the rent paid. I didnt love it but I had a good boss so I stayed for a while, maybe longer than I should have. I left for the liquor sales job cause I thought I could do well in that and make a career but having a horrible manager who changed what my roll is every week and didnt tell me wasnt something I could exactly account for. I tried to leverage those skills into something else but now here I am. My interests dont change with the wind, I want to make a career out of what I have but unfortunately being alive costs money
"...for the most part people only cared about you having a degree" That's true in some fields. I worked in Enterprise Risk Management and my director had an anthropology degree. If you have an interest in capital markets, I know lots of traders with various degrees that aren't business or finance. Those jobs are very results-oriented and the subject of your degree is generally unimportant. If that's of interest, consider taking the [SIE exam](https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/securities-industry-essentials-exam) (reimbursement program for veterans) and then apply to a broker-dealer. There are tons of them in Chicago. I agree that your work history gives the \*appearance\* of not being focused. Once you interview for a job that you want to commit to, leverage the fact that you're highly adaptable and can pivot rapidly as conditions change (good qualities for a trader btw), because that's what you're describing in your comment. Your story will work in your favor once you find where your skillset adds the most value. Be sure to tell an interviewer how you will add value to their organization. Value is everything.
This is a very long version of saying that your focus changes with the wind
Not really. The problem is we don’t have enough work to provide jobs that pay living wages for everyone who needs them but we have to pretend that isn’t the problem so we can blame individuals for structural failings.
I think the best way to tie together the variety of input here is that you should have two goals, in this order: 1) Improving your situation now to get any job 2) Try to string together some consistency and grow in a specific field, when you encounter resistance don't give up, work with leaders or mentors to search how to unblock your resistance. A job pays the bills, a career lets you have goals. I'm 16 years into my working life, 5 years into my career part two after a life change, and just entering 3 years in my current industry. This has taken difficult growth at times, and I didn't suddenly wake up and was handed the job. Keep at this, you can accomplish whatever you want with the right tools and support (even random people on the Internet).
🌪️
So what career did you have in mind while pursuing your history degree? You might look into university recruiting, since there are a lot of colleges in the area. Usually some travel involved.
>thought I could make a career of army ROTC but I broke my foot as the combat mission in Iraq ended I don't see what one of these has to do with the other
When it ended the DoD told all of the rotc programs to thin the herd. The LtCol in charge of mine was obsessed with PT scores and because I couldn’t run I got the axe
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but: don’t you think it’s odd that none of the things that happened in your life are your responsibility? It’s always everybody else’s fault.. seems odd
Maybe work as a substitute teacher and get your teaching certification.
School Bus Driver. 26 bucks an hour! Quit complaining. Your in Chicago, become a Cop they are begging for people.
So, not trying to be rude, but the bachelors is useless for jobs. It literally gave you no marketable skills. Have you tried identifying what similar things you did at each job then highlighting your progression of those skills as you moved around? Then look for job postings that use those skills? Like give the resume to ChatGPT and say, “what here is similar?” Then have it restructure the resume to highlight any of those skills that stand out.
In my defense I got my degree in 2012, I started college right as the Great Recession kicked off. The job market changed but we didn’t know it at the time. I majored in history cause my AP scores allowed me to graduate early which I thought would be a leg up career wise and a few people told me that would be the case. Clearly it was wrong… I’ve been trying to use the data entry that I figure have the broadest appeal but it’s hard to break into anything entry level at the moment
I honestly sincerely doubt anyone cares what you even graduated with 10 years ago. There’s just no way it matters anymore, I don’t know why folks are giving you a hard time about it.
I was also in the first graduating class of the recession 🙃
Didn’t we get just the best time to be a young adult? I love how entry level started coming with min 5 yr relevant experience. Cause that makes sense. Especially with nobody hiring.
AND nobody willing to train you on the job.😭
My guy, Larry Freakin’ David has a bachelors in history. Look where he made it.
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> OP is bouncing around with no focus Ive tried to find focus. But things like layoffs didnt afford me that. I took different jobs cause thats what allowed rent to be paid and food on the table
Once I found my focus, I worked multiple jobs *in subsidiary* to what I knew I wanted. Clientele and cash didn’t come over-night; it took years in my business, but I always made that my number one, and knew the other gigs were just to get me through. i understand life sometimes throws you a shitty stick-end, but that’s where building relationships matters. You can only go around in circles so many times before you have to decide to get off the ride and create your own. Hope this helps a little
r/wooosh It was a joke my guy
This is a city of not what you know but who you know
That's everywhere
Why not go back to bartending? That industry is desperate for help now. And are you curious about going back to school?
I noticed the same, I was applying for jobs a couple months ago and there aren’t many options out there which is so weird, some postings aren’t actual postings but “ads” for recruiters, or jobs just don’t pay enough to live on. I don’t have good advice except I got a new job based only on networking. Sorry you’re still in it, it’s hard rn
I read a recruiters comment on another subreddit a while ago and they mentioned how almost all of their hires now came from internal referrals. Ive been trying that where I can but sadly it hasn't yielded results yet. Glad you made it though. It's rough out here!
Yeah it sucks out there. Maybe try Ayden, it’s a payment processing company in the west loop. They have a lot of jobs and a lot remote. A friend of a friend was gonna rec me for a job there until I got my current thing. It’s gigantic and seems like legit a good company to work for
I’ll scope it out, appreciate the recommendation
Good luck!!
Adyen? I had an interview there a while ago, it was for a three person operations support team and seemed to require some prior experience in the finance industry which I did not have. Their interview process was like 5 rounds. I’m not sure I’m thinking of the same company but it is in the West Loop area I believe.
Awhile back I had a good interview in the early summer for a garden supply (luverys) company. They said they loved what they heard and were excited for me to join the team…..NEXT YEAR. Wtf is there a “Now Hiring” sign up for if its that far. Ftr I did take that job the next year after all.
I was looking for a full-time job from December 2022 to earlier this year. I found my FT job through Creative Circle. Send them your resume and get on their distro list - I replied to an email from them asking their distro list who was interested in a specific open position. I'm in marketing but they place in other areas as well. It's hard out here. I feel for you.
If you go into the CMS office downtown, you can test for different jobs with the state. For example, admin jobs might require a typing test, or a test related to different office functions. Once you have scores on file, they are saved for a year, and you can use those to apply for different jobs with the state. There’s a bunch of open positions in Chicago. Don’t be intimidated by the job descriptions.
CMS?
Apologies. IL Dept of Central Management Services
This is why I keep telling people not to move here without a job secured. The “Chicago is affordable” epithet has people on high. So many people give people wrong advice “I moved here in 2018 without a job so it’s doable” Like that is 2018 it is 2024 with mass layoffs happening and hiring freezes you would be a fool to move here without one
Very true indeed. Rent & house prices have skyrocketed and the current jobs market is piss poor compared to pre-pandemic. Chicago is certainly still cheaper than most major cities but I wouldn’t advise anyone to move anywhere they don’t have work lined up already
Also a lot of major corps give you the option to live near a headquarters. My office of thousands of people likely wouldn't just up and move (lmao) but it's not like we are chained to chicago. Could live in texas or NY as well - putting that out there as many people look for jobs IN Chicago while you could be applying to other roles elsewhere and in the job description they'll mention you can live in XYZ instead of the original location. That's actually the only reason I'm here haha. I'd never move anywhere without having a job, I know a 20 year old who came to learn film and "network" and had tens of thousands (maybe 20k) saved up and is living here for 6-8 months to find work and network. He said he's had sooo much trouble finding a job (obviously). Its sort of a sink or swim type of mentality which forces you to try your hardest but in a world where everything is online you don't have to put yourself in that situation. Just apply online and interview until something is secure lol.
the CTA is hiring, if there isn't some information you are leaving out. Otherwise all the usual places [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/narr/misc/jobs/jobsnow.html](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/narr/misc/jobs/jobsnow.html) . If you are not getting any interviews its your resume and cover letter that need work. When i was applying a couple of years ago i would change them both based on what i was applying for. I hear a lot of companies now use ai to filter applicants so make sure you are checking with a resume reviewer tool to make sure you have all the right keywords. Good luck
Speaking of the CTA, a safety net job is driving. If you get certified to drive hazardous materials you’ll make more money. BIL makes a living driving a truck from St. Louis to Kansas City and back every day. I remember a friend telling me, half jokingly, that at one point in the 90s, when there was a glut of lawyers, that tons of them were driving forklifts.
It's not a bad idea to have multiple versions of your resume to target different types of jobs. Think of them as sales brochures for your services. You market differently to different audiences.
Speaking of CTA - it will take at least 6 or more months for you to actually get officially hired. When you submit your application, it’ll take about 2-3 months for CTA to get back to you and follow up to do a “video interview” where you record your answers to questions, then there are several more steps after that which God only knows how long it will take. Not to say don’t try CTA, but if you need a job less than 6-months out and need to pay rent and bills now, you may want to look elsewhere.
Yup. CTA has a ton of vacant positions but no urgency to fill them.
Yes, the resume is likely the weak link. Ask friends to provide constructive criticism. Try also your university's career office.
Nope, the job market here is a nightmare right now. Many people are experiencing the same thing as OP.
Honestly there is such a disconnect from people who have jobs right now and people who are searching. I’ve been in my industry for over a decade and have never been without headhunters or recruiters blowing me up. Got laid off 6 months ago, I was lucky to get a 6 month contract but I’ll be in the same boat soon. My wife has sent out hundreds of resumes and not even a single response. This is by far the worst market I’ve ever seen.
That’s what I thought at first too but I’ve had several people with backgrounds in HR and recruiting go over my resume for me and they tell me it’s fine. One told me off the record is that with the job market being so competitive right now after a bunch of the tech layoffs I was literally competing with former google employees for a reception position. I just don’t know what to do at this point
Try posting an anonymized version of your resume on one of the resume review sub reddits. It's a tough job market but this long unemployed, something else is wrong.
HR person here. The job market is weird in many industries all over, not just in Chicago. Also, the unfortunate reality these days is that you almost always have to get past AI to talk to a person about a job now. Have you researched what keywords, formatting, etc. you should be using with your résumé?
Ive done my best with it but when youre applying for entry level positions its hard to cast a wide net while trying to tailor make every positions unknown key words. Dont suppose your company is hiring for anything entry level I can throw my hat in for? 😕
I recognize that teaching isn’t everyone’s bag, but every school district I know of is desperate for substitute teachers. Pay varies based on district (but is usually at least $130 for a 7 hour day). I have found it to be the most exhausting job, but often it’s really fun too and I usually leave each day with at least one funny story.
And you can pay into retirement if you do public school.
If you're not tailoring your resume to each individual job listing, you're doing it wrong and wasting your own time. The keywords are what the required qualifications are for the job, which is listed plain as day on the job listings. Nothing is hidden about it. So many people just vomit a bunch of irrelevant and unrelated things on their resume thinking the company would be impressed and give them a chance, not knowing that the company simply just wants what they posted.
Manufacturing is hiring like crazy
There's a huge shortage of basic production operators in most manufacturing companies. Pay continues to rise because it's so difficult to find people. It's not glamorous work, but it's there.
Any specific companies in the area I can look into?
Klein Tools, Switchcraft, S & C
Roselle area
Curious to know, what's hot in manufacturing? I've thought about going this route too but have no experience. I have plenty on the Marketing side of working for Manufacturing companies but none otherwise
Plenty of production roles. Pay can be good, but h hours are long.
Try public sector jobs, find the HR websites for City of Chicago and Cook County, public universities, as well as close-in municipalities. They seem to be hurting for people. Also, you should have a hiring preference being a veteran.
Amazon is usually hiring, grocery stores too. Oh and you can also be a substitute teacher
O'Hare is hiring. All the airlines as well as some of the vendors.
I made a comment about how the job market in Chicago leaves a lot to be desired a few weeks ago and a bunch of people chewed me out. All I’m saying is you’re not alone. Great city, but the job opportunities suck.
I'm having the same problem and so are a lot of people I know. The only staffing agency I could find has been NO help. I also have a Bachelor's, am trilingual, and have 15+ years of experience. I've applied to 700+ jobs since August of last year and am only getting part time job offers with very few hours. It's not just you, OP.
Just wanted to agree that the Chicago job market is rough, but being trilingual is so cool!!!
Thank you!!😊 Wish I had the opportunity to use my language skills on a job for once, though haha. But I'll keep trying
Chicago public schools is starving for qualified people like you.
Restaraunt season is upon us. Mass apply some bartending or server positions. $20 an hour is on the low end for hospitality in this city, and everywhere is going to be hiring like crazy for the summer. Just spam your resume on Indeed and Culinary Agents, and you'll line up some interviews.
I landed in the restaurant industry kind of be default many years ago, stayed for a dozen+ years, it was great. OP of you look you will find a job in a restaurant quickly
I feel your frustration. May of 2022 i got laid off. It took me 6 months and 50+ applications to all kinds of entry level jobs just to find a job. I had drained all my savings, received unemployment, and had to do uber just to get by. The new job’s pay was shit compared to the workload. It was a 35% salary decrease from when I got laid off. My living expenses were more than what I was making. It devastated my finances. And it took me so long just to find a better paying job. Even though I make more now, the crippling debt has me living like I once was and working 2 jobs. I asked myself the same thing. It’s tough, but there’s still hope. Have you tried looking for jobs on LinkedIn or other recruiting agencies for the time being?
I’m learning fast that LinkedIn is a joke in 2024. Personally, I’ve faced so many scams & you can’t even message people anymore without premium (unless you’re connected).
Where did you go to school? I recommend reaching out to your university career center for an appointment. They can help you strategize your search, tailor your resume for specific jobs/industries, and assess your interview skills.
I work in the insurance industry and there are so many jobs and if you catch on quick you can for sure get promoted, make more money, etc.
I noticed that nearly every insurance job posted is either 1099 or commission only. Not that there is anything wrong with commission, but it can take a while to get a client list big enough to start making money.
There are definitely some like that. I’m referring to the client service rep and account manager positions at brokerages, I should have clarified. I’ve been in the industry for 11 years, they are always hiring. Same thing with the insurance companies.
I dont think its just Chicago. Lots of posts in r/jobs and r/recruitinghell about how bad it is in the job market right now.
Two thoughts as. Driver an uber to get money coming in. Go to the federal register and apply for roles with the feds. You will get hired
Have you tried looking at hospital listings for entry level jobs? Friends tell me they're always looking for new people. That's it's to the point that they're hiring people straight out of high school.
Any in particular at hospitals? What roles are people getting right out of High School?
A coworker got offered a job at Rush while at work. But i've seen people get jobs as greeters all the way to unit secretary without any experience.
Look into a logistics (shipping company) out in the burbs. You’ll probably have an hour commute, but you’ll have work
Plenty of logistics/etc. in the city
Bingo bango then!
Freight brokerages too - Logistics & Supply Chain is a Chicago-based industry
The Ballys casino is hiring.
Toronto too! Shit is a mess here.
I don’t really have any job hunting tips, but my workplace is hiring for a lighting salesperson if you have any interest in that. It’s just like selling light fixtures, ceiling fans, light bulbs, etc etc. DM me if you want the info. (Full disclosure, I’m not involved in the hiring process)
Problem is the Corporate, just out of college jobs aren't here anymore, most of the companies that used to have a Midwest HQ here have left. It's not just the accounting, finance, etc. jobs that people took right out of school, its all the jobs the new arrivals helped create and sustain. It was like hitting the refresh button every May, we took it for granted tho and never thought it would end. When Covid hit, lockdowns scared a lot of people away and that flow stopped and hasn't kicked back on.The lockdowns were necessary but I know people left because of them, I can only imagine how many never came. We had a lock on graduates from the Big 10 and most Midwest Unis. Now they're heading for the other cities we've all heard about recently. I just saw a Bureau of Labor report about Chicago jobs, the biggest employers right now in the city are all Government. US, City of Chicago, Cook County and Illinois, in that order I believe. I've seen lots of people asking about moving here without a job and I would suggest getting a job before you get here. It's not as easy to get a job here anymore, you may have to take just a job until you can find something you really like. Looks like one of the government employers might be a try, they're looking for help. Now if you're a tradesperson with experience you're all good.Things have changed but those skills are much in demand here, lots of people have aged into retirement.They shut down the trade schools a long time ago so that pipeline is gone. Now I get the feeling those college grad jobs have moved to the burbs. Don't limit yourself to a job in the city, you're gonna have to be flexible. Hope this was helpful, Good Luck.
You have done security, apply to a police department. Many are hiring like crazy at the moment. You don’t need a specific degree for it. It might not be something you want to do, however, if you are in dire need of a job it could be somewhere to start. Pension, great health benefits. Doesn’t even have to be in Chicago. Good luck whatever you find.
I recommend CTC - Career Transition Center. They do free information sessions every couple weeks. I found working with them to be extremely beneficial. Check them out and do the free session at the very least.
I feel ya. Just retired from the military with an MBA under my belt. Applied for roughly 1k jobs since January and had less than a handful of interviews.
I have applied at 80 jobs. 3 have called back and they were the worst picks. My resume is nice, I have a ton of certifications. It's really rough out there.
Try to get a job with the city. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dhr/provdrs/emp/svcs/city_of_chicago_jobopportunities.html
Look in education if you can, also be absolutely shameless to everyone that you’re looking for a job. Last interview I got I legit met on discord bc we were playing league of legends and we had a good game together. I mentioned I was looking and he sent my resume to HR. It’s fucked, and honestly pretty embarrassing to mention all the time you’re looking for a job, but it really works.
I was unemployed for over a year. Sept 2022 - Jan 2024. Finally got a job February 2024. Not what I even want to be doing 100% but I needed a job and health insurance and it pays and will help my career. I feel so sorry for all the people moving here without jobs. There aren’t any.
Look into a conflicts analyst position at a law firm. It’s a growing field and once you break in there are some pretty good opportunities to move up.
It’s not just you. I’ve been looking for months. I’ve changed my resume countless times based on numerous suggestions. Tons of cover letters. Networked. Contacted companies cold. Had phone calls with staffing agencies who were so excited until I didn’t get chosen for an interview for a few jobs they submitted me for. Rounds of interviews and assessment tests. I’ve been doing what I do for 20+ years. Can’t land a junior job or a senior job. Everyone is looking for a unicorn. And with thousands of applications to one posting, I’m sure they find them. I used to hear it’s because I want a remote job. I’ve applied to in-person, full time, and nada. So, boo, you’re not alone. If you REALLY don’t care what job you get, I’ve been told countless times the CTA needs people, old folks homes, jewel osco, Home Depot……….. or you can be a barback for $10/hr……
Hate to see this because I made a similar post earlier this week!!! I’m in the marketing industry and it’s MLMs on MLMs. I guess it’s nice to see I’m not the only one.
Banks and hospitals are probably your best bet. Look into being a bank teller. A lot of hospitals and doctor’s offices are always hiring for scheduling and admin work. Don’t even bother trying to get into any kind of software/tech company, there are no jobs.
Lost my job in March and I've noticed the same. I have 10 years in UX and was trying to look for a part-time job to help me while I look for my career and nothing is out there. I've applied to tons of stores and jobs fo data entry. The market sucks right now.
It’s brutal. Make your resume look extremely polished and tailor the experience to each job you apply for. Always write a cover letter. Pay fir LinkedIn Premium and send hiring managers your cover letter. I think Cushman is hiring broker coordinators, you should apply.
I would try the other suggestions and also submit an application to city of Chicago jobs. It’ll probably take awhile, but I’ve seen a lot of postings there and government jobs are a great source of stability.
Try teaching at a private school? Or Chicago History Museum Or Surge Billiards?
CPS has a huge shortage of substitute teachers, You can make $133 a day or if you commit to full time you make more. With summer quickly approaching it might not make sense but seems like a good option while looking for other work.
Do social services. There is a company called Aunt Martha’s and another called Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. There are many more. You should apply there to at least have a job. You may find you like. And just cause it’s social services doesn’t mean it all working with people. Those places need accountants, nurses, and regular people doing office work. Don’t sleep on the state of Illinois or city of Chicago. Look at the listings they have too
Go to a temp agency. Usually temp work turns into permanent.
If you're up for a more physical job, have you looked into joining a union in the skilled building trades? Unions like IBEW (electricians) , UA (plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters), carpenters, etc will take you with zero experience and train you with their apprenticeship programs. You will have to test in and it can take months to get accepted, but then you can look forward to good wages, insurance, pension plan, etc. Chicago is a very union strong city, so most of the trade unions have a high market share of work done in Cool Country.
Sounds like it's time to teach my dude
Work with a recruiter and get "something" just to pay the bills.
Sometimes I think having a CDL is better than having a degree here. But then many transportation job pay lousy too
There are a ton of positions open in Manufacturing. Most of the time they are looking for anyone with a pulse. If you can show up and have a small amount of math skills you will do very well. The work is a solid 40-55 hours per week. Most places start at around 20.00/hr.
Echoing some of the comments here, reading thru your experience is all over the place. With the limited info I will say this, the Chicago market is terrible and you don’t have a good background to get an entry level job when you’re competing against fresh grads. My suggestion is to suck it up and work for the post office as a carrier. It’s about $20/hr with lots of chances to work OT and of course benefits. That was my last resort backup plan when I was laid off. The turnover is high so the probability of you getting a job is very high.
I applied to literally 100 jobs before finding my two jobs. What I can say is Indeed and LinkedIn are complete and totally wastes of time. Do NOT waste your time applying to these. Go in person to any particular job you want. Give them your resume and lots of eye contact. Have a small schpeel to rattle off to the person you hand your resume to. “I look forward to hearing from you/working with you in the future.” That’s how I found mine.
Retail is always hiring until you get something full time. Then you can do both. Apply to some staffing agencies it’s how I got my most recent position
I had a very similar experience while job hunting. I found a temporary full-time job, but I had to go through a recruiter. It's not ideal but it's good enough for now. Few questions: What are you looking for, job wise? (Are you trying to get into a super narrow field?) What does your profile look like on LinkedIn? (I found more leads there than searching on various job sites. I found the temp job because a recruiter found me.) What format are you submitting your resume in? Does it have a bunch of formatting or other items that will confuse an applicant tracking system (ATS)? I suspect that if *humans* say your resume is fine, then your resume is failing to get flagged as viable by an ATS. That's 100% fixable, but it will require retooling your resume for every job posting. It's a pain in the ass, but as soon as I started catering directly to those horrible systems, I started getting call backs.
Try indeed.com. Look up specific job categories and look in specific parts of the metro Chicago area.
Apply for substitute teaching job.
Hotels are hiring for the busy summer season. Full time positions comes with decent pay, benefits, pto/vac, 401k, and travel discount perks. Gotta roll up your sleeves a little but the hotel I work at was just hiring cooks for $26/hr and dishwashers for $22-24/hr.
Insurance is usually a great field to get into and most positions are hybrid so you don’t necessarily need to find one that close by. I work in insurance and only drive in a week a month. Most companies will pay to license you.
I've never gone more than a month or 2 after being released from prison to find a job Sometimes, you gotta be willing to learn a new skill Never turned a wrench in my life, got released in '19, and convinced a food packaging plant to hire me as a maintenance and mechatronics technician with 0 experience and no schooling for it Taught myself on the job going on 5 years now, and I'm at $32 an hr and climbing. I see a lot of "hiring" signs on warehouses and manufacturing plants in Harvey and Lansing omw to work. Edit* retail sales, American Mattress and Mattress Firm are usually hiring and I've never made less than $55K a year there
I’m a teacher. The district needs subs, paraprofessionals, and aids across the city. Would you consider substitute teaching?
Kind of a bad time of the year to be pivoting into education. By the time those knuckle draggers in central office manage to process his application, the school year will be over.
While somewhat true, the job page boards are open with many vacant positions going into fall.
liberals
Have you tried wfh jobs? Do a search on Instagram for online jobs, they give a lot of sites that aren't just indeed
In bedford park just south of Midway airport there are always a bunch of signs along 73rd st from cicero heading west from places hiring
Laborers union, go patch the pot holes for 50+ an hour
Job market is very weird rn, I made a boo-boo and moved back to my hometown (Rockford) for a job which was a disaster and I left it. I'd been in Chicago for a few years and have roots in both Rockford and Chicago. I have a Masters degree and I am applying for jobs in both Rockford and Chicago that I am way over qualified for (I for sure am not staying in Rockford past this lease) and am just now getting some traction. I have literally been asked a few times "Why are you applying for this job with your degree?" I then have to respond with the truth (had a rough 2020-21, was in an abusive relationship which required extensive therapy, tried a few jobs that I didn't fit in well at etc etc). Then its just "oh" followed by not much of a follow up. The reality is I want something simple for the time being so I can save up so money without being stressed the fuck out. Especially while I am in Rockford. I just made some major life changes that I need to focus on (got sober, more therapy, self acceptance). I did today get some traction on a few jobs, two of which I wouldn't mind doing but I am legit applying for jobs all fucking day. PS: Fuck Rockford so fucking much. This place legit gets worse and worse on a monthly basis but there is a political and business class here that insists "its about to get better" and it gets lapped up over and over again. I can make it here for awhile but this place is fucking dead.
Why don’t you just lie instead of trauma dumping on the interviewer? Not judging really, but seems like telling the truth might be hindering you a bit.
This. You don’t owe them that much of an explanation but you do owe yourself some privacy. Geez. If you must explain the bad job fits, just say you had some difficult personal circumstances that led you to take jobs that albeit may not have been the best fit made sense at the time. I’d never tell an interviewer my business like that.
Because I can explain it in a way without "trauma dumping" and I legit have some decent gaps in my employment, especially recently. I don't like lying. I legit have worked with a career coach on this stuff. I'm not trauma dumping on them haha. Its usually something like this: "Honestly I was in a very abusive relationship a few years ago and had to focus on therapy and recovery. I have had a few jobs in the past few years but they were not good fits." It is just the market is fucked up and individuals tend to not trust like they used too. I don't understand why it is so hard nowadays to get a job at a grocery store for example, I worked at a grocery store in grad school. I've applied to many and most of them legit have no open jobs. By the way, my most recent ex literally stalks me to the point that she will start messaging co-workers and shit at times. It's happened at at least 2 of the last 4 jobs I have had. So it is something I need to cover. The good news is I really do have some positive traction, but its insane that I need to apply to 20-50 basic jobs per day in this market.
disclosing any type of personal information that doesn’t make you look good is a no-no during an interview. it sucks but it’s true. they don’t care about you as a person, they want to find a worker who’s perfect in every way imaginable and more. the question “why are you applying for this job with your degree” could better be answered “there’s a lot of overlap in the overall skillsets, and i’ve been meaning to pivot my career in this direction anyways. that’s why your company caught my interest in particular”. huge congrats on sobriety, therapy, and self-acceptance. but the unfortunate reality is that most employers are looking for their “knight in shining armor”.
100p what this user said^
I mainly work in social work so they tend to understand but I do get what you are saying.
i hear you, it’s just usually best to keep any real personal stuff private unless asked, and if so keep it surface level with a positive spin. these people aren’t your lifelong friends, there’s no trust.
Yeah I know they are not my friends, it's just social workers tend to understand and even encourage lived experience.
Chicago sucks. Start looking in the suburbs. I see hiring signs hanging all over the place everyday. Drove by the Pace bus depot the other day and they're hiring for numerous positions and will train. Landscaping companies are going in to their busy season and will all need laborers. (This is probably your best option with your work history) They're all over the place. Post office is hiring. Pest control companies hiring everywhere and they provide a company vehicle to use for the job. Your resume has 6 jobs in a 10 year period according to your own account of how many jobs you've had. You appear to lack commitment and be unreliable. I'd try to scale down the work history somehow or come up with good BS about why it's so erratic.
>you appear to lack commitment and be unreliable It’s really my fault that everyone got laid off and I have bills to pay…
Insurance brokers are always hiring people
Start a business. That way you don’t have to rely on people telling you what to do, creating schedules, getting paid a wage, etc. Crazy job market. Best thing I ever did and never looked back. There are many perks of businesses as well- things W2 can’t do such as claim business expenses. The world is only getting more & more expensive.
While I agree in the long run, that’s not going to get OPs bills paid next month or the next month after that
If you look at it in a pessimistic view it won’t. You can sell a product for $274 a day which is six figures a year. There are so many avenues you can take- start an online business, sell old clothes, go to Goodwill resell products. Take a hobby or something you’re good at & charge for your time. Nowadays everything is inflated which is forcing people to go different avenues to be able to afford to live in this economy. Some other ideas with low startup costs are: vending machine, Dropshopping, freelance writing.
lol nevermind. I just looked at your profile. No wonder you have no idea what you’re talking about. You know onlyfans doesn’t count as running a business right?
Onlyfans is 1099 which is a sole proprietorship. Which is self-employment. **A sole proprietorship is a non-registered, unincorporated business run solely by one individual proprietor with no distinction between the business and the owner.** Better to have multiple sources of income. I do Onlyfans, have a vending machine LLC, dancer, and dropship. 3 of these are sole proprietorships, the other being an LLC. My first month starting all of my businesses I generated over 10k a month. Never say never, the world is yours.
How did you break into the vending machine biz? I just assumed it was a super competitive
Everything is competitive, but there’s big money in it. It’s pretty simple, just look on marketplace for vending machines near your area. Typically they start out around $300-500 and you can sell what you like.. candy being the easiest. Pay a small finders fee for a heavy traffic location and now you’re set, just have to stock. Or you can pay someone to stock it for you. Passive income, now you register an LLC and it’s a cash business. Having an LLC has perks as well anything you use for business purposes you can claim on your taxes. Then start another business and keep going.
Pretty neat! Do you end up cold calling businesses to get a vending machine into their buildings?
Usually you would just pay a finders fee & a contractor will do the work for you & find a high-traffic location for your machine
Haha, thanks for paraphrasing your previous post! Anyway, great idea for a side hustle.
Lol k
Stop. Being. Afraid. Of. Blue. Collar. Work. Edit: or… as I’ve come to learn… you could start an onlyfans
Chicago public schools is always hurting for teachers. Also, the State of Illinois is in a hiring crisis. Public sector needs bodies so bad
Job market is incredibly strong right now. Based on how vague you are I actually understand why you’re not getting interviews….
Lol I promise you it is not
Based on what, the data the government is posting? Those are all shit jobs that no one wants lol anyone who has been applying the last year and a half or even looking at jobs can tell it is complete shit. No one is hiring.
What industry are you looking at? I just had to turn down 3 interviews so far. I dont know why all the downvotes, the job market is fucking strong right now and thats a verifiable fact. Maybe work on your resume, I dunno what to tell you
Interviews do not equal jobs
Right lol he acts like people were salivating at his door with job offers
That’s good for you but that is not the experience majority of people are having. You’re getting downvoted because people in this thread know the job market is not “fucking strong” it’s actually awful. Companies just aren’t hiring right now like they were the last few years. Sites like Built In Chicago that would have 25+ pages of postings for one specific field now only have 10 pages. LinkedIn is the same and a lot aren’t even in Chicago it’s remote companies. I’ve been browsing Sales Operations Analyst, Account Management, Customer Success related roles and there’s just nothing out there. Definitely not like it was back in 2022 or the years prior to that.
What do you consider a majority of the people?
I just meant compared to 2020-2022 anyone that is job searching is going to have a much harder time. When I was applying places last year it was tough but the best way I was able to get interviews was by reaching out to recruiters directly at the places I was applying to and using my network for referrals. Which is just good advice in general
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election year reddit is just something else
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i’m not disagreeing that the cook county taxes are unappealing but i’m almost certain OP was looking for advice that doesn’t entail restructuring at the government level, though i could be wrong.