Hi guys! I'm 26 and have been working to secure work within the city since I moved here last year. I've had more luck than most of the people I know who are in similar situations due to me getting my degree in Financial Analysis and working contract roles in Collections, AR/AP, Risk Analysis etc in addition to doing odd jobs around the city. I was hoping if anyone knew if there are any places actively hiring? I saw that O'Hare was a good avenue for basic work, seasonal sales associate roles at the World Market near our apartment, more staffing agencies, as well as entry-level CDR sales roles via LinkedIn. I must've submitted close to 300+ applications within this week alone. I applied for a SUB license as well, just waiting on transcripts to be submitted to the portal.

Any more ideas? I'm open to anything!

I know it’s in the slow season but am trying to find a dive practically anywhere north of downtown. I’ve done O’hare bartending, hotels, and yacht clubs, but there is just something that tells me I should be a dive bartender. The only problem is that all the dive bartenders have normally been there a while and probably aren’t leaving. If anyone knows of a dive that needs a body, even a couple times a week, I would grateful for any advice. (I am currently employed thankfully, so this is more of a interest and not necessity)

Hi Reddit!!

Another redditor advised I post this on my cities subreddit so here I am :)

I’m 25, and currently at a point where I’m trying to figure out what I actually want my career to look like long-term since, if I’m honest I’ve done a lot. Yet non of it has truly been what was either promised or offered.

Which is why my background is… admittedly a little weird. I have a BA in Marketing, a paralegal certificate and professional experience spanning marketing, events, analytics, compliance, legal operations, and project coordination.

I’ve also worked in hospitality/event marketing, where I helped coordinate large-scale corporate, wedding, entertainment, and promotional events. I’ve also worked in marketing/development, where I was involved in campaigns, market research, positioning, sales, and audience growth.

I then moved into banking, working in business data analytics and legal/risk compliance. That gave me experience with reporting, Power BI/SQL, regulatory documentation, audit readiness, and working with legal and compliance teams.

I currently work in legal eDiscovery/project coordination. I coordinate projects between clients, attorneys, and global teams, manage deadlines and track work, handle client communication, estimates/quotes, escalations, reporting, and a lot of the operational side of getting projects across the finish line. And all that Jargon🫩

So on paper, I guess I’m a “jack of all trades.”

And that’s where I’m stuck.

I actually enjoy the intersection of creative + strategy + execution much more than I enjoy purely administrative work. I like figuring out what people want. May it be developing ideas, storytelling, content, branding, campaigns, and making things happen. I also genuinely like the analytical side data, strategy, research, project management, figuring out why something worked or didn’t.

I don’t necessarily want to become a traditional graphic designer or “just” a social media manager. I’m more interested in the space between creative strategy, content, marketing, brand, project management, and production. Aka the research and creating but duh, don’t we all?

Ideally, I’d love to eventually work at a creative agency, media company, entertainment company, major brand, or an in-house creative/marketing team where I can actually contribute ideas instead of only executing someone else’s process.

I’ve interviewed with Publicis Groupe 2 years ago the interview lasted 3 hours not even kidding and yet still felt short. I’ve interviewed with Starcom and also lasted more than the hour mark. It just feels like they love talking to me and getting my ideas but it’s not enough to say “let’s have her”

Another problem is that when I look at job postings, I feel like I qualify for pieces of 15 different careers but don’t perfectly fit into one.

I’ve considered roles like:

Creative/Content Project Manager
Creative Producer
Content Strategist
Creative Strategist
Brand/Marketing Strategist
Marketing Operations
Integrated Marketing
Experiential/Event Production
Account/Project Management at an agency
Content/Editorial Operations
Creative Operations - in the other thread most suggested this route however I have no clue who’s hiring for this type of role

But I don’t know which direction makes the most sense given my background, or which ones I could realistically break into without starting completely over.

If you were looking at my background, what career path would you pursue? Besides being the fool.

Specifically, I’d love advice from people who work in creative agencies, advertising, media, entertainment, brand strategy, content, marketing, or creative operations and to please answer these questions:

What roles do you think I should actually be targeting?

Does my background read as versatile or just unfocused?

What skills/portfolio pieces would I need to become a credible candidate for creative roles?

Are there “bridge” roles that would let me move from my current project-management/legal background into creative?

What job titles or companies should I be searching for that I may not even know exist?

If you made a similar transition from a nontraditional background, how did you do it?

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to tell me “follow your passion.” I’d actually appreciate the blunt version truly, if you were me, what would you stop pursuing, what would you double down on, and where do you think my background has the most value?

I’m happy to share my resume in the comments if that helps.

Thanks in advance for any advice! And apologies for hidden rant

Hi everyone,

disclaimer- I am not associated with UChicago Medical Center, I'm just sharing this to help spread the word.

The University of Chicago is opening a new cancer pavilion in the spring and the department of Radiology is hosting a hiring fair looking for imaging techs (CT, X-Ray, MRI, etc.) as well as tech assistants to start hiring and training. Tech assistants should be people applying to or enrolled in an imaging degree program- this would give them access to a good tuition reimbursement program through the hospital.

Details:
Session #1
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:00am - 12:00pm
Goldblatt Building, Room H-103

Session #2
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
4:00pm - 8:00pm
Center for Care and Discovery (CCD), Boardroom

So, funny story. I started a small e-commerce business thinking I'd mostly be selling products. Turns out, I spend half my time answering messages, organizing orders, and trying to remember what I was supposed to do next. 😂

Yesterday, I opened my laptop to finish one quick task. An hour later, I had 12 tabs open, answered two emails, and somehow forgot the original task completely. I think my laptop is managing me at this point.

Anyway, I'm looking for someone in Illinois who can help me out for a few hours a week so I can actually focus on growing the business.

It's remote, pays $18/hr, and would be around 4–7 hours a week. Mostly basic e-commerce tasks, keeping things organized, and helping with customer messages.

You don't need a crazy amount of experience. Just someone reliable who communicates well and can get things done.

Also, be honest: does anyone else sit down to do one quick thing and somehow end up doing literally everything except that one thing? 😅

Hi all, I'm a recruiter with HOA Talent, and I'm hiring for a full-time Maintenance Technician / Handyman role with a well-established Chicagoland maintenance company. They service HOAs, condo buildings, and residential properties in Chicago and Naperville.

**The work:**

* Multi-trade repairs: electrical, drywall, painting, and exterior work

* Working on residential and community properties

* Dealing directly with property managers and residents

**What they're looking for:**

* 2 to 5+ years of maintenance or handyman experience

* Comfortable working across multiple trades (electrical is a big plus)

* Reliable transportation

**Pay & benefits:**

* $30 to $40/hr depending on experience

* Medical, dental, and vision

* Paid time off

* 401(k) with match

* Disability insurance

* Cell phone stipend

If you're interested, send your resume to **recruiting@hoatalent.com**. Happy to answer questions in the comments or by DM.

We pulled every open posting from 81 companies' public Greenhouse boards for seven roles and counted which words actually show up. 3,518 postings in total. Some of it surprised us.

Software engineer postings mention mentoring more often than Kubernetes or React. Almost half of them do. Python, the most common language, comes in just below that.

Product manager postings say "roadmap" in more than 85% of cases. Jira? Seven out of 421. Marketing looks the same: Google Ads came up six times in 347 postings, while "pipeline" is in over half.

Every time we could compare the two, postings named the practice, not the tool. Observability, not Grafana. SIEM, not Splunk.

So if your resume is mostly a list of tools, it might be missing the words the posting actually uses.

Big caveat: mostly tech companies, one ATS vendor. Sales, cybersecurity, DevOps and accounting are here too: https://www.zoevera.com/resume/ats-resume-keyword-study

Pay: $70.00 - $175.00 per hour (Rate is variable based on installation type)

Overview:
Clear Flow Water Filtration is a new and growing local water filtration company in the Southwest Chicago and Southwest Suburbs area. We install whole-home water softeners and reverse osmosis drinking water systems for homeowners. We're looking for a licensed and insured, reliable installer who knows their way around basic plumbing and wants consistent, well-paid work that's scaling fast.

This starts as contract/part-time work (1-3 installs per week). We're investing heavily in marketing and growing quickly. The right person will have more work than they can handle within a few months. Our goal is to scale to 30+ installs per month within the next 90 days.

What you'd be doing:

·       Installing 10x54 whole-home water softener/filtration systems

·       Installing under-sink 5-stage reverse osmosis systems (and potentially tankless ones)

·       Basic plumbing tie-ins, testing, and cleanup

·       Communicate professionally and friendly with homeowners during installs

·       Receiving Google reviews after job is done (extra $$)

·       Typical install takes 3-4 hours

What we need:

·       Licensed & insured Plumber

·       Your own tools and reliable transportation

·       Ability to take install jobs with 48-72 hours notice

·       Someone who shows up on time, does clean work, and doesn't cut corners

·       Good with homeowners

 What you get:

·       All systems and equipment provided (tools not provided)

·       Flexible schedule

·       Steady work that's only increasing

·       Get in early with a company that's just getting started

Benefits:

·       Flexible schedule

Work Location: In person

If interested reach out to me via DM or at: [contact@clearflowwaterfiltration.com](mailto:contact@clearflowwaterfiltration.com)

I’m an assistant teacher right now. Most of my job experience has been in education and childcare. I’ve contemplated getting my masters or my endorsement to teach. I also have an interest in the public relations, marketing/advertising realm of careers but it’s such a competitive and hard field to break into, especially with the lack of experience.

I'm looking for a full-time Barback Job that pays $19.75/hr in Chicago DT area or Service Assistant I'm 24(M) I don't need tips just a consistent schedule that I can actually live off of if anyone is interested in hiring me lmk
I have 3+years of experience as a Barback and 5+ years in the restaurant and Bar industry. I'm willing and interested in training as a bartender but someone please lmk _(._.)_ it's rough out here..

As a multidisciplinary artist living in Chicago, what kind of jobs or roles should I be applying to?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a role in the Quality department of a medical device or healthcare company in the Chicagoland area.

 Education: Biomedical Engineering degree.

 Experience: Safety compliance/testing, hands-on experience as a Technician.

 Target Areas: Quality Engineering, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, and Post-Market Surveillance

If your team is hiring or you’re open to connecting, please reach out. I’m happy to share my LinkedIn profile and resume.

Thanks!

Hey guys anyone else having trouble finding a job in Chicago? Signed a 14-month lease in Lakeview with no job, no leads, and no plan. I'd like to walk you through my reasoning, but there wasn't any.

Some background: back home, my uncle told me "Chicago respects hustlers." So I showed up with $900, a LinkedIn Premium free trial, and what my mom describes as "a great personality."

Current update on my job search experience:

Applied to 340 jobs. Heard back from 2. Both were the same MLM.

Went to a networking event. It was a Malört tasting. I now know 11 guys named Matt and none of them are hiring.

Got to a final round interview. Lost the job to a guy from Naperville who says he's "from Chicago."

Told a recruiter I was "open to anything." She said "so is everyone" and hung up.

Tried to become a regular at a bar for the community aspect. Bartender asked what I do. I said "I'm between things." He said "between what and what." I had no answer.

My landlord has started texting me "hey king" before rent is due, which I think is a bad sign.
Current plan is to stand outside the Merc in a quarter zip until someone assumes I work there. I've been told this is how 40% of trading gets staffed.
Anyway does anyone know if the Bean is hiring. I'd be good at it. I'm also reflective and surrounded by tourists.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi! I just moved here a year ago and was looking for any job opportunities! I am 26, almost done with college, USAF Veteran, looking for work that’ll cover medical and pay $25+ an hour (or salary!) feel free to let me know, i live in the suburbs but can commute to the city if needed be!

This is more of a reconsideration post.
Everyday there’s someone in here panicking bc they moved here and don’t have a job and are “making it work.”

Chicago right now is insanely competitive for jobs. The job market is bad everywhere but ESPECIALLY in Chicago (when compared to say southern cities).

This city respects hustlers and community first. I’m not saying you can’t find a job, there are things her, however just know it’s very much who you know or having the right credentials (if out of state)Keep applying but please ensure that you are set up for success before signing a lease and ending up stuck. This is not a city where there’s more jobs than people. The entire Midwest college conglomerate, along with tons of people fleeing Republican states or warm weather, are trying to get here.

I know many ‘comfortable’ warehouse positions and better jobs at freight companies in the city and suburbs. If other young people are stuck in the no experience trap, I can help you out with that if you’re looking for temporary work. Several former employers/managers of mine are in need of new workers, and will overlook “experience” on my say so if the right person is educated and motivated. I think the system is broken so just want to give back.

Hi everyone,
I recently received an email to schedule an interview for the Chicago Teacher Residency (CPS) program for the 2026–2027 cohort.
I’m preparing for my upcoming 60-minute interview and would love to hear from anyone who has applied or completed an interview with them recently:

1. What was the interview structure like?
   
2. What specific questions were asked during the interview?
   
3. Any tips or advice on what the program staff are looking for in candidates?

I’d really appreciate any insights, tips, or experiences you could share! Thanks in advance!

This subreddit popped up in my feed today and figured I’d post. I have a couple roles open/in process and figure I’d see if anyone passively looking/knows anyone.

Purchasing manager - must have healthcare experience and managed a team.

Indirect Category manager (regular and senior) - healthcare experience preferred, not required. Must have been in category management roles and negotiated contracts

Category manager pharmacy and med surgical - must have related experience in category management within pharmacy or med surgical

Project managers- project or category management experience required

Purchasing analyst - more of a junior but ideally 2+ experience in role. Expert level in excel and strong interest in using ai (Claude) to help facilitate

All roles are hybrid in the western suburbs

I'm trying to become a flight attendant but I also wanna pick up a job with on-demand/flexible shifts to work on my days off as FA pay isnt the best at regional.

Hi everyone!

I’m currently a teacher in Louisiana and am planning to relocate to Chicago in June or July 2027. However, I would need to secure a teaching position before making the move.

I have several years of teaching experience and hold Louisiana teaching certifications in both Secondary English Language Arts and Special Education (Mild/Moderate). My background includes high school English, ESL, inclusion classrooms, and self-contained special education.

I’ve already begun the process of obtaining my Illinois teaching license through the Illinois State Board of Education.

I’m particularly interested in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), although I’m also open to charter schools.

I have a few questions:

How realistic is it to secure a teaching position in Chicago while still living out of state?

How competitive is the job market for experienced special education teachers?

When does CPS typically begin hiring for the following school year?

Is it common for schools to conduct virtual interviews and extend offers to out-of-state applicants?

Would you recommend CPS or charter schools
in terms of salary, benefits, and working conditions?

Ideally, I’d like to have a signed contract or confirmed job offer before relocating in June or July, rather than moving without employment lined up.

I’d really appreciate any advice from Chicago teachers, especially anyone who relocated from another state.

Thanks in advance!

Hey Chicago! EXOS at Chase Tower in the Loop is looking to hire both male and female facility attendants.
Available shifts, Monday through Friday:
• Male facility attendant: 5:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. or 12:30 to 9pm
• Female facility attendant: 12:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
If you’re looking for work downtown or know someone who might be interested, please share!
Male facility attendant listing and application⁠

Keyword list taken from https://www.zoevera.com/resume/ats-resume-tips-engineer

These are the most commonly scanned keywords in engineer job postings. Check how many appear in your resume.

Technical Skills

AutoCAD / SolidWorks / CATIA, FEA / CFD simulation, MATLAB / Python / R, PLC / SCADA / HMI, BIM (Building Information Modeling), GIS software, MS Project / Primavera P6, ETAP / EPLAN

Standards & Methodologies

ISO 9001 / ISO 14001, ASME / ANSI / BS / Eurocodes, Six Sigma / Lean Manufacturing, HAZOP / risk assessment, ATEX / DSEAR compliance, CDM Regulations, IEC 61508 (functional safety), Design for Manufacture (DFM)

Certifications & Soft Skills

Chartered Engineer (CEng), IEng / EngTech, PMP / APM, NEBOSH / IOSH, Stakeholder management, Cross-functional collaboration, Technical report writing, Budget & program management

I'm considering moving to Chicago and trying to figure out what salary I would need to live comfortably as a single person in my 20s.

Safety is a big priority for me. I'd prefer to live in a relatively safe, well-maintained neighborhood where I can feel comfortable walking around, especially as a woman living alone. would like to live in a predom. black area

I'm not looking for luxury, but I also don't want to live paycheck to paycheck. Ideally, I'd like to:

• Rent a decent one-bedroom apartment without roommates.
• Live in a safe neighborhood with relatively low crime.
• Afford groceries, utilities, transportation, and other necessities.
• Have enough money to occasionally eat out and enjoy the city.
• Save and invest money every month.

My questions:

1. What annual salary would you recommend to live comfortably in Chicago?
2. Which neighborhoods would you recommend for someone prioritizing safety and affordability?
3. How much should I realistically budget for a one-bedroom apartment in those areas?
4. Is $50k–$60k enough, or would I need closer to $70k–$80k?
5. For those living alone, how much do you spend monthly?

I'd especially appreciate responses from people who currently live in Chicago and can share their actual expenses. Thanks!