r/chicagojobs • • 24d ago

Welp just got laid off tonight

501 Upvotes

I guess I’ll be collecting unemployment tomorrow anybody have experience to that it’s my first time ? Also anybody hiring I’ll take ANYTHING at this point I was getting paid weekly printing job but have experience in manufacturing/ warehouse… chemical compounds and batch making, leadership and of course sales

Edit : Didn’t sleep till 8 am just woke up to all your messages thanks guys I’m beyond shocked with all the messages love it !!! I got 6 interviews lined up all next week and I believe I just landed a part time aswell I’m going to keep it up 💪 let’s gooo guys we need to strive to do better as a community and well y’all definitely brought a grown man tear to my eye thank you 🙏


r/chicagojobs • • Aug 11 '26

Moved to Chicago in Feb and about to be laid off

293 Upvotes

As the title states, I am freaking out because I moved here from Florida in February, finally am settled in, and have been informed I will most likely not be retained in 2 weeks. I work out in DuPage and my job is funded by a federal grant that is in limbo right now so it looks like they will not be continuing on with me.

I know how tough the job market is here and am concerned that I will have to move back to Florida soon, which, as a gay guy the reason I moved here was to get away from FL and be in an environment where can be a little more open and find community.

I have a Master's in Urban Planning, and the past 5 years I've worked in different office compliance roles related to urban planning and environmental. Previously I have experience in retail.

I am willing to do anything at this point so I can stay in Chicago, and even willing to pivot to something completely different. I am a 39/M if that matters.

I am open to construction labor, any temp jobs, really anything at all. I cannot move back to FL y'all. Please, any recommendations are much appreciated. Thank you!


r/chicagojobs • • Oct 03 '26

I just moved to Chicago and I’m having a really hard time finding a job

284 Upvotes

Hi guys, I moved to Chicago a few months ago and I’ve been commuting to work in an hour wrong and quite frankly it’s not covering the bills. I’ve had the hardest time getting a job within the city. I have a communications degree. I’ve been applying and applying and have had no luck on top of that. I was wondering if serving could be an option and if it would be possible to pay bills off of being a server here.


r/chicagojobs • • Oct 10 '26 Heartwarming Bravo

Moved to Chicago without a job 3 weeks ago. Need Help!

268 Upvotes

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!


r/chicagojobs • • Jul 15 '25

You Must Have To Sell Your Soul To Get Hired By The City 😭😭

261 Upvotes

No seriously, I have about 5 pages of apps that are either pending or straight out denied. I dont apply for things I straight up dont have experience in, but the things I feel I am qualified for, I never seem to hear back. I’d like to get with street & sanitation specifically. Id collect some garbage Im young and I could use the workout. It just seems like the most difficult thing in the world to even be contacted by these people.


r/chicagojobs • • 14d ago

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

236 Upvotes

Heyy, I made a list of recent jobs for you all!

Drop a comment if you want more posts or want me to focus on a different niche next time.


r/chicagojobs • • 4d ago

Super discouraged :(

207 Upvotes

I have a master’s degree and got denied being hired as a sweetgreen salad maker. I understand maybe I am overqualified but I really need some type of part-time job. I am grateful for the 3 days a week I do work but it’s depressing how hard it is to find 3 more days to fill in the gaps.

I do have horrible credit due to an incident with my ex about 2 years ago but it feels impossible to fix without employment.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!


r/chicagojobs • • Oct 06 '26

Two weeks in Chicago and need work ASAP. Does anyone know any leads?

205 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I moved to Chicago two weeks ago. Things have not gone the way I planned. Finding work has become a real challenge. I am in my late 20s and just trying to rebuild my life after extreme loss and mental health recovery.

I am trying to get into communications, outreach, community engagement or teaching roles in this city. I have a degree from Duke. Most of my experience is in talking with people and explaining things clearly. I spent one year doing community outreach. Before that I taught English at a university in Brazil for two years. I also have sales and customer communications for a business. I am fluent in Portuguese.

I have been applying nonstop. Have not had much luck yet. Does anyone know of companies, nonprofits in Chicago that are hiring.

I am also open to server jobs that I can start quickly to pay bills while I keep looking. Any leads, advice or referrals would mean a lot.

***NOTE*** I did not expect for everyone to be so helpful and have so many replies/suggestions, I am STILL looking but I want to make sure everyone knows I am very grateful for the help.


r/chicagojobs • • 18d ago

Job fair at Palmer today. Yikes!

186 Upvotes

The line to just get in to see 7 recruiters, two of which were Army and Navy, and a preschool plus CPS was insane! People lined up before it even opened.

One person I talked to drove for over an hour to get here. I didn't even bother to get in line.


r/chicagojobs • • Aug 03 '26

I’ve given up interviewing for tech jobs—for now

177 Upvotes

After eight years at Salesforce and roughly 13 years in technology overall, I’ve decided to stop interviewing for tech roles.

Over the past year, I’ve completed dozens of interviews. I’ve spent countless hours preparing, tailoring résumés, researching companies, building presentations, completing technical exercises, and progressing through multiple rounds—sometimes reaching the final stage—only to be rejected or ghosted.

Eventually, the process starts to affect how you see yourself. Experience that was valuable a few years ago suddenly seems worthless. Every interview feels like another opportunity to be scrutinized, compared, and told you’re missing some narrowly defined requirement. The constant need to prove your value to employers who often show very little respect for your time has become completely draining.

I’ve now been offered a part-time position in Apple retail, and that’s what I’m going to do for the time being.

It’s obviously a major change financially and professionally, but I’m genuinely looking forward to working with people face-to-face, learning something different, and finishing a shift without another interview hanging over me. I may return to tech eventually, but right now I need distance from a labor market that has repeatedly made experienced and capable people feel disposable.

This isn’t the outcome I expected after building a long career in technology, but continuing to force myself through the same demoralizing process no longer feels productive. For now, I’m stepping away, taking the Apple opportunity, and giving myself room to figure out what comes next.


r/chicagojobs • • Jul 17 '26

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

177 Upvotes

Heyy, I made a list of recent jobs for you all!

Like the post if I should keep doing more of these, Cheers!


r/chicagojobs • • Aug 19 '26

This is getting out of hand lol

172 Upvotes

Rant lmao

This job hunt has me feeling like I’ve been raked across a field of hot coals with lithium pouring down my throat. The psychological warfare I’m experiencing is dreadful. Honestly, dreadful. This is purgatory.

I’d rather be tied and quartered than spend another day sending, tweaking, formatting, reformatting, and spiritually sacrificing myself over resume after resume just to be ghosted. At this point I’m going to have to hire a witch to undo whatever karmic curse was placed on me because in a past life I was a shepherd who fell asleep watching the flock, and now things I’m objectively qualified for auto-reject me within fourteen minutes.

I made the catastrophic decision to get a BFA, so I suppose some of this has been earned.

I gave up on finding “cool” jobs months ago. I figured, hey, maybe if I work at a wine bar, I’ll at least get some hospitality cred.

No. No way. dawg.

The wine bar doesn’t even want you.

So now I’m going door to door like a peasant, begging.
Please, sir. Please. I am willing to work for $20 an hour. I can do almost anything. I have a degree. I can use Microsoft Office. I know how to send an email. I promise I am housebroken.

I tried office jobs. Unfortunately, I am apparently an idiot, because half the time I somehow end up applying to an “office job” that turns out to be an MLM. These listings should not be allowed to exist, but nothing is screened and anyone can just put “marketing associate” on a posting and call it a day. Whatever at this point.

Imma ball I guess?????


r/chicagojobs • • Apr 27 '26

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

170 Upvotes

I looked into our Omnijobs.io database and curated a list of latest jobs. I hope this helps you in your job search.

Leave a like if I should do new one next week :)


r/chicagojobs • • Jun 13 '25

Looking for a job is hard omg

169 Upvotes

I’ve been in Chicago for a few months now, I’ve applied to almost everywhere. I always understood getting a job is easier said than done, but this has been really hard for some reason. Even jobs that I have experience doing pass me up every time. But it also feels like the applications don’t even get looked at most of the time. I kinda just want to know is it like this for other people also, or do I just need to change the way I’m going about this.


r/chicagojobs • • Aug 06 '26

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

168 Upvotes

Heyy, I made a list of recent jobs for you all!

Leave a like if you found this helpful!


r/chicagojobs • • Apr 12 '26

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

155 Upvotes

I made a list of FRESH jobs. All these have opened just recently, so there is still chance to apply. I hope this helps someone!

If this list helped, hit the like button and let me know which roles you want next.


r/chicagojobs • • Oct 02 '26

Rejected by Target, TJMaxx, Five Below, and Dunkin.

138 Upvotes

Any advice before I end up homeless? I only have a useless associates degree.


r/chicagojobs • • May 12 '26

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

128 Upvotes

I just made a list of recently opened jobs, so there should still chance to apply early. I hope this helps someone!

Like the post if you found this useful :)


r/chicagojobs • • Sep 17 '26

The people that make 95k+ a year, what do you do?

127 Upvotes

What did you go to school for?
How long did it take you to work your way up once you were hired?
What are your hours?
What does a day at work look like for you?

Any advice for someone like me who has adhd, gets bored and burnt out quickly? Looking for a career change. Mostly background in animals but maybe looking for a career change.


r/chicagojobs • • Jul 08 '25

I just moved to Chicago with a degree in Software Engineering — no network, no leads, and I’m seriously struggling to get a job

118 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I recently moved to Chicago hoping to build a career in tech, but to be totally honest—it’s been rough.

I have a Bachelor's in Software Engineering and a minor in Math, and I’ve been applying non-stop for over two months now. Hundreds of applications. I’ve tried everything: Indeed, Built In Chicago, LinkedIn, cold applications, and even random company websites. I’ve signed up for career fairs, but they’re few and far between. Without a local network, it feels impossible to get any traction.

I’m not incompetent—I’m just stuck. I have technical skills, I’m a fast learner, and I genuinely want to work hard. I’m even open to roles that aren’t strictly engineering, just to get my foot in the door (QA, support, data entry, IT, anything tech-adjacent).

I don’t have family or friends in the area. I’m new here, trying to make this work from the ground up. If anyone here is hiring, knows someone who is, or can just offer some guidance or connections—I’d really appreciate it.

DMs are open, and I can send my resume, portfolio, or whatever you need. Thank you.


r/chicagojobs • • Mar 13 '26

Chicago job market

117 Upvotes

I am at the point I’d leave the city/state to get a job. I read somewhere that Chicago’s job market is top 5 most competitive in the country. It’s frustrating that getting a job is this difficult in the “best country in the world”


r/chicagojobs • • Apr 15 '26

40 Part time entry-level jobs opened in Chicago and suburbs this week

109 Upvotes

I made a list of FRESH entry-level jobs. All these have opened just recently, so there is still chance to apply. I hope this helps someone!

If this list helped, hit the like button and let me know which roles you want next.


r/chicagojobs • • Apr 07 '26

40 jobs opened in Chicago this week

109 Upvotes

Heyy, I made a list of recent onsite jobs for you all!

Like the post if I should keep doing more of these, Cheers!


r/chicagojobs • • Nov 16 '25

Places I see hiring in Chicago that you can apply for

108 Upvotes

I've been keeping note of places that are hiring and compiled a list to help those looking for work. I know this market sucks, and I hope these can at least help.

Octapharma: Plasma Center: If you are not scared of blood or needles, Octapharma near Kedzie's Orange Line station is hiring. Lab Tech or Phlebotomist, they will train you. All you need is a High School Diploma. Apply at their website

Superior Management: Property Management: They're looking for a general office aide. Office is in the Edgewater area. You only need a HS diploma and basic knowledge of Excel. Their number posted on the Help Wanted sign is (773) 989-9220

1000 Liquors: Liquor store and bars: Saw a sign outside this store by the Belmont Red/Brown/Purple line station. You'll have to go in and pick up a physical application yourself. The owner also owns a nearby bar called Big City Tap; the sign says they're looking for cooks, custodians, security, and bartenders.

Zekelman Industries: Manufacturing industry: Saw this outside one of their building in the south side. Their job site has your usual office work but location is in the Loop while some are south side locations. There are 3 non-office jobs like crane operator or electrician. It says to text 97211 or you can apply at their site's career page. Per an ex-employee, they moved out of Chicago. Jobs may not be accurate to the Chicago area.

I'll continue to keep an eye out if needed.