What do you think of the Chicago job market? (Kell: headhunters, restaurant)

[J24W]

First time poster. I graduated from UIUC as a Fin major a couple yrs ago and am currently unemployed. I've reached out to recruiters and tried many things but am not finding much. The recruiters don't seem to be finding much either. Mind you I am more of an entry level candidate so I don't know what the experienced job market is like, but everything seems to be really tight in general.

What has your experience been like? Have you considered moving? What do you think of the Chicagoland job market? I don't think I will unless I had a job to go along with it, but I have thought about it. I think I might start taking some classes in the mean time.

Appreciate your thoughts.

[MannheimMadman]

Here is a little press release on Chicago/IL area jobs.

http://www.ides.state.il.us/economy/cps.pdf

Are you in Chicago, or are you still down in U/C? By recruiters, do you also mean temp agencies? with a Finance degree, you ought to be able to find something.

[J24W]

Hmm thanks for the link, that is not bad news.

I am in Chicago. Yes I mean temp-type agencies (some claim to know of full time employment), not headhunters or anything like that. That's what I thought, I ought to. But it doesn't seem that way so far (not including jobs like Primerica or CutCo or anything like that, I refuse to do that).

[nikitakolata]

Have you applied here:

Current Opportunities

It's either your fast track to a well paying compliance career, or the gateway to hell... depends on your perspective. They don't tend to get tons of candidates with great GPA's, so if you have that along with a decent cover letter, you should get an interview. They hire new auditors twice a year to start in January and June.

What temp agencies have you used? I had decent luck with Robert Half and one other one (the name is escaping me). They were able to get me interviews, at least. I was offered most of the positions I interviewed for through both companies. They are free to the job seeker, also, which is important to note.

[J24W]

"It's either your fast track to a well paying compliance career, or the gateway to hell... depends on your perspective." HAHAHAHAHAHAH, nice way to put it.

My gpa was 3.3, which is considered alright but not great I think. Either way, I have not applied there before. I will give that a shot, thanks for the link.

I have tried Advanced Resources and Accountable Search. Not much there. Maybe I should try Robert Half. I tried a couple others a while back but no bites.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

Here is a little press release on Chicago/IL area jobs.

http://www.ides.state.il.us/economy/cps.pdf

There is no real drop in Unemployment. The state and federal government massage the numbers as they do not include people that have ran out of benefits.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

Here is a little press release on Chicago/IL area jobs.

http://www.ides.state.il.us/economy/cps.pdf

Are you in Chicago, or are you still down in U/C? By recruiters, do you also mean temp agencies? with a Finance degree, you ought to be able to find something.

Not necessarily true... it is a bit rough out there. I am doing temp work that is quite below my usual pay and no in my industry right now (at a restaurant (which is fun)), but I do have 2 interviews next week for real jobs, so things might be picking up w/ companies getting new budgets ready for 2011... Have been looking since September. You should be able to get temp work with the *right* agencies though... not the big ones such as Robert Half, Kelly, Manpower, Spherion, Randstad (they suck) but local ones that will get you office gigs w/o jumping through all the hoops. Those recruiters usually place crap jobs for low pay on monthly contract to hire positions.
The other temps will probably have a tad bit better non soul crushing job, for the same pay, and a better chance at the company of bringing you on as they have a lower commission cut on higher. You might just be a slave to somebody like Robert Half/Spherion b/c they charge the companies quite a buck if they want to hire you as their employee, you'll otherwise be employee of Robert Half, not the company you are working for.

[J24W]

Thanks for the comments, I should look into more agencies. ^That's good that you at least don't mind the job even though it's completely unerlated.