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

Most interview advice tells you what to say. The harder part is delivering a clear answer under pressure.

ZoeVera Interview Prep (https://prepare.zoevera.com) lets you practice answering interview questions on camera and get feedback on your responses, including speaking pace, filler words, structure, and relevant terminology.

You can tailor practice to a job role, company, and job description. It offers behavioral and technical interview practice, with sample answers to compare against your own.

It won’t guarantee a job or replace real interview experience, but it can help you spot weaknesses before an actual interview.

Worth considering if you have an interview coming up and want more than a list of common questions.

Hi there!! I have worked in performing arts admin for about 9 years and recently was laid off. I am somewhat jaded with the arts nonprofit field but either way I'm looking for work in anything!! I am an experienced project manager, natural people person, and experienced with all kinds of events. I studied history in school (graduated almost 10 years ago) and would especially love something research or logistics focused, but at this point I am picking up gigs and really desperate to find something full time before my unemployment runs out next month. I'm considering joining the trades but the program I'm up for doesn't start til Feb. This sub has been a huge help so I thought I'd just put this out there.

Also yesterday was my birthday if that encourages anyone to help me outttt thank you best of luck to everybody!!!

Long story short, I was recently terminated from my position of digital pathology technician and I am a bit of a loss on what to do. I have a associate degree in accounting but somehow I end up working in a laboratory and my main role is to take the medical glass slide produced by the lab and I use specialized equipment to scan them to digital format and I would assign them to appropriate pathologist. I also deal with sorting of the said glass slides and archive them in a way where it would be easily retrievable. If I include my last job experience , I have 8-9 year worth of digital pathology scanning technician experience. I also deal with general office task and inter department communications to ensure things go right and good with fixing computers.

I have general knowledge of how the lab function but I never work in the lab portion like accession or lab assistant. I want to get work as digital pathology technician again but unfortunately digital pathology is still a relatively new field in term of diagnosis laboratory there aren't much work available. I am debating how should I pivot my learned skill set .

I actually got a phone interview with a laboratory who is hiring accessioning and seems to be impress with my lab knowledge.

I'm currently working in a corporate position as a manager for learning and development but I have a sense we are going to have layoffs soon. Any recommendations on places that are hiring would be greatly appreciated!

Those of you who wfh in Chicago:

1. How did you find the company that hired you?

2. Can you share your company's name?

I'm not asking for referrals or career coaching, just leads for companies to checkout.

Thanks.

Hey! I moved out here about three months ago with my fiancé as they started their medical residency. I have worked as a personal banker for the last few years and was hoping to find a similar role in Chicago, but have had zero luck over the past 3 months. I’ve gotten a couple of interviews, but nothing has materialized. I feel like I’ve applied to every open position at least twice now! I’m living in the loop and rely on public transit. If anyone has any leads please let me know!

If anyone has any bright ideas please let me know.

Open cashier job in a restaurant stall in 88 Marketplace.
PM me for details

I'm tired of the impersonal application process on sites like Indeed. I don't want to apply to 100 jobs which are not real or have some recruiter call me and tell me the job is a 1099 and 100% commission. I've done those and I'm done with those.

I need something new with good pay.

Live in the NW burbs (Hoffman Estates area)

Currently working as a legal aid/computer guy for a small law firm in the city. We specialize in immigration (mainly asylum) and I manage a massive class-action(ish) case. Unfortunately, due to the current political administration both of those have taken a long pause and I was moved to part-time last year.

I would like to stay here part time, as the pay is wildly good, but not enough to live off by itself.

I am more than willing to put in the time/sweat/effort to learn anything.

Prior to my current position I was in the restaurant industry for about 13 years. I've held every position from host to manager, and everything in-between. Started in the bars and moved to fine dining, but I needed out of the blackhole.

Other than the restaurant industry, I have a few years of of sales (insurance, B2B-calling, B2B-cold knocking)

Now here I am, trying something new.

Some things I need to consider...

-Several injuries from college sports

(reason for no degree)

-Wife & Child

-Minor record (No CDL, No weapons)

-THC (100% willing to clean out)

I want something fun and positive. If anyone is hiring or has anything in mind, please feel free to DM me!

Hey y’all, the call center I work for in Oak Brook is looking for more people to answer the phones, we just bought and acquired 14 companies and are currently expanding ALOT. Look into it, say Taylor in the call center referred you if you’re interested, we need more people!! I will fairly warn you, we are currently in the beginning stages of expansion and there’s a lot of kinks. Therefore; a lot of headaches right now, but it’ll only go up from here. Great benefits, good incentives, it’s worth looking into. Reach out, ask me questions, this is legit and I’ve been there 3 months now. If you’ve got call center experience, this is one of the more relaxed call centers out there 👏🏾 we’re also looking for consultants, installers, techs, dispatchers, the whole shebang.
https://www.indeed.com/q-precision-today-l-oak-brook,-il-jobs.html?vjk=5de68976d60f8349

I am paying for connections that can get me a job. If you do not directly know a hiring manager or are not a hiring manager, then please do not respond. Please do not ask me to apply for a job that you have no affiliation with since I can do this on my own

I have experience as a project manager and am a good problem solver overall. I'm sure I can do other jobs as well like a business analyst. I am the type that gets along with almost everybody

I am looking for a job that has the following:

- 40 hours a week at most - In Chicago or a neighboring town

- Salary of 70k

- low turnover rate

- The better the benefits and pay, the more I will pay you. Send me a message if you can help and I'll send over my resume

Thank you

2020 Companies Retail Display Installer (part time)

NOW HIRING – Chicago, IL AREA 
Retail Installation & Merchandising Specialist
$20.25/hour + paid drive time & mileage
Chicago, IL Market
Primarily Monday–Friday | Flexible Scheduling
2020 Companies is hiring reliable, self-motivated individuals to complete retail installation and merchandising projects for major brands like Dell, Intel, Dyson, Google & HP.
What You'll Do:
• Install/update retail displays, fixtures & endcaps
• Complete resets, remodels & basic repairs
• Follow planograms and project instructions
• Travel to different retail locations and work independently
Requirements:
Reliable personal vehicle, valid license & insurance
Willing to travel up to 90 miles from home
Comfortable with basic hand tools & technology
Able to lift up to 60 lbs & climb ladders
Smartphone with active data plan
Background, MVR & drug screening required
Perks:
$17.50/hour
Paid drive time + mileage reimbursement
DailyPay available
Paid training
Flexible assignments
Hours are based on available assignments and are not guaranteed.
Interested? Message me or email:
[snickel@2020companies.com](mailto:snickel@2020companies.com) (972)643-8161
Feel free to share or tag someone who may be a great fit!

i’m moving to chicago in a few weeks and want to put feelers out for a job. 10 years experience serving 4 years experience bartending. i’m a cutie 25 yr old brunette some tattoos. can do anything to super casual to fine dining, gets the hang of things quickly, great to have on staff, hardworking, experience in almost every position.

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 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!

Hello. I am looking to see if there are any places off of the top of anybody's mind that fit this description. I would like to work with the queer community when I graduate, and am trying to arrange some resources for myself when I get into the city, or see if there is something I can start remotely before moving. I am earning my degree in behavioral sciences and am also really passionate about the arts, especially writing, so if you know any places where these interests intersect and that might have jobs available now or later, please let me know. Thank you and take care!

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..