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Where are they now?
When we met them, they were unemployed. What are these job seekers up to now?
Erika Green, graphic designer
“I’d love to report positively, but nothing at all has changed. My friends saw me, and that was cool. The experience was really a lot of fun, so that’s always good. But as far as work…nothing.”
Hire her! erikalindengreen@yahoo.com
Doug Hoenig, online ad sales executive
“I was offered—and I accepted—a position with Discovery Networks Digital Media. My title will be digital account executive, and I’ll be selling online/digital advertising across all of their digital properties (Discovery, Animal Planet, TLC, etc). Throughout my unemployed days, I wrote for Examiner.com as the Chicago Job Search Examiner, providing insight on job searching and networking in the Chicago area. My advice to job seekers: Try to stay positive and keep networking.”
Shalina Rankin, communications specialist/associate producer
“I didn’t get any job offers, but that was probably my fault for being too narrow in what I was looking for and too broad as far as my skills go, but I did get asked out on a date! Being featured gave me renewed confidence in my job search, and now I am an associate producer for a company called InXpo Virtual Events, which produces online events and trade shows. I’ve been doing this since mid-April and am very happy.”
Abby Kurtz, personal trainer
“Things have really taken a turn for the better. I picked up three new clients and even had to turn a couple of people away because I didn’t have the scheduling availability. It really stunk to have to do that, but it was just the push I needed to take the next leap with my business, which is hiring my first employee. House Call Fitness Inc. is growing; I hope to see increased business as time moves forward and the economy continues to improve.”
Nicole Abert, event manager
“I wish I had some good news to share, but I’m still looking for a job. I received two calls from people who saw me in the magazine and one resulted in an interview. I am currently waiting to hear back from them; I am hoping to have made it to the next round of interviews!”
Hire her! ntabert@att.net
Barbara Maldonado, marketing executive
“The TOC piece served as a catalyst for me both in PR as well as my social-media presence. Since February, I was interviewed and featured in Chicago magazine, NBC 5 and CNN online. I utilized social media to raise my brand visibility and have hosted four Tweet-Ups. As a result of all of my networking and social-media presence, I landed a full-time job at Marketing Resources in Elmhurst. Additionally, I launched my social-media-strategy consulting business and in May became a member of the Chicagoland Chamber.”
Andrea Breon, education consultant
“I have good news: I start work this month at City Colleges of Chicago’s district office as a business process analyst. I’ll be part of a team of analysts examining the seven-college system for ways to streamline processes, increase efficiency and make recommendations for improvement. I feel so fortunate to have found a great job in my area of interest, and I’m very excited about working for an organization whose mission is so vital to any hope of continued economic growth and prosperity for the people of Chicago. ”
Gina Murphy, graphic designer (mouseandinkdesign.com)
“Things have been going great! Being in the magazine definitely gave me the confidence to work harder to grow my business and really ‘put myself out there.’ I received a handful of leads, and business has been growing the past few months in general.”
Want TOC to help you get a job? E-mail us at theget@timeoutchicago.com.
