It’s never a bad time to look for a job in tech, especially in a city with a thriving ecosystem like Chicago’s. Whether you’re looking to take the next step in your career or to land your first job in the industry, these fast-growing companies would love to take a look at your resume.
What they do: DRW is a principal trading firm that uses technology to identify and capture global trading and investment opportunities. The company takes a diversified approach, using a variety of models and executing trades across multiple asset classes and instruments.
What they look for: “We hire naturally curious, motivated people who have an interest in the financial markets and really like working with others to solve interesting problems,” said CIO Seth Thomson. “Our most successful employees adapt easily to change, actively seek other perspectives and don’t let a drive for results get in the way of respect for one another. Because the firm is so diversified, we have a lot of opportunity to take on more complex projects and specialized skills. Technologists, traders and researchers often sit side by side and immediately see their outcomes.”
Sweet perks: DRW offers tuition reimbursement along with training and mentorship programs for hires fresh out of college. The company also hosts a speaker series, with past guests including journalist Malcolm Gladwell and Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani. All employees are also offered a comprehensive insurance coverage, paid time off and a retirement benefits package.
What they do: ActiveCampaign’s automated marketing platform helps small and medium-sized businesses create email outreach campaigns tailored to individual customers. The company also offers a CRM designed specifically to meet the needs of small businesses.
What they look for: “Above all, our team embraces iteration,” said CEO and founder Jason VandeBoom. “Ideal candidates bring a sense of urgency to a quickly evolving landscape, knowing our efforts have a significant impact on our users' businesses.”
Sweet perks: ActiveCampaign employees receive medical, dental and life insurance. The company takes some of the pain out of public transit by covering CTA and Metra passes. Out-of-towners considering a role will also be happy to hear that ActiveCampaign offers relocation packages.
What they do: Pampered Chef is a direct sales company that creates its own line of cooking essentials. The company sells its products, which range from cookbooks to pantry products, through a network of 40,000 independent consultants.
What they look for: “At Pampered Chef, we act like owners, crave challenges, seek out learning opportunities and thrive in an environment of empowerment and accountability,” said chief people office Angela Mancuso. “We want the best people who are passionate! We look for individuals who care about driving results and continually getting better, but who also align with our core values and our purpose of enriching lives.”
Sweet perks: Health, dental and life insurance are all available, as is a 401(k) match. The Pampered Chef office has its own fitness center and cafeteria. The company also knows no one likes doing laundry, or picking it up, so it offers a valet dry cleaning service to make life a little easier.
What they do: SMS Assist uses innovative technology to simplify their clients’ repair and maintenance strategies so they can focus on their core business. The SMS Assist team ensures an exceptional service experience for their extensive list of clients in industries like retail, restaurant and real estate by partnering with local contractors across the nation.
What they look for: “We look beyond job qualifications for people who match our energetic culture and believe in our core values,” said chief financial and administrative officer Marc Shiffman. “We need team players who have a passion for service, an entrepreneurial spirit and who demonstrate integrity on a daily basis.”
Sweet perks: SMS Assist offers employees medical, dental and vision insurance, but its commitment to health doesn’t end there. The company offers discounts on prescription drugs, free fitness center memberships and paid time off for when your batteries need recharging.
What they do: SwipeSense makes smart hand hygiene devices that reduce the spread of infections in hospitals. Each unit is equipped with sensors that monitor usage, and all data is tracked and stored in the cloud.
What they look for: "We launch new products regularly and are looking for candidates who want to make a meaningful impact on our platform and products and help us build the connected hospital platform of the future," said VP of engineering Mike Cruz. "Candidates should love to solve problems big and small, be excited to teach, learn and collaborate, and want to work with sensor networks, wearable tech, compelling visualizations and lots and lots of data."
Sweet perks: SwipeSense offers medical, dental and vision coverage along with a 401(k) plan. Employees can sharpen their skills without breaking the bank thanks to professional development reimbursement. And those who hate counting vacation days will be happy to hear the company offers unlimited time off.
What they do: Outcome Health builds patient engagement technology designed to demystify visits to the doctor. Its point-of-care solutions include a digital anatomy board and interactive educational tablets.
What they look for: “We look for individuals who are aligned with our company values and are passionate about our mission of activating the best health outcome possible for every person in the world,” said president Shradha Agarwal. “Building a company requires hard-working, intelligent people who embrace ambiguity, demonstrate ownership and thrive in an iterative, problem-solving environment."
Sweet perks: Outcome Health gives all employees access to quality health care from day one. Student loan refinancing, mortgage assistance programs and a 401(k) match also ensure financial health. Competitive PTO and time off for the birth of children and weddings is also offered.
Images via featured companies. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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