HIRE360 Continues To Grow And Expand

E360 began in 2020 as a way for those interested in skilled trades to receive training for careers in the industry. PHOTO PROVIDED BY RISE STRATEGY GROUP.
E360 began in 2020 as a way for those interested in skilled trades to receive training for careers in the industry. PHOTO PROVIDED BY RISE STRATEGY GROUP.

HIRE360 Continues To Grow And Expand

By Tia Carol Jones

HIRE360 started in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission to provide career opportunities for people interested in hospitality, manufacturing and construction.

Four years later, HIRE360 has helped hundreds of people obtain access to careers, by helping them get started in the trades or helping them find employment.

Ryan Brown, Managing Director of HIRE360, has seen the organization grow in the two years that he has been there. Part of that growth includes moving from a temporary space to a new permanent, state-of the art facility, located at 2540 S. State St. The new space will be where HIRE360 holds training classes, financial literacy classes, and also serves as a meeting place for candidates and their case managers. The anticipated grand opening of the space will take place at the end of September or the beginning of October.

“It’s just all around a wonderful building that is going to help candidates get into the workforce,” Brown said.

Brown hopes the facility will be a central place for hiring events, community engagement events and a place where people can come to receive information. He also hopes that the people who come to the center to learn skills for a trade will be confident with the skills they have learned during their time at the facility because they will be fully prepared.

Brown said what sets HIRE360 apart is that it has a focus on pre-apprenticeship skills, soft skills and hard skills. It also has a workforce team that is capable and ready to assist the candidates face-to-face. That team of case managers work with the candidates from day one, walking the candidates throughout their career. The work includes case managers helping candidates with interview preparation, mock interviews or anything else the candidates need to prepare them for the workforce.

“Not fully comparing us to anybody else, but we know we set ourselves apart with our customer service and our case managers. Our directors are top notch, they give everything that we need to be successful in helping our candidates,” Brown said.

Candidates are grateful to have the opportunity to receive the varieties of resources that HIRE360 provides. It gives young people who are leaving high school an option to learn a trade and earn money while they learn that trade. Brown said people appreciate having access to career opportunities that have the potential to change their lives.

One thing candidates are made aware of is that being part of the skilled trades industry is a process. While it is a time commitment, it is worth it. It is a career that is going to set them up for life.

For those interested in HIRE360, they can visit www.hire360chicago.com. On that website people can also take an assessment, which will start the process, including getting connected with a case manager.

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