Growing Our Team and Making an Impact in Chicago
For our team at Bluecrew, Chicago is a special city. While it isn’t the city where Bluecrew was founded, it is now our headquarters. We moved to Chicago in early 2019 and have loved to call this city our home ever since.
But our corporate team are few in number to the Crew Members we have working in the Windy City.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our team has been able to work with essential businesses in cold storage facilities, helping to ship produce and other groceries. These Warehouse Associates have made a big difference, and we’re proud to have them as part of the supply chain that’s keeping Chicago - and the midwest - healthy and full.
With more than a thousand Crew Members on our local team, we’ve been able to work with a wide variety of Chicago employers over the past year. We’ve made great connections with local hospitality companies, and our crew has been able to make a big impact in cooking jobs, food service positions, catering jobs and more.
As the city moves into phase three of reopening, we tapped Bluecrew’s Chicago Recruiting Operations Lead, Stephen, to share his thoughts on the city and our local crew.
Stephen, Recruiting Operations Lead
Known for: Being a huge (and self-described) theater nerd! One of his favorite things to do in Chicago is go to as many live performances as he can.
What do you love about Chicago?
This city is full of amazing people! Chicago has all the charm and friendliness of the midwest while still offering the excitement of a large, culturally diverse city. It really is the best of both worlds.
I’m proud to be part of Bluecrew’s Chicago team because we’re not only providing new opportunities to local hourly workers, we’re investing in Chicago. It was a big step to bring Bluecrew’s headquarters to the city, but with Chicago’s growing tech sector and strong hourly workforce, it made sense. It’s exciting that as Bluecrew continues to grow, we’ll be able to support hourly workers while striving to make an additional positive impact on the local economy.
What has Chicago been like during shelter-in-place?
Downtown may be quiet, but Chicago also has many essential businesses and a large healthcare industry that are working tirelessly to keep people healthy and ensure essential needs are met. Illinois has been a leader across the country for swift, decisive action to flatten the curve and keep the virus from spreading. For much of the last few months, the streets have been quiet. But the resiliency and forward-thinking nature of Chicagoans have been more on display now than ever.
Personally, I missed being able to see friends and visit my favorite neighborhood restaurants, bars, and shops. I miss walking along the lakefront, one of the most valuable assets our city has to offer. I miss casually running into friends in the neighborhood, hugging, and having a quick catch up. I miss going to the theatre! I will be excited when we get back normal.
What are you most looking forward to for the future?
Bluecrew was just beginning big growth in Chicago before the shelter-in-place order. We haven’t been working in this city very long. As one of Bluecrew’s youngest markets and also the new home of our headquarters, we have big plans to grow! Chicago has an incredible workforce of dedicated people, and I want Bluecrew to be their go-to source for flexible work when they need it. I can't wait to watch Bluecrew take over Chicago!
What are your favorite Bluecrew memories?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I got to lead the in-person group interviews we would hold across the Chicagoland area. While we’ve moved to remote interviews and questionnaires in order to connect more local workers with great Chicago jobs. My favorite moments have always been when I interview a candidate and get them placed on a job the same or the next day! Most people don’t expect to be able to ramp up that quickly and find a job they’re excited about. It's awesome to watch our technology in action - flexibly and efficiently connecting folks with new opportunities.
-min.png)
