Current Positions Available:
- Junior PHP programmer, Part-time
- Part-time Inventory Assistant/Quality Control
- Social Media and Marketing Assistant
Interview Process:
Our interview process has been described as intense. We generally take several weeks to hire because we really like to get to know you, and have you get to know us, to see if we'll work together well. Once we look at your resume, if we're interested, we'll give you a call to set up a 10 minute phone interview. About a third of the phone interviewees are invited to come in for a 20-to 30 minute face-to-face interview. After the interview, if we think it might be a good fit, we'll call your references. Assuming everything checks out, we'll invite you back for a longer interview (1-2 hours) in which includes a full studio tour, real-life practice in the job, and introductions with other folks in the office. A couple of us will interview you, and you're encouraged to "interview" us, too. After all that is said and done, we'll decide to whom we want to offer the job.
Position:
Junior PHP programmer - part-time (Chicago only)
NO RECRUITERS - NO AGENCIES - CHICAGO AREA ONLY
Number of Positions available: 1
More about the position:
Rapidly growing online retailer seeks a part-time junior PHP programmer to work with our experienced (but also part-time) senior programmer.
You'll be responsible for supporting, maintaining and enhancing a Zend Framework PHP application used internally for order processing and product management.
As well, there may be opportunities to work on the public web site, which is based on Ruby on Rails. Rails skills are therefore desirable but optional.
Experience required:
- PHP
- SQL, preferably MySQL
- HTML, CSS
- Javascript, jQuery
- Subversion
- familiarity with Linux as server environment
- Model-View-Controller architecture
- any MVC framework (Zend, Symphony, Cake, Rails, Django, etc.)
Optional but desirable experience:
- Zend Framework
- Ruby on Rails
- Linux administration
- MediaWiki
This is a part-time contractor position for appx. 16-20 hours per week and, though you will work from home, you MUST be in the Chicago area as monthly face-to-face meetings are required. This is a junior position under the supervision of another developer.
How to Apply: Send a cover letter and resume outlining your qualifications, interest and availability to the address below. Be specific when letting us know what appeals to you about this position, and please describe additional skills and talents that you bring to the table. If we are interested, we will contact you. Thank you!
Attn: Part-time PHP Programmer Position
Blue Buddha Boutique
1127 W. Granville
Chicago IL 60660
or jobs@bluebuddhaboutique.com, Subject: Part-Time PHP Programmer Position
Position:
Part-time Inventory Assistant/Quality Control
We hire on on ongoing basis for this position. Resumes are reviewed quarterly, and if we're interested, we'll let you know. We are looking to develop a crew of part-time Inventory Assistants who can commit to one day a week, but who can also occasionally work 2-3 days/week as needed during our busy times.
More about this position:
The Boutique continues to grow, and we're looking for an eager person who loves repetitive tasks to join the team. Seriously, you must LOVE repetitive tasks. This position involves many hours of weighing and bagging rings, and closely (but quickly!) scrutinizing rings to remove defective ones. This is an entry-level position, but we're especially interested in someone who has additional skills and motivation to help the company grow further. This position is part-time for 6-15 hours per week with an opportunity to take on more hours during busy periods. You have some flexibility in setting up your schedule.
If hired, your training will be during regular business hours and we will transition you to the needed schedule when you are ready.
Main responsibilities include:
- Create ring packets and assemble kits for general stock and volume orders.
- Do quality control on loose jump rings (sorting out off-color, mis-sized, malformed, etc, rings)
- Count and bag other jewelry components, such as clasps and earwires.
- Use industrial tumbler to clean and polish loose jump rings.
- Take an active role in various "action teams" designed to improve workflow, productivity and morale.
- Report directly to supervisor to help manage our products: use in-house systems to keep track of which items need to be cleaned, which items we're running low on, etc.
Other responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Prepare jewelry boxes, earring cards and price tags.
- Calculate weights for new ring sizes.
- Miscellaneous office tasks, including cleaning and data entry.
If you have any of the following skills, please let us know:
- Photography and
- HTML and/or website design
- Photoshop
- Sales or exceptional people skills (we would love to have extra hands to help at some of our weekend shows, or to help customers who stop by to pick up orders)
Wages:
The starting hourly rate is $9.00/hr, potentially more if you have some of the speciality skills listed above. If you are a good fit with our company, we are very happy to give raises and bonuses. You can expect at least two raises within your first year if your performance is up to par.
Hours:
During your first month of training, you will need to have daytime availability (during weekdays) for training purposes (a total of about 20-30 hours). Upon completion of training, we'll work with you to set your schedule. We are flexible.
Perks:
As this is more of a warehouse/studio environment than retail, there is no dress code. In fact, we like artsy-types and those who express themselves in clothing/accessories that might be frowned upon at other jobs. We believe that if employees are happy and enthusiastic, the company will flourish by attracting happy customers and LOTS of them, to boot! We strive to provide an open atmosphere, where everyone can approach management with issues and ideas for improvement of systems and efficiency.
Though we are strict about not being tardy, we are somewhat flexible with hours—if occasionally you need to come in early and leave early, or if you have an appointment in the middle of the day, it is usually not a problem if you give us enough notice and make up your hours. (However regular changes to schedules are disruptive, especially for this position, and are discouraged.) Finally, all employees and interns receive a substantial discount on rings, and a lesser discount on tools and other supplies.
Experience/Qualifications/Skills:
- If you don't like doing the same thing over and over again, do not apply for this position, because you won't be happy. If, on the other hand, if you find repetitive work soothing, and have a tendency to be a bit obsessive compulsive, this job might just be the perfect fit!
- As just stated, your work will be tedious on certain days. You'll need to make sure that the 100th label is put on the baggie with as much neatness as the first one.
- You won't be doing rocket-science calculations, but you do need to be comfortable with basic multiplication/division equations, or be willing to do a little "homework" to get used to the calcuations we do on a regular basis.
- We need you to speak up and tell us if you don't understand something. If you think you have a better way to do something, we're interested to know what it is, so be willing to share your ideas and explain them thoroughly. This is especially important for your position, since you will often be working alone, and we want to keep you on the same page.
- At times, you'll be working with several others in a small space. Zen attitudes are appreciated.
- Whether you're filling a $500 order or a $5, show excellence every step of the way. Your role is crucial to the success of the business.
- Previous experience making or selling jewelry, especially chainmaille, would be great, however it is not necessary. What is necessary, though, is that you like the jewelry and supplies products we sell. Employees new to chainmaille may be asked to take a 5-week chainmaille class to learn more about this field (the class will be paid for by Blue Buddha Boutique).
To Apply:
Send a cover letter and resume outlining your qualifications, interest and availability to the address below. Be specific when letting us know what appeals to you about this position, and please describe additional skills and talents that you bring to the table. If we are interested, we will contact you. Thank you!
Attn: Part-time Inventory Position
Blue Buddha Boutique
1127 W. Granville
Chicago IL 60660
or jobs@bluebuddhaboutique.com, Subject: Part-Time Inventory Position
Position:
Social Media and Marketing Assistant
Number of Positions available: 1
Start Dates: May 6th or sooner
Deadline to Apply: Ongoing.
More about the position:
We're hiring a part-time, enthusiastic Social Media and Marketing Assistant to support the marketing department as we open our new retail store and crafting center.
The SMMA maintains social media accounts and responds to basic customer questions and comments. Additionally this individual creates and schedules regular posts to social media outlets, assists with blog updates, researches new social media and digital marketing outlets and compiles content for recurring website features.
The SMMA also assists with the development and physical preparation of marketing materials, creates online surveys, updates our mailing list and uploads product descriptions to online marketplaces. The SMMA works not only with Blue Buddha marketing initiatives but also with Rebeca Mojica Jewelry campaigns.
The successful applicant, at minimum, will possess the following:
- High School diploma or equivalent required.
- Advanced level computer skills including the ability to navigate/use the internet/web, social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, etc.), online marketplaces (Etsy, Amazon.com, Zibbet, Artfire, etc), other web programs and services including but not limited to: Constant Contact, Formsite, Word, Excel, gmail and Google Docs.
- A record of and/or skills for providing exceptional customer care
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
- Demonstrated time management, organizational and attention-to-detail skills.
- Problem solving skills including the ability to anticipate, prevent and/or resolve issues as they occur.
- Basic math skills including the ability to add and subtract
- Ability to create neat and elegant signs/displays
- Understanding of current fashion and accessory trends
- Experience making or selling crafts (particularly jewelry) is preferred but not required
If you have any of the following skills, please let us know:
- Photography
- Adobe CS (Photoshop. Illustrator and/or InDesign especially)
- HTML and/or website design
Our new Social Media and Marketing Assistant is…
a friendly and upbeat person. You have an appreciation for elegant design and enjoy using color as inspiration, expression or to convey emotion. You take great pride in what you do and in maintaining a "polished look" to your work. You genuinely enjoy talking to people and are patient, empathetic and keep a cool-head even in difficult conversations.
You are extremely comfortable using Facebook and other social media sites. You enjoy the creative spirit and flourish when surrounded by artistic (and even quirky) folks. You know where the cool kids hang out and what interests them. You know how to write and speak to appeal to an edgy, creative audience but can also tone it down to relate to an older, sophisticated crowd.
You have an appreciation for the Earth and do little things to help our planet thrive. You're not cut-throat and out to eat up the competition. Instead, you understand that we live in a world of abundance and there's enough for everyone, so long as we all focus on doing what we do best.
If we have described you in this advertisement, we hope to hear from you!
Wages:
The starting hourly rate is $9.00/hr, potentially more if you have some of the specialty skills listed above. If you are a good fit with our company, we are very happy to give raises and bonuses over time.
Hours:
This position is part time, approximately 8-16 hours per week. Ideally, these hours will be broken up into many days, with shorter hours each day instead of just a couple full days a week in order to maintain our social media outlets consistently each day. Hours are flexible and some work can be done remotely. Our regular business hours are M-F, 10am-5pm so some availability during that time each day is best.
Approximately 30 minutes of work will also be required on Sundays, primarily monitoring for any spammers (have to keep an eye on them 7 days a week!) During the first few weeks, you will need to be able to come in to our studio 2-3 days per week during normal business hours for training purposes (a total of about 10 hours). Upon completion of training, we'll work with you to set your schedule and determine what work can be done from home.
Perks:
This is a creative position with creative co-workers! Our dress-code is very casual (we encourage self-expression) and we strive to provide a work environment that is fun, inclusive and always-improving.
In exchange for your skills, dedication and passion, you will receive a competitive compensation package including generous paid holiday and paid time off (PTO), company health insurance contribution, employee product discounts, a friendly laid-back work environment, an opportunity to be a part of growing a great organization, and more.
How to Apply:
If you think you're a good fit for the position, send a cover letter outlining your interest in the position, your resume and the best way to reach you. Feel free to be creative, as we aren't a bunch of robots. We will only contact candidates if we are interested in an initial meeting. Thanks for your time and interest in Blue Buddha Boutique. We're excited to find a new person to join our team!
Send your application to:
Attn: SMMA
Blue Buddha Boutique
1127 W. Granville
Chicago IL 60660
or
jobs@bluebuddhaboutique.com, Subject: SMMA
Questions? Contact us for more information: jobs@bluebuddhaboutique.com, Subject: SMMA
If we are interested, we'll call you to set up an interview.
