Would you take part in a reality-style competition to get a job? Unemployed workers who are interested in a Chicago sales job - and a shot at owning a business - will soon have the chance to do just that.

Graphics Resource Management LLC recently announced the creation of “The Partner,” a reality-style competition for sales and marketing professionals. The top three contenders will have the chance at a job and at owning part of the business. Candidates will be selected through July 3, with the top three candidates to be selected by July 10. The competition among the top three is scheduled to take place from July 13 to August 14.

Candidates will have to show their ability to create a business development plan and find and win new business. Candidates will be given a small budget and about one month to prove their entrepreneurial skills by gaining clients, marketing the business and showing how they would run sales and marketing if they were selected as the winner. They also will earn commission on all business they gain during the competition.

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Recently compiled data from last year shows that the Chicago retail industry might as well have been at a standstill in 2007. Overall, this sector saw profits increase by only 1.09 percent, to $106.9 billion, according to a recent industry report that utilized sales tax data from the Illinois Department of Revenue. This is drastically lower than the 6.5 percent growth rate experienced in 2006 and the smallest rise since 2003.

“You can see the recession starting to occur,” John Melaniphy, Melaniphy and Associates Inc. and publisher of the report said. “There’s still a lot of weakness in the market. I think its more serious than a lot of people realize.”

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