Most People Search for Jobs the Wrong Way
Imagine you're trying to sell something — but you have no target customer, no clear message, and no plan for following up. You just post your product online and hope someone buys it.
That's exactly how most people approach their job search.
They update their resume, blast it out to dozens of job boards, and wait. And wait. And wonder why nothing is working.
re:WORK TRAINING, a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 2016, has spent nearly a decade proving there's a better way.
Who Is re:WORK TRAINING?
re:WORK TRAINING is a non-profit career accelerator that has been on a mission since 2016: help people from all walks of life — career changers, veterans, people returning from incarceration, recent graduates, and anyone feeling stuck — break into tech sales.
Why tech sales? Because it's one of the most accessible, high-earning career paths that doesn't require a specific degree. It rewards hustle, communication, and people skills — things that can be built and trained.
But here's what makes re:WORK different from most career programs: they don't just teach job skills. They teach you how to think differently about yourself and your career.
Sales Is Not What You Think It Is
When most people hear the word "sales," they picture a pushy car salesman or an aggressive cold caller. That picture couldn't be further from what re:WORK TRAINING teaches.
re:WORK believes sales is a soft skill and a life skill.
Think about it. Every day, you're already selling:
- You convince your friend to try a new restaurant → that's sales.
- You talk your way into an extension on a deadline → that's sales.
- You make the case for why you deserve a raise → that's definitely sales.
Sales is really just effective communication with a purpose. It's listening well, understanding what someone needs, and clearly articulating how you can help. Those skills make you better at your job, better in relationships, and — yes — better at finding one.
This reframe is at the core of everything re:WORK teaches. Before you can sell a product, you have to be able to sell yourself — authentically, confidently, and strategically.
The 8-Week Career Accelerator: A Go-To-Market Strategy for Your Career
In the business world, a go-to-market (GTM) strategy is the plan a company uses to bring a product to market and get it in front of the right buyers. It covers who you're targeting, what message you're sending, how you're reaching people, and how you'll follow up.
re:WORK TRAINING applies this exact framework to the job search — and it's a game changer.
Here's a high-level look at what their 8-week accelerator covers:
Weeks 1–2: Know Your Product (You)
Before you can go to market, you have to know what you're selling. The first two weeks are all about self-awareness and positioning:
- Translating your experience into relevant skills that tech companies care about (even if you've never worked in tech)
- Understanding the tech sales landscape — different types of companies, stages (startup vs. enterprise), and what it's actually like to work in the industry
- Building a target role profile — essentially your ideal job description — so you stop applying randomly and start applying with intention
Weeks 3–4: Build Your Network (Your Distribution Channel)
In business, the best product still fails without distribution. In your job search, that distribution is your network. re:WORK walks students through:
- Strategic LinkedIn outreach — not spray-and-pray connection requests, but thoughtful, personalized messages
- How to engage with posts, build relationships, and get on people's radar before you ever ask for anything
- Targeting re:WORK's own community of champions and advisors — real professionals who are actively rooting for students to succeed
Weeks 5–6: The Ask and Cold Outreach
This is where most people freeze up. Asking for an informational interview or reaching out to someone you don't know feels uncomfortable — but it's a skill like any other. Students learn:
- How to move from a connection to a real conversation
- How to craft messages that get responses (using AI tools to research and personalize at scale)
- How to book informational interviews — which are often the fastest path to a job offer
Weeks 7–8: Ramp Up and Apply
Applications don't start until Week 6 — intentionally. By then, students have positioned themselves strongly, built a warm network, and know exactly what they're targeting. This approach means:
- Fewer, higher-quality applications that actually get responses
- Confident interviewing, because students have practiced and prepared
- A real pipeline of opportunities, not just a list of jobs applied to and forgotten
Where MissionXp Comes In
A great strategy is only as good as your ability to execute it consistently. That's where MissionXp plays a critical role in the re:WORK ecosystem.
MissionXp is the job search management platform that re:WORK students use throughout the program to organize, track, and execute their go-to-market strategy.
Here's how it works in practice:
Track every job opportunity in a visual pipeline — from the first time you research a company all the way through offers and negotiations. No more losing track of where you applied or forgetting to follow up.
Manage your network contacts with a built-in CRM. You can log every conversation, track relationship stages (from "uncontacted" all the way to "champion"), and always know who to reach out to next.
Log your outreach activity so you can see your effort and stay accountable. re:WORK's weekly volume goals — like 20 touches in Week 3 or 70 touches in Week 6 — are much easier to hit when you can see exactly where you stand.
Access resources on demand — from AI-powered resume building to the BDR training curriculum — all in one place.
In business terms: re:WORK gives you the strategy. MissionXp gives you the system to run it.
The Results Speak for Themselves
People who come into the re:WORK program often say the same thing: "I didn't think I was a sales person."
By the end, they realize they always were. They just needed a framework, a community, and the right tools.
Since 2016, re:WORK TRAINING has helped hundreds of people from non-traditional backgrounds land meaningful careers in tech sales — not by getting lucky, but by treating the job search like the strategic process it truly is.
Ready to Run Your Go-To-Market Strategy?
Whether you're exploring re:WORK TRAINING's program or you're already enrolled, MissionXp is built to support every step of your journey.
Your career isn't something that just happens to you. With the right strategy and the right tools, it's something you build — on purpose.
Get started with MissionXp today and take your first step.