Illinois State University Grad Hired After Standing With Sign

For four days, Danu Phromrat stood at a busy intersection in Bloomington holding a sign that said, "New grad looking for a job," with the hope that he would catch the attention of local employers.

It worked.

The recent Illinois State University graduate was hired Tuesday by Rave Homes, a commercial and residential construction company in Bloomington, as a full-time accounting assistant. His first day is Monday.

"You just have to keep trying. If there is a will there's a way," he said. "I did not expect all of this to happen but I'm glad it worked out."

Phromrat went through a long and unsuccessful job search, applying for more than 100 jobs since receiving his economics degree in May, and decided to think outside of the box. Last week, dressed in a suit and tie, he stood at the corner of Washington Street and Veterans Parkway, advertising himself.

The strategy resulted in six job interviews.

After reading about Phromrat's job search in a July 23 story in The Pantagraph, Marti Rave, owner of Rave Homes, went to the intersection to meet with Phromrat and offered him a job interview.

Phromrat interviewed Tuesday and about two hours later was offered the position, which he accepted.

"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, but if you don't try it you will never know," said the 27-year-old, who is originally from Thailand. "I wish I would have done it sooner."

Phromrat said he was grateful for the support he received from community members and employers.

"The feedback was nothing but positive. Some people stopped by to give me a doughnut. I got a Starbucks gift card from someone with State Farm, and some people just stopped by to shake my hand," Phromrat said Wednesday.

Rave Homes Accounting Manager Brenda Duncan, who will be Phromrat's supervisor, said the company hadn't advertised for a job opening but decided to hire because Rave Homes has been getting busier and they saw Phromrat was looking for work.

"I think my boss (Marti Rave) really liked that he was so eager to work and find a job. We thought that he would have a great work ethic," Duncan said.

With Phromrat on board, the company now has six employees.

"He has just the right skills that we were looking for," she said.