Word-of-mouth leads in Chicago - 9 months and counting

A friend who works at a local manufacturer says there are openings not advertised online. It has been weighing on me all week. They prefer people who can start within a couple of weeks. Does anyone have similar leads?

Small employers often hire on recommendation. Ask neighbours, former co-workers and your library.

Visiting in person worked for a trades job. For office jobs, email was better.