Guaranteed Rate creating 280 new jobs

Marketwired

Mortgage lender Guaranteed Rate, is expanding its office space by 22,000 square feet and will create approximately 280 new positions in Chicago this year for its Liftoff loan origination training program.

The Liftoff program requires no previous mortgage industry experience and offers an instructional sales itinerary, including industry guest lecturers and all certification exams required for loan originators. Liftoff graduates will originate loans for the Online Division from leads generated via the company's digital marketing and advertising channels.

"Our company has grown by more than 25 percent over the last year and as a result we've created hundreds of job opportunities in Chicago and across the country," said Guaranteed Rate Founder and CEO Victor Ciardelli. "The Liftoff program is an awesome opportunity to get into the industry and offers all of the tools to be successful in the field."

The company has hired about 90 people in the first 90 days of 2017. Over the last decade, Guaranteed Rate has more than

quadrupled its employee count, going from 680 employees in 2006 to more than 3,000 by the end of 2016. Its revenue has grown from about $43 million in 2006 to nearly $778 million in 2016. In terms of loans funded, the company funded $3 billion in 2006 compared to almost $23 billion in 2016.

In the last five years, Guaranteed Rate's workforce has doubled, its revenue rose more than 400 percent, and the dollar amount in loans funded more than tripled.

Most of its expansion will be at ts facility at 1806 W. Cuyler Ave., a block north of the company's Ravenswood headquarters The additional 7,000 square feet is at 320 W. Ohio St. in the River North neighborhood.