Hard Rock Casino gears up for opening in Rockford, Illinois with recruitment drive

Rockford, Illinois is on the brink of welcoming a new entertainment hub as the Hard Rock Casino gears up for its anticipated grand opening in August, and with just months to go, the casino begins to fill its 180,000-square-foot facility with a fresh wave of employees.

Leading the charge in this pre-launch phase is Aleksandra Micevic, recently appointed as the casino's HR manager. Starting out as a brand ambassador in 2019, she has steadily climbed the ranks.

Originally from Bosnia and Serbia, Micevic immigrated to the United States in 2001. "[I] did not speak any English. We did not know how life here would go," she told WREX.com. Micevic attributes much of her success to the sense of community fostered by Hard Rock, which provided support during her transition to life in the U.S.

Now tasked with hiring 400 employees in the next four months, Micevic is on the lookout for individuals with "positive attitudes." Skills can be taught, but optimism isn't as available, she told the cited media.

As HR manager, Micevic understands the apprehension that candidates may feel during interviews. To ease their nerves, she draws on her personal background, believing that everyone has a story to share. "Usually if you share a little bit of your experience people tend to open up and then they can see themselves doing the same thing," she says.

In addition to her recruitment responsibilities, Micevic is also involved in promotional activities for the casino. Recently, she traveled to Florida for a promotional shoot with Dale Moss, a familiar face from The Bachelorette and a former NFL player. The advertisement showcased the casino's "Player Empowerment" initiative, offering patrons a free casino t-shirt upon registering for a "Unity Card."

With only a few months to go before the Rockford casino opens its doors, a number of events are on deck for the Hard Rock team. Among them, recruitment drives will be hosted across the Stateline. 

Last month, Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, expressed optimism about the project's timeline, noting minimal weather-related disruptions. "I think we maybe had one or two days where we were impacted by weather," he told WREX. "But we were pouring concrete outside in the middle of December in Northern Illinois. When has that ever happened?"

The casino recently opened its doors to the public for a "Hard Hat" tour, offering a glimpse into the ongoing construction and providing updates on the project's status. During the tour, visitors witnessed the intricate process of wall erection, flooring installation and electrical wiring.