openings, from tour guide to candy maker at the jelly belly candy company near chicago. 40-year-old scott kraly was among the more experienced applicants. he's been unemployed for three years. >> i left behind a really good construction job. and what i'm looking for is anything to pay the bills. anything that's 40 hours a week with a paycheck. >> reporter: with 14 million americans out of work, this is a buyer's market for companies like jelly belly. the firm best known for its flavorful little jelly beans has lost close to 20 employees at its north chicago plant through attrition over the past couple of years. vice chairman william kelley says he held off replacing them because sales had been choppy. but he's ready to hire again since sales began rebounding five months ago. he thinks the trend will continue. >> i think it's more of a gut feel. we feel the pulse of the business day to day, and if it's good we'll hire them. >> reporter: kelley also wants to snatch up the best possible candidates. john challenger, from the outsourcing firm challenger, gray, and christmas, says now's the time to d