The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the Center for Disease Control’s health and safety guidelines, has impacted many businesses and workers for the past few months. Job searching, and everything else that comes with it, can be very scary for some. Throw in coronavirus fears, home quarantine, and hiring freezes at many companies, and the hunt for work becomes even more difficult. However, there are still plenty of opportunities for employment for Inland Regional Center (IRC) clients and many resources available to help you in your quest for employment. IRC employment specialists have put together some tips on how you can stay job ready while continuing to practice social distancing.

Tip #1
Job Searching: Continue to use websites like Indeed and Linked-In to search for employment opportunities in your local area. These websites allow you to narrow your search based on location, job title, and company. You can also enter some keywords if you are not entirely sure on what you are looking for but have an idea of what type of jobs you would enjoy doing. Keywords will result in a list of relevant job openings that you can browse through. Even if you are not comfortable with working right now, it can still be helpful to know what industries are hiring and what their requirements are.

Tip #2
Skill Building: Staying at home does not mean you cannot continue to work on employment skills. There are plenty of informational tutorials online which can help you prepare for your next job. YouTube is an excellent tool that is filled with many video tutorials that can help brush up or teach you new skills for the job you want, and best of all, it’s free.

Tip #3
Employment Service Providers: One of IRC’s many services can include teaming you up with a professional who will help you gain employment and walk you through the employment process from beginning to end, making the entire process less scary and easier to understand. Ask your Consumer Services Coordinator (CSC) if this service is right for you.

Tip #4
Community Resources: Resource centers, like the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), can help you prepare for and obtain employment. You can look up your closest DOR office by visiting www.dor.ca.gov/Home/FindAnOffice or ask your CSC to refer you to the closest one.

Tip #5
Professional Groups: If there is a specific job-field you are interested in, try to join an online group of professionals in that line of work. Facebook and LinkedIn are a few examples of networking sites that can provide you an opportunity to connect with employers and help you network with other professionals. This is a great way to get insight as to what it is like working in that field before you apply.

Employment vocational services available through Inland Regional Center:

• Paid Internship Program: This program allows for clients to participate in an internship where they can gain vital work experience to remain competitive in the employment marketplace.
• Vocational Training Programs: These programs will help the participants develop job skills for industry-specific needs based on the participant’s vocational goals.
• Supported Employment: Many different service providers offer a one-to-one staff support to help the participant gain employment and remain successful on the job.
• Job Discovery and Customized Employment: For those individuals who would benefit from a more unique job or trade, this program can utilize a person’s social network, skills and interests to customize a job with a participating employer.

If you have any questions or would like more information on any of the programs and services offered by IRC, make sure to contact your CSC.

Posted by:

Andrew Burdick

Andrew is an Employment Specialist at IRC. He develops employment opportunities for our Consumers, by partnering with employers, IRC vendors, and community partners. Outside of work, Andrew is a true outdoorsman, spending much of his time at the beach or visiting National Parks with his family. You might also find him hiking up mountains or biking, listening to comedy podcasts and taking photos all along the way!