Rappahannock Goodwill connecting people to jobs
"A lot of companies are still hiring, and we are connecting people to those businesses that are hiring," said
According to the
To help beat back those staggering numbers, Bergen's team of eight employment specialists are working remotely to help get local people back on the job.
"We know these businesses, we have a history with them," said Bergen. "They call us, and we can help people connect to businesses that are hiring right now."
The
"Because [VEC] is so overwhelmed by people accessing their unemployment portal and phone system, we are able to step in and help people--particularly people who don't have the required technical skills to access the claim portal online," said Bergen.
Since the beginning of the year,
"There's going to be a whole population of people that are going to stay unemployed," Cox said. "Just because the community reopens, doesn't mean everyone will have a job. Our goal is to support as many people as possible."
Bergen and her team of employment specialists work tirelessly to meet the demands of those seeking employment, with a promise of answering all inquiries they receive within 24 hours.
"Generally, these people wouldn't be able to access jobs without support from
Before the coronavirus outbreak,
When contacted by a job seeker, employment specialists--either virtually or by telephone--first develop an employment plan based on an individual's skills and specific needs. Any barriers standing in the way of employment are also identified.
Bergen said most people seeking employment services through
"We spend the time with those who have significant barriers to employment, but some looking for work are simply not ready for employment," said Bergen. "Many simply need to have specific issues addressed before becoming marketable employees."
With the guiding hand of employment specialists, a résumé is developed for prospective hires and
Bergen said another common obstacle faced by many seeking work is limited access to the internet, or no access to a computer at all. To ease that burden,
"We have a list of internet companies that provide access at a reduced price and are trying to connect with other service providers or organizations that may have funds for technology," said Bergen. "We would love to get a grant to purchase equipment, but we don't have the resources."
"We also offer financial training, literacy training and one-on-one tutoring," said Bergen. "All of these are free services, funded entirely by
Bergen believes the coronavirus pandemic will forever change the way people look for and maintain jobs. She said computer skills training offered at
"Digital skills are going to be that much more necessary in every job," said Bergen. "We can help people use these tools to benefit themselves and their future employers."
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