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Your New Job: From Working Class to White Collar

The people who hire say don’t give up.

CLEVELAND — More than 35,000 Ohioans filed first-time unemployment claims the first week in December. And without the feds stepping in, 300,000 could lose their current benefits. 

But the silver lining is, there are decent paying jobs out there, according to those responsible for hiring.

Doug Bugie, who finds people to run franchises through his company Next Wave Global Franchise systems, says, "I have to be looking at the world through three inch thick rose tinted glasses to say there's not a lot of pain going around. But the fact of the matter is, from my vantage point, looking at the data, if you want to get a job at any level, there are jobs out there. But you've got to position yourself and stay consistent in your search.

He explains that after the initial wave of job losses to COVID, businesses have been spending billions, every month, to find good people at all levels.

"Finding people who will do what they say they're going to do and have requisite skills is very, very difficult," according to Bugie.

Job sites are the obvious places to start your search, but Bugie suggests finding a recruiter who specializes in your field or one that interests you.

A simple Google search will help you identify them.

And Bugie suggests, “You’ve got to find somebody who believes in you and isn't going to treat you like just another resume coming in over the internet."

Some the industries he says are hiring are Digital Marketing, Cyber Security and Remote Customer Service Jobs.

For people getting out of school or looking to change careers, the trades always have opportunities. And you can get experience through any number of technical schools, while the unions pay you to learn.

Colin Sikon, field representative for Laborers Local 860, says, “There's a training facility in Central Ohio where we actually house people like in a dormitory, and we feed them three square meals a day too…as well as getting your hands dirty, doing the work and spending time in the classrooms with instructors from the field." 

Local 860 Laborers do just about everything having to do with infrastructure. Apprentices start around $19 an hour.

After two to four years, depending on how fast you learn, you could make $30 an hour plus benefits. No matter your age, or who you know.

Colin says, "When I first got in Laborer's Local 860, I had no family and no friends in the union. I was working hard on a job. The Superintendent recognized that and told me he would take a chance on me…got me in… and 18 years later, here I am not knowing people, but achieving through hard work."

And sometimes patience.

Bugie told me, depending on the industry, it will likely take at least three months to find a top job. But, "just have some confidence, that if you take it to the market, you put your flag up. You're going to eventually win."

For those really willing to take a chance and become self-employed, there are loads of opportunities to buy franchises. There's an investment, for some businesses, $40,000. But there are lots of agencies that with help with the costs.

Information on Franchises:

Funding Avenues:

Small Business Association

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

Ohio Development Services Agency

https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

https://ohiochamber.com/coronavirus-business-resources/

Women’s Small Business Accelerator

https://www.wsbaohio.org/corona-virus-entreprenuerial-assistance

Cuyahoga County Small Business Stabilization Loans

https://cuyahogacounty.us/development/businesses/small-business-stabilization-fund

Greater Cleveland Partnership

https://www.gcpartnership.com/en/Coronavirus/For%20Businesses

Cleveland Small Business Grants

https://www.emscorporate.com/news/cleveland-business-grants

Jumpstart

https://www.jumpstartinc.org/

Local and National loan programs:

https://makeitincleveland.org/covid-19

Resources for finding jobs:

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