PORTLAND, Ore. — Searching for the right job is always a challenging task, but with how the economy has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more difficult than ever.
Finding success in a tough job market is possible, though, for those who have the right resources and know which steps to take.
During this week's digital Q&A, KGW's Galen Ettlin spoke with two career and employment experts: Jennifer Nolfi, the director of Portland State University's Retail Leadership program; and Vicki Lind, a career counselor with Vicki Lind & Associates.
The following are among the questions that were answered during this week's digital Q&A:
- What are the most important things I can do to find a job in this market?
- Money is tight. Should I invest in additional training?
- Networking seems more crucial than ever. Since we can't meet face to face, how can I connect with the right people?
The experts also answered viewer questions that were submitted via KGW's social media channels.
Expert bios
JENNIFER NOLFI
Jennifer Nolfi serves as the Director of the Athletic and Outdoor Industry and Retail Leadership programs at Portland State University. Prior to PSU, Jennifer served as the Director for Partnership Development at Looptworks and worked for the Portland Development Commission. She earned a BA in Political Science from Lewis and Clark College and a Project Management Certificate from PSU’s Center for Executive and Professional Education.
VICKI LIND
Career counselor, Vicki Lind & Associates
Vicki Lind has been a career counselor and job search coach in Portland for 20 years. She has an MS in Education from Portland State University, an MS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Oregon, and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Linfield College. She was nominated for the 2019 Portland Business Journal’s Woman of Influence award.
Resources
KGW has resources available to help those looking for the right job.
- We're keeping track of businesses that are hiring here.
- KGW's "Yes! We're Open" initiative helps spread the word about small businesses that are open.
- For the past two weeks, KGW Digital Q&A has welcomed employment experts on the show to discuss avenues for finding work.
- KGW has a comprehensive list of resources to help people who are struggling to get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following resources were provided by our two experts:
- careeronestop.org: Supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, this website includes links to training, competencies for specific industries and jobs. It also includes a link to local resources.
- Access PCC courses at the PSU Center for Executive and Professional Education
- Free training courses at lynda.com
- Free online courses including MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), EdX classes (featuring free courses from MIT and Harvard), and free Microsoft training and tutorials.
- Find more sites that offer online courses here. If you’re not sure where to start, check out these classes for digital marketing, coding, and data science.
- Get a free copy of Vicki Lind's book, "Landing a Job Worth Having." The book leads people through the process of finding a job that matches their values, skills and lifestyle needs. To receive a free copy of the book, email Joanie at start@aportlandcareer.com.
RELATED: KGW Digital Q&A | Who's hiring?
WATCH: KGW Q&A | YouTube playlist
