As I walked around downtown recently, I noticed numerous help wanted signs.
Businesses are continuing to emerge from the pandemic and need employees. If you are looking to make a career change or ready to re-enter the workforce, there are plenty of opportunities right now!
Not only does working provide a paycheck, studies show it enables you to socialize, which we all could use after staying home and social distancing this past year. In addition, being employed gives you a sense of pride, identity and personal achievement. It may sound simple, but being able to check off items on a to-do list can be fulfilling and gratifying. In a commencement speech, Admiral William McRaven, a Navy Seal, he recommended making your bed every morning because this one simple act allows you to start the day with a “win.”
If you are not sure of a new career path, there are many resources in our community to assist you. The Colorado Workforce Center is a great place to start and can assist with finding employment, training and educational opportunities. Their vast network can target specific jobs statewide or in the region. Pueblo Community College also offers various types of testing to help identify your areas of concentration, matching careers to your personality and interests, www.pueblocc.edu. PCC offers certificates and degrees in construction, culinary arts, health professions, EMS, law enforcement and numerous other industries. Another great resource for posting and finding job opportunities is with Express Employment, another Chamber member. At a quick glance, Express Employment currently has more than 60 active openings in a variety of professions listed on its website, www.expresspros.com/durangoco.
Unemployment benefits are slated to end Sep. 6, so plan ahead because there will be more workers applying for open positions, including Fort Lewis College students who are returning to campus for the fall semester.
As I mentioned, I was walking around downtown recently with my son and his girlfriend who were visiting. We put our names on a wait list at a local restaurant and were told we have an hour before being seated, which gave us an opportunity to walk around and check out the various downtown shops. I observed that there were some tables open at a variety of restaurants and learned that some restaurants closed earlier than expected because they had already put in a 12-hour day and were short staffed.
It was a good reminder to be patient and be kind as our fellow community members are working hard to provide great service during a challenging time and labor shortages. We can all do our part and make a difference by rounding up when tipping, and saying thank you to the front-line staff. Even just those simple kind gestures that don’t cost anything could really make their day. You just never know what someone is going through. A few nice words can do more than you think.
Jack Llewellyn is executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Contact him at jack@durangobusiness.org.
