"It's amazing what landing a job can do for your mental health; suddenly, I feel my other goals and dreams springing back into life," said Ishmam. "I can only wish this feeling on the countless others who are going through the same struggle I did."

Ishmam needed a new job and he needed to find one during the pandemic.

He found a new job at a Twin Cities area high-tech manufacturing company, thanks to help from CareerForce proud partner Hired.

Ishmam met virtually with Hired Senior Employment Counselor Beth, who gave him the guidance needed to keep his job search going. Through both financial and emotional support, Beth and the Dislocated Worker Team at Hired helped Ishmam prepare for success. Ishmam took online courses and renewed his engineering certification, which put him on a fast track to employment.

By the end of June, Ishmam accepted an offer at Minnetronix as a Manufacturing Engineer II. After only a few weeks on the job, Ishmam is overjoyed.

"It goes without saying I would not have landed here without the consistent guidance and support I received from Hired at a critical time in my life," explains Ishmam, who wants to make sure other job seekers get the help they need. "I know Beth and the CareerForce team will help make it happen for Minnesota."

At the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), one of our key goals is making sure Minnesotans know there are available jobs for Minnesotans. Getting a job in demand, and setting out on a sustainable career path for the future, may mean changing careers or refreshing skills.

Through CareerForce, which is led by DEED and our workforce development partners, we're helping people identify skills they already have that can transfer from one career to another. And with our partners, such as Hired, we're ready to assist Minnesotans, like Ishmam, who may need additional training or education to prepare for an in-demand career.

If you were laid off during the pandemic and need help preparing for an in-demand career, you may be eligible for counselor-approved education or training through Dislocated Worker services, which helped Ishmam.

Another option for eligible adults is Pathways to Prosperity or P2P. P2P provides workforce development and training opportunities to eligible Minnesotans and helps place them in high-growth, high-demand industries with long-term employment opportunities.

Some employers hiring now offer on-the-job training. Search "on the job training" when looking at current job postings on CareerForceMN.com to find options.

And the state's Coursera initiative offers Minnesotans a chance to explore new career fields, take classes for college credit and earn valuable certifications to help prepare you for your next job – and it's all free to you.

DEED and our workforce development partners want to ensure Minnesotans who need help getting prepared for in-demand jobs get the help they need. Contact staff at a CareerForce location near you to find out more and get on the road to rewarding work.