Helping hands reach out to those given pink slips
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

With hundreds in the Thousand Oaks workforce newly jobless due to Amgen's layoffs last week, many are probably wondering what they should do next.

Among those who can answer that question is Newbury Park resident Doug Wright, who for years has been in the business of helping people caught in the downsizing process.

The Wright Group has partnered with Profiles International, Inc., to help many companies, including the Chrysler Corporation and the United Auto Works, develop a Displaced Workers Task Force to aid out-of-work employees.

Wright provides workers with tools for discovering their abilities and interests so they can find new vocational opportunities that will match up with who they are and what they can do, he explained.

Wright, whose wife is among those leaving Amgen, wants to help keep Amgen employees in Thousand Oaks.

"I'd like to help prevent a mass exodus of the exceptional talent Countrywide and Amgen have drawn into this area," he said.

He said he's concerned about the ripple effect that might occur after the Amgen layoffs.

"The ripple effect in our area might start out as simply as people staying home on Friday nights instead of frequenting their favorite restaurant. Service industries, such as gardening services, dry cleaners, florists, hair salons, etc. could feel the negative impact as people curb their discretionary spending," Wright noted.

For more information, go to www.The-WrightGroup.com.

Another group that could be helpful is the Outstanding Professionals Employment Network, a chapter of Experience Unlimited, a statewide program for outofwork professionals sponsored by the State Employment Development Department.

OPEN is run by a volunteer group of managerial and technical professionals who help one another find their next job opportunity. They do it through a workshop for outplacement training, networking and direct employer contact, and they offer no-fee job placement. The group meets at the East County Job & Career Center, 980 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley. Their website is at www.euopen.org.

The six Ventura County Job and Career centers, which are part of the Workforce Investment Network, may also be good resources. The website for the network is www.venturacountyjcc.org.

The Workforce Investment Board oversees a training system dedicated to in-demand jobs and to high skills, high-wage jobs of the future.

Among the various free local staffing and recruiting agencies available is Corestaff Services. The group offers free Web-based skill development with certifications for job seekers of all levels. For more information, contact: Lisa.Diaz@Corestaff.com.

Career Transitions-Now, a faith-based job networking and support group is run by Alan Young and Douglas Whitaker. The two men volunteer their time to assist workers of all faiths through career transitions and periods of unemployment. They offer a nine-week workshop that meets one evening a week, with child care provided.

The group offers help from resume creation to job offer. For more information, visit the website at www.careertransitionsnow.org.

From 9 to 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, KKZZ 1590 AM radio presents a show co-hosted by Whitaker, Alan Young and Katrina Olson. The call-in talk show focuses on helping people find employment.

A free career workshop that will include how to write a resume will be offered at the Family/ Emergency Preparedness Fair on Sat., Oct. 27 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3645 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a free lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.