Diana Aleman had been working in a retail job when the coronavirus pandemic hit and she was laid off. She decided that she needed a fresh approach to advance her career, so she turned to Opportunity Junction.

It was a perfect match. The East Bay nonprofit not only provided her with more than the basic skills to apply for a new job, it also served as the catalyst to help her launch a brand-new career as a COVID-19 ambassador for Contra Costa County.

“I had a young baby, I didn’t want to go back to retail, and I didn’t want a gap in my resume,” Aleman said.

The organization helps job seekers acquire skills that allow them to pursue new careers or gain promotions that offer financial security, such as administrative careers, Certified Nursing Assistant training, career counseling services, English as a second language and technology classes. Students get help with resumes to land an interview, and coaching for the job interview itself.

Now that the economic effects of the coronavirus-linked business shutdowns have begun to fade away, more people are returning to the workplace, which appears to have intensified the desire for more job skills, according to Brianna Robinson, the organization’s president and chief executive officer.

“As we return to in-person work, we are seeing a huge increase in the number of people who are applying for our programs and receiving training,” Robinson said.

When Aleman’s manager at the county left, she took on more responsibilities. Eventually, she was encouraged to apply for the manager’s job. Opportunity Junction helped her craft a strategy to land the position, which came with a bump in pay.

“Opportunity Junction helps you with the resume, the cover letters,” Aleman said. “They do mock interviews. They fully prepare you for applying. And I got the job.”