Looking for work during coronavirus? Here’s who is hiring in SLO County
The economy has slowed to a crawl amid the coronavirus pandemic and shelter-at-home orders, but job opportunities still exist in San Luis Obispo County.
Diana Marin, a business service specialist with San Luis Obispo County’s Workforce Development Board, said that many of the job openings are entry level and don’t offer high pay. But the positions don’t require much or any experience, she added.
According to Marin, there’s increased demand for workers in seven key sectors: grocery stores, food delivery, caregiving, banking, janitorial, security services (sales job listings also are appearing on local job portals and websites).
“As a whole, job postings have declined in the past weeks,” Marin said. “However, those are the positions that we’ve noticed employers are continuing to hire for.”
“Just as important will be to know how long the need lasts,” she said. “At this time, it’s hard to gauge. As the economy starts to open, we’ll be tracking how the situation may change.”
Most jobs posted locally in recent days pay $13.50 to $25 per hour. It’s important to check whether jobs are still available, given a fluid economic situation, employment officials say.
Grocery stores hiring in SLO County
With fewer people eating out, San Luis Obispo County grocery stores are seeing increased customer demand.
At Vons supermarket in San Luis Obispo’s Marigold Center, business is up 30% to 40%, store manager Tim Krauk said, noting that he’s hired several new employees.
Ralphs has current job listings for its stores in San Luis Obispo and Los Osos, according to the company’s website.
Grocery Outlet, which has locations in Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Los Osos, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, is seeking clerks, cashiers and stockers.
Trader Joe’s in Templeton, also posted a recent job listing for a crew mate, according to the store’s website.
Food delivery jobs
Other job postings include personal supermarket shopper job listings by Instacart, an on-demand grocery app that allows people to shop for groceries virtually. Once an order is placed, a personal shopper goes through the store gathering the groceries and delivering them to customers’ doors.
Instacart plans to bring on an additional 300,000 full-service shoppers over the next three months, the company announced.
Individuals can either sign up “as a full-service shopper, which is an independent contractor who picks, packs, and delivers groceries from multiple stores, or they can apply to be an in-store shopper, which is a part-time employee who picks and packs, but does not deliver, from one store location,” store officials say.
Those wishing to sign up to be an Instacart shopper can go to shoppers.instacart.com or download the Instacart Shopper app from the App Store or Play Store. The company currently is offering incentives included bonuses and 14 days of extended pay for employees affected by COVID-19.
Shoppers earn a minimum payment “of $7 to $10 per full-service batch, which is separate from and in addition to customer tips that shoppers may receive based on service,” the company stated.
Instacart launched in San Luis Obispo County in 2017.
A similar grocery delivery business called Shipt also had a local listing.
Door Dash, which offers deliveries of restaurant orders to local doorsteps, is also hiring.
Caregiver positions
Homestead Senior Care in Grover Beach and Brightstar Care, which offers home health care throughout San Luis Obispo County, are hiring caregivers.
The company Honor has immediate openings in Atascadero at $13.50 per hour, plus benefits.
The Garden House in Morro Bay is hiring full and part-time caregivers.
Bank company is hiring
With increased demand for banking services around the nation, Premier Valley Bank is among the companies looking to hire, according to slojobs.com.
The company, which has locations in Morro Bay, Paso Robles and Los Angeles, recently posted a university banker position, paying $15 to $20 per hour, including benefits.
The bank is hiring for a senior personal banker for $18 to $25 per hour, including benefits.
Janitorial, cart attendant jobs
Cart attendant and janitorial service positions are available at Walmart in Arroyo Grande.
And a janitorial supervisor position is listed in Arroyo Grande.
Security officer positions
As workers at businesses countywide have vacated their offices or facilities during the shelter-at-home order, security needs have increased.
A $16-per-hour security officer position was recently posted by GardaWorld in Paso Robles.
And a $15-per-hour position in San Luis Obispo is open through Platinum Security.
Moving company seeks sales people
Meathead Movers, the San Luis Obispo-based student athlete moving company, announced its need for 22 new sales people.
Meathead Movers will conduct all interviews and an intense six-week training program via Zoom to adhere to social distancing, the company said. Applicants can go to MeatheadMovers.com/Careers.
Training pay starts at $15 per hour, with a wage increase to $16 per hour at the successful completion of the program. Commissions, increased wages, and a $5,000 annual bonus are also available to employees.
Other employers offering sales jobs include telecommunications company Spectrum, hiring at its Atascadero office.
A.M. Sun Solar Hiring Solar Installers
A.M. Sun Solar, based in Paso Robles, announced Wednesday it’s seeking to hire “reliable solar installers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.”
A.M. Sun Solar is deemed an essential service according to SLO County, providing electricity. Experience is required for the lead positions.
For details on resume submissions, pay details, and other employment information, go to amsunsolar.com/am-solar-careers/ or call Sharon Ray at sray@amsunsolar.com or (805) 772-6786.
Resources for job applicants
Marin said she strongly encourages job seekers to take advantage of the following resources:
- The CalJOBS online system helps job seekers and employers navigate the state’s workforce services, including job searches, assistance with creating resumes, information about labor market trends and more. “In essence it acts as a virtual recruiter,” Marin said.
- America’s Job Center of California, based in San Luis Obispo, provides free help for local job seekers. Services include virtual workshops, assistance with creating resumes tailored to the specific employers, mock interviews and one-on-one job coaching if they qualify for federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act services. For more information, call 805-286-8530.
- The Workforce Development Board website has information and resources for both employer and employees seeking assistance. The Workforce Development Board Facebook page posts job vacancies, information and resources regularly.
Sites such as slojobs.com, indeed.com, glassdoor.com and linkedin.com regularly post new local jobs.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 10:05 AM.
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