A career change after a tech layoff starts with taking stock of the skills you already have and matching them to local needs. Dislocated tech worker? Here's how to get back on track — The Ayangbah Foundation can help you.
Losing a tech job can shake your confidence, especially if you built your career around one company or one role. The good news is that problem solving, project work, and digital know-how are useful in many fields across San Bernardino and the Inland Empire.
First Steps for Dislocated Workers
Before you rush into a new job search, take care of the basics:
- Apply for unemployment benefits through the California Employment Development Department (EDD) if you qualify
- Review your severance and benefit details, and note any deadlines
- Register in CalJOBS, California's online job and workforce system
- Contact your local America's Job Center of California
WIOA, the federal law that funds much of the public workforce system, has a Dislocated Worker program for people who were laid off. It may help pay for training and career services. Confirm your eligibility at an America's Job Center of California. Locally, you can reach the East Valley America's Job Center of California at 500 Inland Center Dr, San Bernardino, (909) 382-0440 (confirm current hours at workforce.sbcounty.gov).
Where Tech Skills Fit in the Inland Empire
Your skills do not disappear when your job does. Think about how they could transfer:
- Project management: useful in logistics, healthcare, construction, and local government
- Digital marketing and data: small businesses often need help with websites, social media, and reporting
- Technical support: schools, clinics, and offices all rely on working technology
- Training and teaching: explaining tools to others is a skill many employers need
- Starting your own business: consulting or freelancing for local companies
Make a simple list of what you did, what tools you used, and what results you helped deliver. Then look for local job listings that ask for those same things.
Be open to job titles that do not sound like tech. A role called operations coordinator, office manager, or marketing assistant may use many of the same skills you used before. Talk with people in local industries about what their day looks like. A short conversation can tell you more than a job posting, and it may lead to a referral.
How Training Can Support a Career Change After a Tech Layoff
The Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training is a certificate program in downtown San Bernardino. It is 40 hours over 4 weeks, in person, Monday through Friday for 2 hours a day. It covers leadership, digital marketing, grants and financial literacy, and business development.
Every student gets a career assessment and builds a personal 30/60/90-day plan. After a layoff, that plan can bring back a sense of direction. The program is $0 for WIOA-eligible residents, and the next cohort starts in November 2026.
Consider Building Your Own Path
Some laid-off tech workers decide to freelance or start a company. The Entrepreneurship & Small Business workshops cover business plans, licensing, bookkeeping, and pitching to local judges, with SBDC referrals. If you want to sell services to public agencies, the Government Contracting Academy covers registering, getting certified, finding bids, and writing proposals.
Whatever you choose, practice telling your story. The Public Speaking & Communication Lab offers interview practice, elevator pitches, and recorded feedback.
FAQ
Am I a dislocated worker if I was laid off from a tech job?
You may be. WIOA has a Dislocated Worker program for people who were laid off, but eligibility depends on your situation. Confirm at an America's Job Center of California.
Should I take a lower-level job while I plan a career change after a tech layoff?
That is a personal choice. Some people take a bridge job to cover bills while they train. A career assessment and a 30/60/90-day plan can help you weigh your options.
Are there paid training programs for adults who were laid off?
Some programs, like apprenticeships or on-the-job training, let you earn while you learn. Ask your local America's Job Center of California what is available and who qualifies.
Dislocated tech worker? Here's how to get back on track — The Ayangbah Foundation can help you. Apply online to start your intake, and explore the Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training.