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Saturday, July 18, 2009
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College offering retraining for the jobless workers
Central Lakes College and the WorkForce Center are collaborators for a short-term program of courses to retrain people for the jobs of tomorrow.
With help to pay for the training, qualifying individuals are enrolling to get the first crack at new career opportunities. For eligible enrollees, the courses may be taken at no cost due to federal stimulus dollars.
"We are very pleased to be working with Rural MN CEP and our area WorkForce Center to help meet the training needs for the workforce in our region," said Becky Best, CLC dean of educational services.
Through the state Dislocated Worker Program, dozens of anxious adults have become the vanguard class whose job search goes beyond resume' writing and interview tips.
Julie Durham, Pequot Lakes, is among them. This mother of three has joined her college-age offspring three decades after completing campus studies. She earned her general secretary diploma from Brainerd Area Vocational Technical Institute in 1976.
Unlikely to need shorthand that she learned 33 years ago, Durham is back in class to learn computer-related efficiencies. An eight-hour basic computer skills class was a first choice to refresh and enhance her knowledge base. She is participating in the Office Management/Administrative Assistant series of courses available in the new series at CLC.
"Many years ago I worked in an office," she said. "I won't need the short-hand today but instead need to freshen up my skills with what's new."
She'll get Quickbooks, the computerized accounting software, to assist with tasks in payroll originally acquired as a business owner.
"The sooner I can learn what I need to get back to work the better," she said. "I want to stay in the area." She was laid off at Landis+Gyr, Pequot Lakes, along with 13 co-workers just before last Christmas.
"I've never been unemployed this long, and it's kind of scary," she said. "But I am networking and have meticulous organizational tendencies."
Efficiencies are what employers like, as well as the stability of an experienced, proven and reliable employee.
"Someone with a set of broad skills and background may fit into a new, hybrid job arrangement," said Sue Hilgart, WorkForce Center team leader.
The center, in its partnership with the college, "has a huge responsibility" to direct the funding (including federal stimulus dollars) that has been assigned toward putting people back to work.
There are an estimated 2,200 unemployed in central Minnesota.
"I hope to be in business for myself, involved in some sort of renewable or sustainable energy occupation," said Paul Hoepenbecker, 43, of Staples. "We should have seen (alternative) energy production and alternate vehicle fuels many years ago."
His path toward re-employment since a fourth lay-off from Stern Rubber just before last Christmas has led to courses to provide new skills. One CLC series of short-term, hour-based courses are in "Renewable-Sustainable Energy." It's just what Hoepenbecker wanted.
Sessions are scheduled for jobs associated with alternative fuels, wind generation, solar and geothermal power, and energy auditing.
Bob Hanson of the Business and Industry Center at CLC said the new short courses offer opportunity to hone communication skills, as well as technical knowledge.
"We have many adjunct faculty and instructors who are from the professions that need well-trained employees," Hanson said. Courses are available in welding, electrical, furnaces, pneumatic controls, wind generators and turbines, and biomass fuel producers.
Among classes in a series called "Retro Green Construction" are construction blueprint reading and lean green construction. Individuals interested in the green construction field have the opportunity to acquire competencies and certification for a residential energy auditor.
Some components of these short-term, hour-based courses can be converted to credits toward Central Lakes College's certification programs.
Classes are scheduled during weekdays through October. More may come later. For information call 218-855-8142 or 1-800-933-0346, ext. 8142.
The courses are described in detail at http://www.clcmn.edu/busind/dislocatedworker.html.
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