WCWC releases March workshop schedule

JOLIET – The Workforce Center of Will County March schedule, which includes workshops offered by the Workforce Services Division of Will County, Illinois Department of Employment Security and Joliet Junior College, has been released.

Career Cafe will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, March 6, 13 and 20. Career Cafe is a networking event designed to connect people looking for work. In addition to sharing tips with other job seekers and learning job search techniques, participants will hear from guest speakers sharing their hiring expertise. To reserve a seat at Career Cafe, call (815) 727-5679. 

At 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, March 6, 13 and 27, IDES will present Illinois JobLink, a workshop teaching users how to register on Illinois JobLink by creating and uploading resumes to the site, with tips on how to get the most views from employers. Also on the agenda will be how to search for jobs on the site and how to complete a work search record.

Math Review will be offered at 2 p.m. every Tuesday. A review of basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages and integers will be covered.

An orientation into Alison.com will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. Alison offers more than 1,000 free online courses in more than 300 categories. Orientation incudes an overview of the courses and categories and how to set up an Alison account.

Basic Microsoft Excel will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, March 1 and 29, and 1:30 p.m. Mondays, March 5 and 19. Attendees will learn the basics of Excel and how to navigate its many features.

Microsoft PowerPoint will be offered at 10:30 a.m. March 15 and 2 p.m. March 29. Participants will learn how to create professional presentations.

A workshop on Microsoft Word will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, March 8 and 22, and 1:30 p.m. Mondays, March 12 and 26. The basics of how to use Microsoft Word in a job search and in creating a professional looking resume and cover letter will be taught.

Job Readiness gives participants an overview of resources for job seekers, including networking, completing applications, resumes, interviewing and Illinois JobLink. It will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays, March 7 and 21.

Standout Resumes will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 2. Participants may then schedule one-on-one resume reviews with WSD staff.

Participants will learn job interviewing techniques at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 8, in Successful Interviewing. Learn how to prepare for a job interview, be confident and make a positive impression. Attendees may schedule an individual, digitally recorded mock interview after completing the workshop.

LinkedIn Lab, which will be offered at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, will help job seekers make the most of their basic LinkedIn accounts. Participants may either set up a basic account ahead of time or staff will help them set one up during the workshop. 

Networking Workshop will help job seekers learn how to develop relationships and contacts with relatives, friends and acquaintances that can assist with the job search. This class also shows how social media fits in with networking for employment. The workshop will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 22.

A session on job search skills, Master Your Job Search, will be offered at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 23. The workshops will include a review of basic job search techniques, including networking and how to use the internet to conduct a job search.

Workshops last about an hour, depending upon class size, except for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and LinkedIn Lab, which run approximately 90 minutes each. All workshops are offered at no cost to Will County residents.

All workshops except Career Cafe are offered on a walk-in basis.

Training is also available at Workforce Center of Will County.

Career scholarships are available to Will County residents who meet eligibility guidelines and are interested in occupations in demand in Will County. The first step in applying for a career scholarship is to attend an Industry Orientation workshop. Sessions are available based on the industry or occupation. To register, go to www.jobs4people.org or call (815) 727-4444.

Sessions for workers interested in professional, financial and information technology will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesdays, March 6 and March 20, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 26..

Orientation for those interested in the healthcare field will be offered at 1:30 p.m. Mondays, March 5 and 19, Thursday, March 29, and 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 13.

Industry Orientation for manufacturing, transportation, distribution and logistics will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, March 1 and 8, Monday, March 12, Thursday, March 22, and 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 27.

There will be an Adult Education Information Session at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. At this session, the services that the Joliet Junior College Department of Adult Education and Literacy will be explained. Students will be able to test and immediately sign up for classes.

On The Job Training Orientation will be offered at 10 a.m. Mondays, March 12, 19 and 26. On the job training is available to Will County residents interested in learning new skills while working. It is available in a range of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and transportation, warehousing and logistics.

Also newly added to the schedule at the WCWC is a High School (GED) Equivalency class covering math, science, English, reading, writing and Social Studies in preparation for the HSE test. The class runs from 9 to 11:45 a.m. Monday, March 5, Wednesday, March 7, Monday, March 12, Wednesday, March 14, Monday, March 19, Wednesday, March 21, Monday, March 26, and Wednesday, March 28. For additional information or to register, call (815) 280-1333.

Reservations are also required to attend Industry Orientation sessions. Adult Education and On The Job Training Orientation are offered on a walk-in basis.

In addition, the WCWC hosts weekly job fairs at which job seekers can meet with multiple employers. In March, the two-hour sessions will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, 9 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, and 9 a.m. Thursday, March 29.

“The Workforce Center is the place for anyone who needs assistance with their job search,” said Susan Flessner, WCWC manager. “Whether you need help with a resume, opportunities to network with other job seekers, or a Microsoft Word class, the Workforce Center can help.”

The Workforce Center of Will County is at 2400 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100.  For more information about WCWC, visit www.will.works.