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New Choices-New Options aims to move people into workforce |
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Local Content -
Local News
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Written by Julie Ciaramella
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Saturday, 07 February 2009 |
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Community Action Inc.'s New Choices-New Options program aims to help people who are unemployed, underemployed or just having a hard time making the transition into today's job market.
Jake Kendrick, New Choices-New Options director, said the goal of the program is for participants to become employed, upgrade employment or to continue with further schooling.
"We try to encourage that and guide the students through that process in a couple of different ways," he said. "We have lectures covering resume prepartion, cover letter skills, interview skills, searching for a job and how to keep a job, and besides that, we cover some personal development things, such as stress management, time management and conflict resolution — things you can use in a job but also in everyday life."
The program started in late 2007 at Community Action Inc., took a break and came back in October 2008, Kendrick said.
Daytime classes will begin Feb. 24, and evening classes will be available starting March 31. All classes run four days a week for five weeks.
A student is considered to be a graduate of the course after completing 60 hours; 72 hours are scheduled, "so there's flexibility there for the students if they have to miss class for any reason," Kendrick said.
A typical class involves a lecture, but, Kendrick said, instructors "try to keep things fun as well."
"We don't expect people to just sit in class for four hours listening to us speak. At the same time, we try to vary the class, bringing other people from the community in to speak," Kendrick said.
Experts speak to classes on topics such as entrepreneurship, nutrition and wellness. The class also tours local educational institutions, such as IUP-Punxsutawney, the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts and Jeff Tech. Kendrick said classes also take a field trip to CareerLink.
Anyone is eligible to participate, regardless of his or her age, Kendrick said.
"Anyone can come who's interested in looking for employment, or is looking for other options as to what's out there, or if they're in a dead-end, low-paying job and they want to further their employment opportunities. Eligibility is not based on income, and there's no cost," he said.
Kendrick said he has seen students go on from New Choices-New Options to achieve success. A woman who hadn't worked outside of her home in 20 years came to the class looking for advice on how to transfer her skills to her resume to make herself marketable, and now she is employed.
"We helped her with her resume and cover letter, helped her with her interview skills, and we went through the classifieds and helped her apply and tailor her resume to certain jobs," Kendrick said.
Additionally, Kendrick said he and other instructors are more than willing to work with people after they graduate, and they make an effort to keep in touch.
Businesses that can provide opportunities for New Choices-New Options students are also welcome to participate in the program, Kendrick said.
"To truly be exposed to a career, it would help our students to have job shadowing opportunities, or to hear people from local businesses come talk to our students about their areas of expertise," he said.
While attending class, transportation and child care assistance may be available. Also, tuition assistance may be available for New Choices-New Options graduates to attend trade school or college.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 09 February 2009 )
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