Berkley Cooper is on a new path. As a student in Midlands Technical College’s QuickJobs program, Cooper is taking courses to enhance his career in Information Technology.
“I’m a veteran and when I got out of the military, I was a corrections officer,” Cooper says.
Midlands Technical College’s QuickJobs program offers students the opportunity to gain and polish skills needed by local employers.
Cooper tried different fields but ultimately found delight in technology.
“I am trying to get these classes to further my hirability,” he says. “I want to learn as much about networking and how computers work – I find it very interesting. It’s a challenging field. It keeps my mind stimulated.” Barrie Kirk, vice president of Corporate and Continuing Education and Economic Development at Midlands Technical College, says QuickJobs can give workers the skills needed to advance in their current job or to get back into the workforce, perhaps in a new field.
“What we know and hear all the time is that disconnect between the people who don’t have jobs and the employers who need people to fill jobs,” she says. “There is a gap in the middle.”
QuickJobs programs cover a variety of fields, including healthcare and industry. Programs are established based on demand from local employers and are approved for Workforce Improvement Act funding.
“We have to show there is a demand in the Midlands for this type of employee and that it pays a living wage and benefits,” Kirk says. “They aren’t just jobs – they are good jobs that you can sustain a family with.”
Students in the program come for as little as one course needed to enhance a skill or for as much as full programs that teach a new field from start to finish. Approximately 17,000 students have been involved in the program in some way over the past three years.
“We see people with great skills, they just need to round them out,” Kirk says. “They are good, good people who need a little help.” Several QuickJobs programs have proven to be especially well utilized. “All of the healthcare programs are very, very popular,” Kirk says. “Certified Nurse Assistant is probably one of the most popular programs. It is an entry level into the healthcare field.”
The CNA program lasts five weeks and includes classroom and clinical portions. Kirk says the clinical instruction offers hands-on experience that lets employers see potential employees in action. “It is a good way to get your foot in the door at that point,” she says.
For those who wish to continue beyond CNA certification, the Patient Care Technician program might fit the bill. “You can layer a few more skills on, so your entry is at a higher wage,” Kirk says. “You are more valuable to the employer because you have more skills.” Midlands Technical College’s welding program is growing to accommodate area needs, especially those created by construction at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. Kirk says the program is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the near future. “We actually built a facility in Fairfield County,” Kirk says. “Welding is one of the programs added there to ramp up our capacity. It pays a great wage and it’s a great occupation, but it’s not for everybody.”
In response to the demand for environmentally friendly “green” construction, classes are now available to put students on the path to becoming a BPI Building Analyst Professional or a BPI Insulation and Air Sealing Professional. Kirk says the wide range of offerings within the QuickJobs program serves the needs of businesses, as well of the desires of students who are seeking a long term career.
“We feel like the variety is necessary to help all the businesses in the Midlands who are looking for that right employee material,” she says. In order for QuickJobs to continue to thrive and grow, Kirk says they need to stay in touch with employer demand. If a business does not need a large enough number of employees to warrant its own program, Kirk seeks to group together employers with like needs.
“We are anxious to hear from more businesses about their specific needs,” she says. “We would love to help them fill the gap between the employees they need and the skills current applicants don’t have. That’s why we’re here – listening to business and industry and helping them solve their needs.” For students like Cooper, the opportunities are endless. “I would recommend this program to anybody,” he says. “Nobody wants to stay at one level. You want to move up.”
For more information, visit www.mtctraining.com/quickjobs.htm.