●► Free Job Training for Women
Free job training for women is available from a variety of sources. The key is to do your research and find the right courses to enhance your skill levels. Good Training Can Be Free:-
There are a wide variety of sources of job training available to women. The training covers a wide variety of topics from computer skills to communication skills, small business training and occupation-specific training. Colleges, trade schools and private training groups offer a variety of courses, most charging tuition or other fees to participate in the training.
Scholarships and financial aid are usually available to pay for training courses. However, a woman does not have to pay to receive good training. A growing number of training opportunities are now offered at no cost to the trainee.
Many of these opportunities are designed to meet the specific needs of women. For example, younger women may be looking for skills to help them get a part time job or for jobs provide them with more time flexibility. Midlife women are often looking for ways to enhance their job skills if they are considering a midlife career change, starting a new business or if they are facing a job loss due to company downsizing. Some women are looking for skills to help them reenter the work force.
Finding Free Job Training for Women:-
The Internet is an excellent starting point to explore your options for free job training for women. You will quickly locate training options by using two search strategies:
* Search specifically for the job skill on which you want to be trained. Adding words to your search such as "free", "no cost" and "tuition-free" will further highlight the courses offered without cost to trainees. Examples would be "free computer training" or "tuition-free medical training."
* Search for free job training in your geographic area. You can then drill down for more detailed information of specific courses offered through additional searches or by calling the organization offering the training.
When you are on the phone with a training source that doesn't offer what you need, don't be hesitant to ask for referrals to other training sources. They may not have any detailed information on the group they are referring you to, but it certainly will save you the time of trying to find the organization on your own.
Federal Sources:
The Women's Bureau of the United States Department of Labor has developed many programs to support the job needs of the 68 million working women in the United States as well as the many millions of women who are currently not working. These programs range from grants to services that are provided through organizations at the local level.You can find out what training is available by contacting a One-Stop Career Center in your area. You can find the nearest Center online or by calling 877-US-2JOBS.
The federal government also offers free job training for small businesses through the Small Business Association and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
Colleges:
Local colleges can be an excellent source of free job training. Institutions such as the Grace Institute in New York city offer a tuition-free training program which can range from a 14-week Microsoft Office computer course to a business skills program that takes full time attendance for over four months.
Some colleges offer free college courses online . These courses can usually be implemented at any time or on any day. This flexibility allows trainees to take their training when it is most convenient for them - and without leaving the house if they have a computer at home.
Community-Based:
Many community groups have excellent job training courses. Your public library and local school district offices are both great resources to learn about job skill courses being offered. The courses may be offered through high school continuation programs or through the local recreational department.Larger communities are often good sources for training courses that can lead to apprenticeships, employment for hard to place women and employment in non-traditional jobs for women in their communities. Organizations in the community often use grants from the United States Department of Labor to develop and provide job training.
For example, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) program is designed to assist older workers in job placement and training. The program provides grants from the U.S. Department of Labor to organizations such as AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and local adult service and education organizations. The organizations design and present their programs to local residents who are at least 55 years old and have a family income of no more than 25 percent over the federal poverty level. You can find information online about which organizations are providing a SCSEP program in your area.
Community service organizations such as the United Way are also good sources for free job training. They often sponsor training programs for women who are reentering the workforce as well as courses for women who want to improve their employment situation. They know what skills employers are looking for and tailor their courses to provide that information.
