Starting in September, the Continuing Education Department at Kankakee Community College is offering a series of five free professional development lunch webinars.
Each session is a free live webinar. Registration is required. Those who register will receive an email with a link to the session within 24 hours of the webinar.
“5 Steps to a Winning Resume” offers steps to update a resume and win over employers. The live webinar will be Tuesday, Sept. 22 from noon - 1 p.m.
“AIDA Cover Letters” offers advice on writing cover letters with confidence using the AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire & Action) formula. The live webinar will be Tuesday, Sept. 29 from noon - 1 p.m.
“Micro-Internships for Students & Recent Grads” shares how paid micro-internships can be a career-building experience. It includes the process for finding micro-internships. The live webinar will be Tuesday, Oct. 6 from noon - 1 p.m.
“Leveraging LinkedIn” gives details on the popular site, including profile tips, and using Linkedin for networking and a job search. The live webinar will be Tuesday, Oct. 13 from noon - 1 p.m.
“Acing Your Video Interview” will explore different types of video interviews and includes expert tips for interviewing success. The live webinar will be Tuesday, Oct. 20 from noon - 1 p.m.
To register online, visit https://www.enrole.com/kcc/jsp/login.jsp, sign up or login, then select the course, click on the date and add it to your cart. Within the cart, checkout. To register by phone, or for more information, phone 815-802-8207 and leave a message. A staff person will return the call within one business day.
Short-term training and credentials are tools people have in the path to finding employment.
The Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act is funded so qualified job seekers receive up $10,000 toward training, plus $2,500 for books/supplies per program year.
WIOA can provide scholarship opportunities for those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mary Posing, Kankakee Community College assistant dean of continuing education and career services.
It is a time of career opportunity, with jobs and education available, especially in the area of manufacturing, Posing said.
“The manufacturing industry is in desperate need of trained workers,” said Mark Anderson, KCC’s director of manufacturing training. “Every week I receive emails and phone calls from local manufacturers looking to fill positions in welding,
machine tool, industrial maintenance, and logistics. Recently, I have been receiving emails and phone calls from manufacturers as far north as Cook County looking for trained welders and maintenance technicians. The number of manufacturing jobs available outnumber the qualified applicants. Now is a wonderful time to get trained to add to your resume or move up within your company.”
A 2018 study by one of the world’s largest accounting and professional services organizations, Deloitte, showed that 2.4 million manufacturing positions could be unfilled by 2028. There were 488,000 open jobs in manufacturing at the time of the study.
There also are people in Kankakee County who need jobs, said Posing, citing the May 2020 jobless rate of 13.5% for the county.
“Using WIOA funds for short-term training at KCC gives people a number of choices for local employment,” Posing said. “Funding is available to train people for in-demand occupations. It can be done. And it can be done without the student going into debt.”
Enrollment in WIOA as a dislocated worker does not affect unemployment benefits.
KCC offers a Manufacturing Technology program with four specializations that lead to credentials offered by organizations like Manufacturing Skills Standards Council.
“I’ve had students recently complete the two-year Manufacturing Technology AAS degree and move into management position within their company,” Anderson said. “I also have students who are right out of high school who have completed a short 14 credit hour Manufacturing Production Certificate which helped them receive high paying job offers with local manufacturers within weeks.”
“Manufacturers in the United States are experiencing some of the highest levels of growth we’ve seen in decades, yet the industry seems unable to keep up with the resulting rebound in job growth,” said Paul Wellener, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP. “With nearly 2 million vacant new jobs expected by 2028, compounded by 2.69 million vacancies from retiring workers, the number of open positions could be greater than ever and might pose not only a major challenge for manufacturers but may threaten the vitality of the industry and our economy.”
The WIOA program offers career training assistance up to $10,000 for tuition Eligibility is open to the groups, following WIOA definitions: dislocated workers, low-income adults and youth. Enrollment in WIOA as a dislocated worker does not affect unemployment benefits.
For more information, visit wioa.kcc.edu and click “Get Started,” email wiaoffice@kcc.edu or phone 815-802-8963.
You may be eligible for WIOA if you satisfy one or more of these requirements:
Enrollment in WIOA as a dislocated worker does not affect unemployment benefits.
KCC’s Manufacturing Technology Program offers four specializations and a number of courses which lead to MSSC credentials.
Manufacturing Technology specializations are “stackable,” meaning as students take more courses in the program, they also add more credentials. The progression is:
Manufacturing Production (or Logistics) certificate > Basic Certificate > Certificate I > Intermediate Certificate > Advanced Certificate > Associate Degree
The specializations are:
The Manufacturing Skills Standards Council is an industry-led, training, assessment and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s front-line production and material handling workers.
Complete: MAFT 1222 - Quality and Measurement
Qualify to earn: MSSC Quality Practices and Measurement Certificate
Complete: MAFT 1312 - Intro to Manufacturing Maintenance
Qualify to earn: MSSC Maintenance Awareness Certification
Complete: MAFT 1112 - Intro to Manufacturing and Safety
Qualify to earn: MSSC Safety Certification
Complete: MAFT 1232 - Manufacturing Processes
Qualify to earn: MSSC Manufacturing Processes and Production Certification
To become an MSSC Certified Production Technician, students can complete all four certifications following these courses: MAFT 1112, MAFT 1222, MAFT 1232 and MAFT 1312.
Complete: TWDL 1113 - Certified Logistics Associate and TWDL 1223 - Certified Logistics Technician
Qualify to earn: MSSC Certified Logistics Technician
Kankakee Community College has added a free interactive tool to its website that helps students and prospective students find careers that match their interests.
The software, called Career Coach, tailors career options for users based on questions about themselves. The personalized results include career titles, labor market data and academic programs that could lead to those jobs. The software can also be used to build resumes and connect to job openings locally and regionally.
Career Coach is free and is available for anyone to use.
KCC partnered with the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and the Kankakee Area Career Center to bring the tool to the community.
“A tool like this helps filter the career options and choose a path that fits,” said Matthew Kelley, director of the Kankakee Area Career Center. “That’s really beneficial, because choosing a career can be a roadblock for some students.”
“Career Coach uses a personalized approach,” said Lesley Cooper, director of Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment at KCC. “This instrument starts with questions about the user’s preferences and interests. Then, it helps them explore what careers are a good fit for those strengths and interests. So, it’s customized for each person.”
“With the global market undergoing such significant transformation, it’s essential that we clearly connect the dots for job seekers regarding their career options and relevant training,” said Tim Nugent, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County. “Demand skills are evolving rapidly. Career Coach is a powerful tool that takes a lot of the mystery out of the workforce readiness process, providing personalized information about career matches as well as local training and job opportunities."
To access Career Coach, go to www.kcc.edu and choose “Programs.”
Career Coach is a product of Emsi, a labor market data company that works with job seekers, employers and educators.
The Kankakee Community College Foundation Give Day fund drive will be on Aug. 27, 2020.
Alumni, faculty, staff, students, their families and friends can support a variety of student needs through this peer-to-peer fundraising event.
“Students are facing unprecedented issues because of COVID-19,” said Kelly Myers, executive director of The KCC Foundation. “Many students need technology like laptops or personal WiFi, other students need emergency assistance for things that financial aid won’t cover.
“The college leadership has also identified the need for an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center,” Myers continued. “We want to bring everyone together for an event that builds community while helping those who need it the most. Every gift will have a direct and immediate impact on KCC students.”
The three giving priorities of this fundraising event are: The Emergency Technology Fund; the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center Fund; and the Emergency Assistance Fund.
For Fall 2020, KCC is offering classes online, in-person and a combination of in-person and online. The Emergency Technology Fund will enable current KCC students with the technology needed for online/remote learning.
Currently in the planning stages, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center Fund will help establish a safe, inclusive and affirming space for the entire campus community. The center will create a climate of intentional interaction and collaboration that will foster critical thinking, expand awareness of sensitive topics and increase the overall cultural competency of students, and college employees, Myers said.
The Emergency Assistance Fund supports KCC students experiencing extreme financial hardship that threatens to halt their education.
To donate, visit kcc.edu/giveday. Checks also are accepted by mail to KCC Foundation, 100 College Drive, Kankakee, IL 60901. Make checks payable to the KCC Foundation.
For more information, contact Myers at 815-802-8260 or kmyers@kcc.edu. The KCC Foundation is a 501c3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.
