Workshop Descriptions

NOTE:  Not all workshops described here are presented every month. 
Review the schedule to determine which workshops are being conducted this month.

ACE THE INTERVIEW — Presents methods and approaches to help you discover how to successfully present yourself during the interview process.

BUSINESS OWNERSHIP:  IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? — Is owning a business right for you?  Alternate paths to business ownership.

CAREER CENTER SEMINAR — An overview of career center services, resources and options available to you, including career guidance and information on how to access training.

COMPUTER PRACTICE LAB — Open self-paced computer lab to practice basic computer, MS Windows, and MS Office skills,

COPING WITH STRESS — Exploring ways of dealing with and managing various stressful situations.

COVER LETTERS — Reviews various approaches and formats that apply to a range of job search situations, and teaches effective letter writing.  Please bring a job ad from which to prepare a cover letter.

DEVELOPING YOUR SELF-MARKETING PITCH — You will examine a few of your success stories which illustrate your personal strengths, skills and attributes, then construct a self-marketing pitch to showcase your uniqueness.   You will then practice your pitch and receive constructive feedback.

ELECTRONIC RÉSUMÉ — Discussion of résumé formats, including key word summary, convert Word résumé to ASCII text, and attach to e-mail.  Prerequisite:  Please bring your résumé (in Microsoft Word format) on a flash drive. You must have basic Microsoft Word skills (basic keyboarding, cutting, pasting, and save as functions) to participate in this workshop.  Beginning in December Microsoft Word 2007 skills are strongly recommended.

FEDERAL JOB SEARCH — Workshop focused on presenting job seekers with an understanding of the current Federal Job market. How to find and apply for Federal Jobs. Plus a tutorial on navigating the USAJOBS.gov web site.

GETTING STARTED IN BUSINESS — Provides a basic overview on:  Your business concept, business planning, marketing, financial reports and resources available through the state.

HEALTH CARE & RETIREMENT PLANNING — Presentation covering retirement plan education and health plan education, including COBRA and HIPAA.

HOW TO WORK A JOB FAIR — Come explore strategies to make the most out of a job fair experience. Tips, tactics, and helpful hints will be sure to enhance your marketability.

IDENTITY THEFT — This workshop is designed to inform you on the importance of protecting your identity, with specific focus on understanding what identity theft is, how it occurs, minimizing the risks of being a victim, and what to do if you become a victim.

INTERNET JOB SEARCH — Workshop teaches about resources, techniques, strategies and practical use of the Internet for the purpose of job search and career development activities.  Prerequisite:  Computer and Internet literacy. 

INTRODUCTION TO PERSONAL COMPUTERS — Teaches the basics of using PCs, including how to use a mouse, opening and closing software applications, finding documents, etc.

INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS — The class teaches the basics of the Windows Vista operating system, including how computers organize data, basic Windows structure and function, using Windows Explorer, working with Windows programs, etc.
Prerequisites: basic experience using computers, good mouse skills (clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and selecting text), familiarity with the keyboard.

LINKEDIN, TWITTER, AND MORE — An introduction to social networking in general, with emphasis on the business networking site, LinkedIn. Learn how to create your profile and build your network to use this tool to help with your job search. We will touch on Twitter and other social networking sites.

LINKEDIN II (Advanced) — An advanced level workshop for people who are already on LinkedIn but want to learn how to use it more effectively.  Prerequisite:  Participants must have a LinkedIn account and a profile with at least career and educational data filled in.

MANAGING YOUR JOB SEARCH — Explores the variety of print and internet based sources of labor market information.  Also, explore how to efficiently maneuver through the three phases and 10 checkpoints of your job search.

MONEY MATTERS — This workshop will introduce customers to managing money, setting goals, selecting the best budgeting style and creating a budget that works. Learn the real cost of credit, common credit card practices, proper use of credit and understanding credit scores. 

MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTI) — Personality-based self-assessment tool that helps participants identify their job preferences and better understand how they apply to career decisions and job search strategies.  Prerequisite:  Participants must complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator by one week before the event.  This document is completed on-site at the Career Center, during normal center hours.  The approximate duration to complete the indicator is about one half hour.

MS ACCESS (INTRODUCTION) — Introduces participants to basic database concepts and how to work with tables, queries, forms and reports.  Prerequisite:  Basic computer literacy and good familiarity with MS Excel, and MS Word or MS PowerPoint.

MS EXCEL 2007 LEVEL I — An overview of spreadsheet program features including entering and editing data, formatting data, saving and printing workbooks, entering formulas and functions, inserting/deleting columns and rows.  Prerequisite:  Basic computer and MS Windows experience, good mouse skills (clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, selecting text), familiarity with the keyboard, scrollbars, opening and closing documents and applications, familiarity with Microsoft Word (any version).

MS EXCEL 2007 LEVEL II — This class will cover a variety of intermediate and advanced skills including specialized functions, building and customizing charts, sorting and filtering data, building pivot tables and pivot charts, and creating and using templates.  Prerequisite:  Must pass the MS Office Level II Placement Test in order to register for this class.

MS OUTLOOK (INTRODUCTION) — Overview of Outlook’s major features that allow users to exchange e-mail messages, keep track of meetings and appointments, store and update contact’s information, manage to-do lists, etc.  Prerequisite:  Basic computer literacy.

MS POWERPOINT 2007 LEVEL I — An overview of the fundamentals required for creating and modifying basic slide presentations. Participants will learn how to navigate through a basic presentation and also create, edit, format, view, print and review slide presentations. In addition, participants will also learn to insert tables, and create, edit, and modify charts.  Prerequisite:  Basic computer and Windows experience; good mouse skills (clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and selecting text), familiarity with the keyboard, and some knowledge of Microsoft Word (any version).

MS POWERPOINT 2007 LEVEL II — This class will cover a variety of intermediate and advanced PowerPoint skills including customizing design templates, adding specials effects to presentations, customizing slide show presentations, collaborating on presentations, etc.  Prerequisite:  Must pass the MS Office Level II Placement Test in order to register for this class.

MS WORD 2007 LEVEL I — An overview of basic word processing including entering, editing and formatting text, proofreading documents, setting them up for printing, saving them, etc.  Prerequisite:  Basic computer and Microsoft Windows experience, good mouse skills (clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking and selecting text), familiarity with the keyboard, scrollbars, opening and closing documents and applications.

NETWORKING WORKS! — Fundamentals of networking, including tips, techniques, etiquette & your personal networking style to make your networking more effective.  Participants will learn how to locate the jobs that are not advertised and the sources that produce hidden job opportunities.

OVERCOMING AGE BARRIERS:  THE SCSEP WAY! — Learn about paid, on-the-job training opportunities as a way back to work. Presented by a representative of the Senior Community Service Employment Program of Operation ABLE.  Prerequisite:  Must be age 55+, unemployed, a resident of Middlesex, Worcester, Essex, or Suffolk County, low income over the past six months, and determined to find a job.

PRESENTING A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE — Tips and suggestions on how to create a positive first impression whenever we meet people.  Acceptable business and office etiquette will be discussed.

RÉSUMÉ DEVELOPMENT — Shows how to develop a résumé that will best market your skills, accomplishments and positive attributes, including writing powerful objective, summary and achievement statements. 

SKILLS ASSESSMENT — Provides an opportunity for you to examine, identify, and prioritize your skills, abilities and employment-related values.

USING AGE TO ADVANTAGE — Provides awareness and techniques for using your age as an advantage rather than as an obstacle to seeking employment.

WHAT'S NEW IN OFFICE 2007 — Will familiarize current users of MS Office with the many changes incorporated in this version of the software. Items covered will include the Microsoft Office Button, the Ribbon Interface, Groups, Contextual tabs, and the Quick Access Toolbar.  Prerequisite:  Familiarity with older version or versions of any MS Office program.

Page last updated on July 30, 2010