Southern Maine Community College is expanding its workforce training courses to teach students in-demand skills in customer service, hospitality and Amazon Web Services.
The courses were developed in collaboration with industry partners to address the changing needs of businesses and organizations and help people find jobs during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The courses are offered free of charge to qualified applicants, and one of them pays students while they are in training.
“SMCC works with businesses across Maine to determine their needs, and then develops training programs to provide Mainers in-demand skills that lead to good jobs,” said Jim Whitten, SMCC’s Dean of Workforce Development. “We are helping boost the Maine economy by providing employers with the skilled workers they need to remain competitive.”
The new classes that are being offered are:
- Customer Service Consultant Online Training Course. Offered in partnership with Wayfair, this two-week course trains people in topics such as Google Suite technical skills, time management, IT hardware troubleshooting, and interviewing. Wayfair will conduct job interviews for immediate employment upon successful completion of the course. The next class runs Monday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. from October 12-23.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Computer Training. This online course is designed for people to learn new software development skills to enhance their current career or launch a new one. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be AWS Certified Cloud Practitioners. Classes run Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. from October 14-December 16. The training is supported by a grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation.
- Introduction to Hospitality Apprenticeship. This apprenticeship is offered in partnership with Hospitality Maine, with students taking classroom work online while working in person at lodging establishments and restaurants across Maine. Besides being paid during the apprenticeship, students can also earn up to 21 college credits while learning skills that are vital to the hospitality industry. Courses begin in October, and funding comes from the Maine Quality Centers, which is part of the Maine Community College System.
SMCC’s Workforce Development Department has developed and offered numerous training programs in fields ranging from welding, information technology and culinary to construction and medical assisting.
For more information about SMCC’s latest workforce training courses, please email workforceregistration@smccME.