plus 1, Technical education could be the key to finding your next job - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Technical education could be the key to finding your next job - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:46 AM PST

By By Laura Raines

For ajc jobs

If you've been facing an uphill battle in the job market, it may be time to update your skills or retrain for a different career. The right education could open doors to new opportunities. If you're willing to learn, but haven't got a clue about what to study or how to pay for it, you may need some resources to get started.

The Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Labor have teamed up to create the College That Works Web site (www.collegethatworks.com). Its purpose is to help people whose employment has been negatively affected by the economic downturn. The site offers tools to help job seekers find good-paying jobs in industries with better job security.

Georgia has 26 technical colleges that offer more than 600 educational programs that lead directly to employment. Technical colleges work closely with industry to make sure students have the skills needed for the work force when they graduate with a certificate of credit, a diploma or a two-year associate degree.

Job readiness has always been the mission of the state's technical college system, which offers career training, literacy programs, preparation classes and testing for the General Educational Development diploma (GED).

The College That Works site outlines industries that are hiring and what kind of training is needed to work in them. Eight of the state's 20 fastest-growing jobs are related to health care and five are related to computer technology. Other industries vital to Georgia's growth include aerospace, life sciences, logistics, transportation, energy and agribusiness.

You can explore career options and learn about enrollment and application procedures. The site also helps potential students find ways to help pay for education. Many Georgia students are retraining with help from Pell grants, HOPE scholarships, HOPE grants, Workforce Investment Act funds and other financial aid resources.

For more information, contact an advisor at a technical college or go to www.tcsg.edu.

The College of Continuing and Professional Education at Kennesaw State University also wants to help you "bridge the gap." That's the theme of the school's free Career Training Expo, which will be Jan. 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the KSU Center.

"This would be a great investment for anyone who wants to change careers or advance to the next level in their present career," said Tamara Grooms, director of finance and human resources at the school.

Instructors will offer short information sessions and will staff booths outlining more than 40 certificate programs that are offered at KSU's College of Continuing and Professional Education. The programs include certificates as a medical interpreter, certified nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, culinary apprenticeship, meeting and event planner, human resources professional, administrative professional and personal trainer.

"One room will be dedicated to information about financial aid, and there will be an online training session for those who want to know how our online classes work," Grooms said.

There will be free pizza and attendees will receive a gift certificate for 5 percent off tuition if they enroll in a class before Feb. 15.

"We know that a lot of people need to retool their skills in this job market. Having recent training or the latest skills on their resumes gives them a competitive edge," she said. "This is an easy way to learn about programs, ask instructors about their fields and gather information."

Registration is preferred, but not required. For information, call 770-423-6765 or go to http://ccpe.kennesaw.edu/trainingexpo.

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Futures gain ahead of jobs data, FedEx results - Yahoo Finance

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:27 AM PST

On Thursday December 16, 2010, 10:11 am

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 held slight losses on Thursday, even as data showed factory activity growth in the Mid-Atlantic region rose in December from the previous month.

The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI - News) was down 18.62 points, or 0.16 percent, at 11,438.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (^SPX - News) was down 0.27 points, or 0.02 percent, at 1,234.96. The Nasdaq Composite Index (^IXIC - News) was up 3.30 points, or 0.13 percent, at 2,620.52.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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