As Connecticut continues to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state has launched a new resource, the CT Back to Work Initiative, that provides workers and businesses in Connecticut with impactful, high-quality career tools to help those of us currently looking to expand your skill set and help you get back to work. If you have recently graduated from UConn or are a UConn alum and want help finding a job in Connecticut, then this initiative can be a critical tool to help you develop your skills remotely as you continue to explore opportunities for employment. The state of Connecticut has partnered with remote job training services, Metrix Learning and 180 Skills, to offer a wide range of online learning classes to those residing in Connecticut, for free. The benefits of these classes include industry-recognized certificates, apprenticeship instructional hours, and skills to help you build your résumé. This remote job training will assist you in advancing your career so that you come out stronger and better equipped to handle the needs of the rapidly changing economy.
Metrix Learning is an online learning management system designed to help unemployed, under-employed, and dislocated workers who require new skills, enhanced skills, and certification training programs to prepare them for new employment opportunities. Metrix Learning provides access to more than 5,000 online Skillsoft courses aligned to the needs of Connecticut employers. These courses can be tailored to your interests and skill-level through a range of self-assessment tools to ensure that you are prepared for future success, while also allowing you to progress through these courses and develop your skills at your own pace. Some examples of course categories in which you may be interested in taking courses include accounting, clerical services, healthcare, industrial skills, legal skills, and software development.
Aside from courses, Metrix Learning also offers training for over 100 in-demand certifications. Their program allows users to get certified in 30-90 days, with some of the most popular certifications currently available including Professional in Project Management (PMP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Microsoft Office Specialist, among many others.
180 Skills is a virtual learning tool that provides hundreds of industry-aligned courses that have been vetted by the Manufacturing Industry and its associations across Connecticut. For those looking to enter the CT manufacturing industry or to improve their professional skills, this tool could be the right fit for you. 180 Skills allows you to learn technical skills aligned with industry-defined standards for the mastery required to perform technical manufacturing job functions. The 180 Skills course library gives you access to over 550 technical skills courses that teach 25 technical competencies. Some examples of technical skills course topics that you will have access to include Basic Blueprint Reading, Basic Metrology, Introduction to Microsoft, OSHA Safety Training, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, and Automation.
Aside from technical skills, 180 Skills also hosts a variety of employability skills courses. Employability skills competencies cover a broad range of important, non-technical topics that are listed by employers as essential to job performance. The 180 Skills course library contains more than 150 skills courses that teach employability skills competencies. Some examples of employability skills course topics that you will have access to include time management, team building, career-building, stress management, and communication.
Furthermore, 180 Skills also allows you to obtain employability micro-credentials. Employability micro-credentials are groups of skills courses designed to help improve the learner’s personal and professional skills. These micro-credentials have been grouped to align with key topics listed by employers as essential to job performance. Micro-credentials have performance-based assessments that allow learners to showcase their skills and can be connected to create programs of study to suit individual learning needs.
As you continue to explore these resources, keep in mind the types of skills that employers in your industry or field of interest are looking for. With a wide range of learning opportunities, you may want some extra help deciding where to start. If you want some guidance on which learning programs you could use to maximize your time and potential, schedule an appointment with a Career Coach at the UConn Center for Career Development.
