Digital Works at The Stream, a technology-based customer service training program, is taking applications for its class scheduled to begin on Monday, January 8, 2018. Since 2013, more than 800 jobs have been secured by graduates of Digital Works, a program of Connected Nation headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
Locally, 25 people have completed the training program since April and nearly half of them have received job offers, either in telework or at traditional “bricks and mortar” jobs, according to Colleen Buckley, class facilitator. “Most of our graduates who want to work are finding jobs,” she said. “We do have people that have decided not to pursue employment because they have returned to school, are caring for a sick family member or just simply changed their minds about working,” she added.
From left, Robert Trussell, Kelsey Hallowell, Heather Collin and Maranda Lee are some of the most recent Digital Works graduates in Newaygo County. The four-week training program meets daily from 8:30 – 12:30 at The Stream in Newaygo.
Employment offers have come from global companies like Amazon, TeleTech, Concentrix and others, said Buckley, but training graduates have also received job offers at local businesses throughout Newaygo County. “The customer service training that we provide is really transferable to just about anything from employment situations to personal relationships,” Buckley explained.
The program consists of 80 hours of classroom training over the course of four weeks. Students are coached in several areas that traditional training programs often overlook, like internet-based research, enunciation and diction, resume writing and job interviewing skills. During a mentoring period, staff from Digital Works will assist program graduates apply for jobs that best fit their areas of interest and specific strengths. According to Buckley, these telework opportunities are ideal for stay-at-home parents, students, the disabled and other job seekers that desire to work off-site.
In addition to Michigan, Digital Works operates training centers in Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas, Mississippi and New Mexico. To learn more about Digital Works or to apply for the program, visit www.digitalworksjobs.org. To contact Digital Works at The Stream call (231) 452-6401.
Any qualified Newaygo County resident may participate free of charge thanks to a grant from Fremont Area Community Foundation.
TO APPLY FOR THE DIGITAL WORKS PROGRAM
∙ Applicants must apply on-line at www.digitalworksjobs.org.
* Click the red “Apply Today!” box
* Complete the brief application form
* Watch the Orientation Video to learn more details about the program
* Email digitalworks@newaygostream.com with the link provided, and be sure to use the ‘3 Key Words’ from the Orientation Video.