PRE-EMPLOYMENT READINESS TRAINING
Established in 1988, RDRC’s Employment Readiness Training & Placement Services is the oldest professionally staffed employment training and placement services organization serving the Rockaways. RDRC’s workforce development client includes low-moderate income earning participants who identify additional training opportunities needed to secure employment and establish career pathways; adult professionals that have been displaced due to outdated skills or “downsizing”; and retired seniors interested in returning the workforce.
Our Adult Job Readiness Course is a high impact-training course that has been developed to meet the needs of both potential employers and employees referred by RDRC. This includes persons with limited to no employment histories and/or skills, criminal backgrounds, clients are given necessary training that corrects self-defeating attitudes, develops communication skills and confidence and builds an understanding of the work environment. The goal is to help people make adjustments and get to work as quickly as possible. Each session begins with a group orientation in order to provide prospective students/participants with RDRC’s code of conduct, dress code, punctuality, session materials and course requirements for graduation. Students are also given the opportunity to express their expectations of RDRC as well. This dialogue enables participants and staff to establish a point of reference in a positive and productive setting. Participants are then evaluated by our case management team according to educational achievement, employment history, economic status and life skills, including the use of technology in everyday activities-banking, learning, shopping, work, etc.
What distinguishes RDRC’s employment services is that we encourage graduates to re-visit and re-use our services to upgrade computer skills, research companies, write cover letters, update resumes and participate in self-instructed tutorial/learning programs through the use of the Spectrum Computer Learning Lab.
EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE SERVICES
RDRC provides direct placement services for its Summer Youth Employment, Work Learn and Grow and students enrolled in its adult training courses and programs. Collectively, RDRC generates over 400 worksite placements with corporations, local businesses and community organizations, and governmental agencies resulting in the placement over 1,500 youth, young adults and adult each year.
RDRC through its network of employment partnerships is able to refer local residents not enrolled in RDRC programs for training and employment opportunities offered by the NYC Small Business Services Workforce One Centers and Council for Airport Opportunities (CAO).
COMPUTER BASED TRAINING – THE SPECTRUM LEARNING LAB
Established in response to the lack of access to high speed Internet access in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Spectrum Communications (formerly Time Warner Cable) provided a grant to RDRC to establish The Spectrum Learning Lab. Opened in late 2013, The Lab is a fully integrated, Internet accessible network of sixteen desktop systems that are available to residents to learn Basic Computer, Microsoft Office and Introduction to Social Media. The Lab also provides independent study and research time for students to brush up on their resume and cover letter writing skills, apply for jobs on-line and access a host of web-based skills development courses. Through the generous support of NYC Councilman Donovan Richards, RDRC has been able to successfully train and graduate over 300 adult learners.
COMPUTER SKILLS TRAINING COURSES
The following computer courses are available to local residents in the Fall and Spring semesters:
Computer Basics Course 101 – Designed for seniors and/or adult learners returning to the workforce that have little to no computer experience. Provides beginners with the basics of computer hardware, software applications and Internet usage. Students receive a minimum of 50 hours of classroom instruction, homework assignments and tests to determine proficiency.
Microsoft Word Course 102 – Is an essential tool for any individual in today’s digital age. We offer professional training that can teach a student about the proper way to use all the features of a program, which is information that is covered on certification tests.
Microsoft PowerPoint Course 103 – Designed for working adults that need to improve their computer skills in order to maintain employment or advance their career. The course teaches students to successfully create and design visual projects and presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint. The course will help students develop professional like presentations for school or work purposes.
Microsoft Excel Course 104 – Designed for adult learners and working adults that have a basic knowledge of computers and Microsoft Word that want to learn how to successfully create and design spreadsheets, charts, lists, tables and budgets using formulas.
MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST (MOS) SPECIALIST
For adult learners interested in becoming certified Microsoft Office Specialist in MS Word, RDRC offers the opportunity for graduates of Basic Computers 101 and Microsoft Office Word 102 to take the MOS Specialist Exam. MOS certification exams are only administered through testing centers authorized by Microsoft. Test takers are able to immediately view their results after completing the exam. Those who pass the exam are recognized as officially certified and will receive an MOS certification certificate through the mail. RDRC offers students the opportunity to become Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) in MS Word 2013.
In 2017 Microsoft approved RDRC as an official Microsoft Office testing center and four (4) graduates of our Microsoft Office Word Course 102 completed and passed the exam requirements to become MOS Word 2013 Specialist.
The Computer Basics 101, Microsoft Office Word 102, Microsoft Power Point 103 and Microsoft Excel104 are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. For more information on how to register for a Spectrum Learning Lab course, or the MOS certification please contact Junor Barnett, Associate Director for Technology & Information Systems Training at jbarnett@rdrc.org.
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS TRAINING LAB
Opened in 2017, the RDRC Skills Training Lab to train local residents to build, repair and maintain networked communication systems such as the Downtown Far Rockaway Public Wi-Fi Network. The RDRC Skills Training Lab is an approved Cisco Networking Academy training site that will help individuals prepare for industry-recognized certifications and entry-level information and communication technology (ICT) careers in virtually every type of industry. Students develop foundational skills in IT Essentials while acquiring vital 21st century career skills in problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. Students gain access to standards-based courses that support core academics and align to in-demand job skills and globally recognized certifications.