Goodwill to offer free classes for job seekers this spring

Job seekers in the Asheville area will have several opportunities this spring to brush up on critical employment skills and learn about emerging job fields – and all for free.

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina partners with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and the Literacy Council to offer free classes on computer skills, medical office support training and personal care aide skills. Classes take place at Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center, located at 1616 Patton Avenue in Asheville.

Computer Basics Class

Feb. 9-April 1 (Mondays & Wednesdays), 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Feb. 10-April 2 (Tuesdays & Thursdays), 8:30-11:30 a.m.

March 23-April 29 (Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays), 8:30-11:30 a.m.

April 7-May 28 (Tuesdays & Thursdays), 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Entry-level course provides a stress-free introduction to the technology and computer skills that you need in today’s job market. You will learn how to do online job searches, complete online job applications, create resumes, create cover letters, create email accounts, and learn basic word-processing.

Computer Empowerment Class

Feb. 23-March 18 (Mondays & Wednesdays), 8:30-11:30 a.m.

March 3-26 (Tuesdays & Thursdays), 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Continue to build on your basic computer skills through the creation of more career-related documents and forms.

Personal Care Aide Class

March 17-April 23 (Tuesdays & Thursdays), 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

PCAs make up one of the largest and fastest-growing workforce fields in the country. This learner-centered class will include speakers from the healthcare field, case scenarios, small group work and other forms of interactive learning.

Medical Office Pathways Class

April 7-28 (Tuesdays & Thursdays), 1-4 p.m.

Class topics focus on skills specific to a medical office environment such as medical terminology, types of insurance, and confidentiality issues.

In addition to these free classes, Goodwill and its education partners offer skills training courses in electronic health records, nurse aide I, hospitality, phlebotomy, Spanish for the workplace, professional truck driver training (with TransTech, Inc.), adult basic education (formerly GED) and more. Financial assistance is available for qualified individuals. For more information and a schedule of spring classes, call Goodwill at 828-298-9023 x1106.