OCC Short -Term Training Helps Students Find Careers and Companies Find Qualified Job Candidates

OCC strives to provide short-term training* with learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Ultimately, programs are geared for 14-weeks or less and the goal is to quickly gain employment upon successful completion.

Daija Davis is a former student who reaped the benefit of both a short-term training program and the supportive services OCC provided to help with her job search and interview prep, which can be pretty intimidating.

Davis had worked in a variety of customer service, security, warehouse, and labor jobs. Trying to find where she fit in, she came across the Computer Support Technician (CST) program on the OCC website and signed up for the virtual information session.

According to the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN), Computer User Support Specialists are in high demand for Oakland County. In 2023 alone, there were 1,698 job postings for these occupations. Additionally, these jobs tend to offer above-average pay, with a median wage of $28.30 per hour.

“I’ve always had a passion for technology and helping people and my current job is seasonal, so I started looking into programs and training options that would help me start a solid career in IT. After learning more about the OCC program, I realized the dates aligned perfectly with my layoff season, it was free, and I finally had the support in my life to be able to commit to schooling/training full-time,” Davis said. “I felt like it was finally my time to shine, and I saw there was an opportunity to make something more of myself. Not only that, but I wanted to be able to show people like me that it’s never too late to start your future.”

Not only did the timing of the CST training fit perfectly into her life, it also made the transition to a good-paying job much easier, and Davis’ recently landed a contract position as a robotics technician at a local company providing a great start on an IT career.

“If you don’t have a lot of prior professional experience in the field… they (OCC) definitely make the transition feel a lot more natural and give you the confidence to show your skills and put yourself out there,” commented Davis.

Training programs offer a handful of industry-focused classes. Additionally, a general Workplace Skills class is incorporated with all programs. The class is intended to help connect the student with resources and learning opportunities toward employment. Recently, the OCC team expanded the workplace skills coursework in the training programs. The goal was to provide students with individualized help and better prepare students for interview day. A Career Services employee conducts mock interviews, explains the importance of appropriate attire, and provides resume writing tips.

In addition to the Workplace Skills class, students have opportunities to learn from experts working in the field, participate in job shadowing, tour companies onsite, and much more. These featured activities are partnerships with companies in the Metro Detroit area.

Huntington Technology is one of the many companies partnering with the CST program. The company has been a leading managed service provider in the metro Detroit area for over 20 years. During the initial development of the training program, Huntington Technology had originally participated in an employer focus group. Two years after the inception of the training program, the company has continued to be a strong supporter, regularly participating in interview day and hosting a job shadowing opportunity onsite.

During interview day, a handful of employers are brought in to conduct in-person interviews. It is replicated similarly to speed-dating, where students are paired with an employer and have 10-15 minutes with each representative. The interviewers ask students questions to see if they’d be a fit for a job opening. Company representatives are provided with a copy of each student’s resume and an interview schedule.

Huntington Technology’s Vice President William Bluford partners with OCC because they feel it is important to grow and foster knowledge to sustain and strengthen their business.

“I enjoy the interview day because it gives the students the opportunity to see what real-world employers are looking for and the types of questions that we ask,” Bluford said.  He added that the interviews are quick, around 15 minutes, but a lot can be covered in that time. “The interviews cover the gambit from technical questions to soft skills and beyond.”

Companies can benefit from a partnership in a number of ways. They have an opportunity to have face-to-face contact with potential interviewees/job candidates. This helps with quickly and efficiently widening the company’s candidate pool. Huntington Technology has seen firsthand the value of the partnership.

“I have had follow up official interviews with several students from the cohort and have hired from the program,” Bluford said.

Program coordinators also highlight company partnerships during the virtual information sessions and recognition is occasionally featured on the Economic & Workforce Facebook Group. Partnerships ultimately make a positive impact on the new workforce entering the field.

In addition to Huntington Technology, featured companies include American Axle, Ascension Providence Hospital, Corewell Health, FANUC Robotics, GLOBAL Automation Technologies, Henry Ford Health, Human-I-T, and more. The list of employer partnerships with OCC continues to grow. Companies interested in partnering for a short-term training program can complete a short interest form online.

Individuals interested in starting a training program and a new career, can contact Economic & Workforce Development team at wfdev@oaklandcc.edu.

“The U.S. Department of Labor One Workforce Industry Infinity Grant covers tuition costs for individuals and has additionally funded substantial investments in new and updated curricula to meet the needs of employers throughout southeast Michigan,” said Kristi Ayers, Workforce Program Manager at the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN). “These investments in training have yielded significant benefits across the WIN region. At Oakland Community College, a robust curriculum developed with direct input from employers ensures that students receive an education tailored to the demands of cutting-edge technology in the IT industry.”

If you live outside of Oakland County but want to start a new training program or career, visit your Michigan Works! Agency to get started today or learn more about eligible funding opportunities by clicking here.