Improve Your Skills

Workshops, job training, online classes, the possibilities are limitless for you to improve your skills through the Missouri Job Centers at Joplin and Monett. Better skills can mean more options for the job that’s right for you.

Workshops

Held at the Joplin and Monett Job Centers, workshops are typically a half-day or less held in one day or a series of days. Workshops are free of charge to all registered Center customers. Topics range from career advice, computer applications, and other life subjects that help you meet your goals. Check out the workshop calendar on the Job Center page.  

Career Ready 101 and KeyTrain

The American Job Centers at Monett and Joplin both offer Career Ready 101 through Keytrain to all registered customers. This powerful online learning tool is available online 24/7 to fit your schedule and location. This sharpens your skills to help land the ideal job as well as National Career Readiness Certificate. Modules include topics such as job search, career exploration, resume writing, financial awareness, customer service, communications, problem solving, teamwork, and workplace discipline,  CR101 also offers a wide array of topics helpful to the NCRC and specific needed by local employers such as applied math, locating information, reading for information, applied technology, writing, observation, and listening. Visit with a workforce specialist at the American Job Centers in Monett or Joplin to get signed up.

G.E.D. Classes/Adult Basic Education & Literacy (AEL)

Most jobs require at least a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate, which is now the HiSET in Missouri. If you want to beat joblessness, but your education was cut short in your youth, the HiSET is the place to start. AEL classes are offered in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Missouri. The Joplin and Monett Job Centers have AEL classes on site for your convenience.

• Locations throughout Southwest Missouri (PDF)
• Joplin Job Center:  Joplin School District (email)
• Monett Job Center:  Crowder College (email)
• Joplin/Webb City Areas:  Joplin School District (email)
• Carthage Area:  Carthage School District (email)
• Barry, Lawrence, McDonald, and Newton Counties:  Crowder College, 417-455-5521
• Greenfield:  Community Health Center, 417-637-2345

If those locations are not easily accessible, or you prefer an online option, you’re in luck! MOLearns is a perfect solution for students who would like to reach their goal of earning a high school equivalency but can’t regularly make it to traditional classes. Although all official testing must be done in an onsite classroom, you can do the rest of your studying on your computer according to your own schedule – day or night!

Classroom Training for Jobs

Filling the gaps to get qualified for specific jobs can come through a variety of training programs linked through the Job Center. Workforce Specialists can meet with you to help map out your training and find creative ways to pay for training or remove other barriers to your success.

• Educational Opportunity Center:  Wanting to train for a better job, but can’t afford the tuition? The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) from Crowder College helps on site at the Joplin Job Center to navigate the array of options on training programs, how to get connected, and the best resources available to help cover the cost.
• ETPS:  If you’re looking to change jobs, enhance your promotion opportunities, or start a new career, finding the right training provider can be confusing. The ETPS hotlink allows you to search for locally-approved training providers and provides additional career exploration tools.
• Learning On-the-Job: OJT, internships, apprenticeships, and other “learn while you earn” options can help meet both goals at the same time of improving skills and getting to work.

Online Training

The Job Center can help you sort the myriad of online training options and recommend the legitimate sources that can actually help meet your goals. Online offerings range from basic computer skills, basic literacy, financial wellness, and others.  More >

Young Adults

FutureLink assists eligible young adults, ages 16 through 24, who meet income guidelines, to obtain employment through work experience and help them to improve their academic skills to successfully move from school to work. On a national scale, Job Corps is an intensive residential-based program providing all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life.

Financial Assistance

Jumping over the money hurdles to pay for your skill training can be discouraging. There are options you may not already have considered. The SectorReady Resource Navigator features dozens of community agencies that stand ready to assist. Check with a Workforce Specialist at the Job Center to help overcome financial barriers to your success. Several services are targeted to specific populations, such as youth, those on layoff from a job, veterans, older workers, welfare recipients, ex-offenders, and many others.

Prosperity doesn’t stop at learning online. Be sure to visit our Get a Better Job page to learn how to enter the next phase of your journey toward career success.