SKILLS Program is designed to prepare young adults age 18-21 for a career in customer service, sales, culinary arts, hospitality management, and food service or food service management.  Completing the program means you will have the opportunity to:

• Obtain an occupational skills certification in Customer Service or ServSafe
• Improve your academic skills and earn a GED (if applicable)
• Get work readiness certification
• Be placed in a paid internship
• Be placed in employment and/or post-secondary education, and
• Receive support services to help you keep your employment.

The SKILLS Program Includes:

For all participants:

• Placement in internship.
• Placement in employment or post-secondary schooling.
• Support with registering for and taking the Official GED test (IF APPLICABLE)
• 12 months of follow-up support for program completion.
• Mentoring and Coaching (As needed to ensure you have the support, encouragement, knowledge and resources needed to achieve and keep employment)
• Referrals to community resources (As needed to achieve your goals)
• Incentives for achieving goals and continuing on your path to getting and keeping employment

Customer Service and Sales Certification (nationally-recognized certification):

• 30 hours per week of work readiness and customer service instruction for 7 -8 weeks.
• Opportunity to learn about careers in this field, including tours of retail establishments and other customer service focused businesses.
• Instruction to improve academic skills and the opportunity to take the GED Practice Test.

ServSafe Certification (nationally-recognized certification):

• 20 hours per week of work readiness and food service instruction for 5-6 weeks.
• Opportunity to learn about careers in this field, including tours of restaurants and post-secondary programs for food service management, culinary arts, or hospitality management.
• Instruction to improve academic skills and the opportunity to take the GED Practice Test.

To be considered for the SKILLS Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• 18 – 21 years old
• Be out-of-school (not currently enrolled in classes or on a scheduled break from school)
• Pre-TABE Assessment: Score at or above certification required entrance scores
• Completion of a program interview process
• Meet WIA Eligibility Requirements

Application process:

1. Complete and submit application to the SKILLS Program mailbox at Godman Guild, 303 E. 6^th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201
2. Complete pre-assessment test and pre-screen
3. Complete all eligibility paperwork and submit all required verification documents
4. Finalize program eligibility with Skills staff and program funder
5. Complete TABE test (1.5 hours) and review test scores one-on-one

Note: SKILLS Program applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and classes will close as soon as they are full. Applications for classes will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. To be considered for the next session of classes, please turn in your application as soon as you can.