Get Ahead of the Class
The Santa Clarita Technology and Career Development Center (829-4051) enhances the employment of their students by providing innovative, competency-based vocational training and professional skills for those wishing to develop occupational skills leading to initial job entry, to upgrade skills leading to career advancement, or retraining.

Learning is reinforced with plenty of illustrations and practical, hands-on projects and exercises that allow students to apply what they've learned. The Santa Clarita Technology and Career Development Center is focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction, offering a complete array of essential classes. Here's a taste of what they offer.
Log onto www.sc-tech-center.com for a complete list.

Microsoft Windows 7: a complete introduction to Microsoft's newest operating system and all its exciting new features.

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook) Levels 1, 2 & 3: Learn the ins and outs of this powerful word-processing program that allows you to do much more than just type documents.

Microsoft Excel 2007 Levels 1, 2 & 3: Learn this powerful spreadsheet application.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 Levels 1, 2 & 3: Learn an intense graphics presentation application that is deceptively easy to use.

QuickBooks: Learn software designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses keep their books easily and accurately.

Computer Set-up, Maintenance and Troubleshooting Basics: Covers the fundamentals of maintenance and security issues for Win XP and Win Vista users.

Internet Basics: Online shopping, e-mail, searches, photo galleries and much, much more.

Social Networking: Learn how to manage profiles on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace and others.

Did you know...
You can earn your bachelor's degree, or even doctorate, at COC?
The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, one of the first of its kind in the country, is a place where four-year universities offer their bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, as well as advanced certificate programs, right here in the Santa Clarita Valley. By making upper-division and graduate-level educational programs available locally, the University Center removes barriers for students wishing to pursue their higher education goals. The concept is especially appealing to those who don't have the time to commute to traditional university campuses.

You can improve your marketability with affordable online classes?
COC's online instruction center featured departments including Business and Management, Computer Applications, Basic Computer Literacy, Graphic and Multimedia Design, Web and Computer Programming and Manufacturing Fundamentals. Led by expert instructors and boasting interactive discussion areas, new sessions begin monthly. Most classes are made up of six-week, 12-lesson sessions to accommodate 24-7 learning (find out more at www.canyonsecondev.org).

College of the Canyons has cutting-edge job training programs?
COC's Paralegal Program recently earned ABA approval, and the school's celebrated Nursing Program just received two major grant awards. Providing superior training for in-demand careers is one of many reasons the college has been named to the President's Honor Roll.

That now's the time to make a difference in your career and future?
Fall registration begins on July 19, with classes starting August 23. Log onto www.canyons.edu for details.

College of the Canyons isn't just for SCV students continuing directly on from high school. Take the stats from the class of 2010 into consideration:

The oldest graduate is 61; the youngest is 17

There are 572 ethnic-minority students, including 25 international students hailing from nine countries

14 military veterans were included in the 2010 graduating class

Keep Your Career Out of the Kiddie Pool
by Susan Reynolds
These are the economic conditions under which the best companies and the best people can put a deal together. Be the talent well-run organizations turn to for the next upswing. Identify your capabilities and itemize your strengths. Learn to bring your abilities to a new marketplace. Leave a loser job behind. Research the organizations that are innovating. New products will emerge that are going to provide the best business solutions for the future. Determine who has the next great idea for the next big thing, and catch a ride!

You need a new look. You'll need to repair your shortcomings. You'll need to tune up your ability to sell yourself. You'll need to brush off the dust in your negotiating skills. You'll have to clear out the weeds in your old resume. You'll need to clean the clocks of your competition. But if you've gotten bored, tired, stale, underappreciated and stone-cold sick of your old career, this changing marketplace may be the best favor an economy could ever do for you!
Susan Reynolds is a senior partner at Newmarket Careers in Santa Clarita, a job search and career strategy firm; 702-1345 www.newmarketcareers.com