NOTE: This article has been updated with additional information
A collaboration between North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Inc. (NECIC), Temp2Higher, North Central State College, and the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library will bring a free Customer Service Certification program to the NECIC/Temp2Higher training facility. The class will begin December 3.
The intensive, week-long training will be taught by instructors from North Central State College, and will cover all aspects of customer service, from communication to defusing critical situations and handling conflict.
“It’s a very intense training program,” said NECIC Business Development Coordinator Amanda Cooper, “but participants will graduate fully prepared to enter the customer service field.”
The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library will assist students with resume construction.
“Each student will need at least a basic resume to graduate from the class,” said Cooper. “Resumes are needed for many employment applications, and so many people do not have one. This plays a very important role in giving graduates the tools they need to be successful.”
Although anyone may apply to attend the training, not all will be approved, and assessment is required. “We are working with Right Time Triage to design an assessment to seek out individuals that have qualities that would make them good candidates for work in this field,” said Cooper. “Obviously, it’s not a field for everyone. If you are someone that doesn’t enjoy working with the public, customer service isn’t for you.”
“There is a cost involved, on our end, in supporting the class, so, in testing, we are searching for people that truly have a heart for customer service,” she continued.
There is no cost, however, to participants. In fact, those who complete the program will be awarded a monetary stipend at the end.
Cooper also added, “We are reaching out to local businesses to encourage them to recruit from the pool of graduates for their customer service positions.”
The program will run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, for one week, Monday through Friday, at the NECIC/Temp2Higher facility located at 134 N. Main St., Mansfield. Participants are expected to attend all 5 days in order to graduate the program.
Those interested should contact NECIC/Temp2Higher at 419-522-1611 or fill out the interest form which can be found here. Application deadline is November 21.
