Whether they’re adept at handling computer systems or looking to acquire that proficiency, students who sign up for Joan Shumaker’s classes are intent on polishing the IT skills that will make employers and bosses smile.
“When it comes to computers, most people are more under-trained than illiterate,” said Shumaker, who has worked in computer software support and training since 1981. “They have some skills, but they’re trying to update them to move up or to a new position.”
Shumaker teaches several computer courses in the continuing education division of Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta. The sessions, which are as short as one day or as long as a few weeks, include instruction in Microsoft Excel, Project and QuickBooks, as well as the basic Microsoft 2010.
“Most people know so much more than they realize, but they may have gaps in their knowledge,” Shumaker said. “And, unfortunately, some people have learned by rote, but that only works when things go perfectly, which is a rarity in the computer world. We’re trying to help them fill in those gaps and build their confidence.”
With so many companies operating with smaller staffs, employees and job seekers need to be more efficient than ever, Shumaker pointed out. And having the computer expertise to handle a multitude of tasks makes an applicant valuable.
“Learning how to use software efficiently is what we focus on, and something that’s very important today as business moves so fast,” Shumaker said. “For instance, in Excel, you can manually create totals and subtotals, but knowing the right commands, you can instruct Excel to create those by columns for you. That sort of knowledge alone can save hours and hours of time.”
Shumaker works directly with businesses through her Dunwoody-based company, Computer Training Resources, Inc. About 80 percent of her clients want QuickBooks training.
As with many of the Microsoft classes, students can earn a certificate that shows they’ve mastered a specific program. Much of the work can be completed in one to three days, but to prepare for the certification exam, many students opt for a series of sessions over five weeks.
“At the end, they’ve sat through all the training and worked on the product on their own as well,” Shumaker said. “And they have continuing education credits they can apply to any on-going training requirements they may have.”
Courses range from $200 for a one-day class to $1,075 for a series. In addition, Microsoft certification exams range from $80 to $150. The cost, said Shumaker, can translate into higher earning potential.
“These are nationally recognized exams, so when someone passes them, an employer realizes they already know the material,” she said. “Anyone can say, ‘Sure, I used Excel in my job for the last five years,’ but what skills does that include? Someone who has taken this exam can show they’ve mastered these skills, and that skill has been measured to show that they’ve had success using them.”
For information about the program, call 678-915-7240 or go to http://oce.spsu.edu.
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