Improve your odds at finding a job

Three Ocean County Library branches will present ten classes in January to assist people looking for a job. The classes follow an original offering of courses that were sponsored through the New Jersey State Library’s Broadband Technology Opportunity Project, or BTOP. It is funded by a $5.1 million federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant and a $1.65 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The classes will be offered at the Jackson, Lakewood and Toms River branches and will help participants learn to prepare resumes and cover letters, locate job information on the Internet, and use email and attachments during job searches. They will also teach people basic word processing skills using Microsoft Word. The instructors can also help people whose computer skills range from only being able to manipulate a mouse to performing advanced tasks.

The schedule for the January classes includes:

Wed., 1/18; 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Toms River branch, Basic Windows and Internet Explorer for Job Seekers

Thurs., 1/19; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Jackson branch, Basic Windows and Internet Explorer for Job Seekers

Fri., 1/20; 1 – 5 p.m. in the Jackson branch, Basic Email and Word for Job Seekers

Sat., 1/21; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Toms River branch, Basic Email and Word for Job Seekers

Mon., 1/23; 6 – 8 p.m. in the Lakewood branch, Using the Internet for Job Seekers

Tues., 1/24; 6 – 8 p.m. in the Lakewood branch, Using E-Mail for Job Seekers

Wed., 1/25; 1 – 5 p.m. in the Jackson branch, Using the Internet for Job Seekers

Thurs., 1/26; 1 – 5 p.m. in the Toms River branch, Basic Email and Word for Job Seekers

Fri., 1/27; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Lakewood branch, Basic Word & Email (in Spanish) for Job Seekers

Sat., 1/28; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Toms River branch, Using the Internet for Job Seekers

Additional information for job seekers can be found at njworks.org.

The programs are free and open to the public. For more information or to register for this program, go to the library’s website www.theoceancountylibrary.org or telephone the operator at 732-349-6200 or 609-971-0514.