Workforce Development
Empowering Local Workforce
Kishwaukee College helps keep businesses and industries competitive through employee training and professional development, providing access to tomorrow’s workforce.
For a limited time, Kishwaukee College will offer the following free professional development opportunities to local businesses and organizations. The courses are funded by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Non-Credit Workforce Training Grant.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
This comprehensive training focuses on mastering the art of navigating high-stakes conversations where emotions run strong, opinions differ, and outcomes matter. The training is for professionals seeking to enhance communication skills and provides practical tools to transform difficult discussions into productive dialogues.
Register for Elevating Dialogue Skills Registration Form
- What Are Crucial Conversations?
Understand the unique challenges of high-stakes conversations and the deliberate skills needed to navigate them successfully. - Frameworks for Mastering Dialogue:
- Create Safety for Dialogue: Learn to foster mutual respect and shared purpose, minimizing defensiveness and misunderstandings.
- Focus on the Heart of the Issue: Prioritize the core purpose of conversations over emotional distractions, ensuring clarity and effectiveness.
- Separate Facts from Stories: Distinguish between factual events and subjective interpretations, challenging assumptions to achieve mutual understanding.
- Practice Active Listening: Build trust and empathy through mirroring, paraphrasing, and priming to encourage open dialogue.
Outcome:
Participants will leave this training equipped to handle even the most challenging
conversations confidently, fostering stronger relationships and driving better results
in their personal and professional lives.
Training Dates:
Wednesday, Dec. 17th 1-4pm
Kishwaukee College Partners
The City of Rochelle wanted to prepare its employees to step into leadership roles following future retirements. They contacted Kish for training, and we created an innovative leadership development program, Rochelle U. We brought instructors on-site, and their employees took one class per semester after the workday. The best part? Rochelle employees who participate in the program earn college credit and can easily continue their studies at Kish to complete an associate degree.
Learn more about Kishwaukee College's employer partnerships on our Employer Services webpage.
Are you seeking training to address specific skills gaps, improve employee performance, and stay competitive in your industry? The Workforce Development Office can assist with your training needs.
Customized Training
Our customized training programs provide on-the-job practice to develop a highly skilled workforce. Optimize employee resources, increase employee satisfaction, and strengthen your company’s culture. We provide:
- Comprehensive customized training
- Curriculum development
- Qualified trainers with industry experience
- Cost-effective resources to meet your training needs
- And more
Contract Training
Contract training focuses on specific training objectives to improve employee performance and achieve strategic goals. Training is specialized to an employer's needs and can be offered at local businesses, training facilities or online. Topics include:
- Back Safety — Proper Lifting Techniques
- Hazard Communications Training 1910.1200
- O.T. Hazmat (Department of Transportation Required Hazardous Materials Training)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices (A.R.C. Flash — Lock-Out/Tag-Out)
- Safety Manual Development
- Safety Committee Development
- Quarterly Compliance Consulting and Training
- P.R./First Aid/AED/Fire Extinguisher Training
- OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Training
- OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Training
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Training
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Industry Training
We help employers find the right candidates for their jobs through recruitment events, job fairs, internships and more.
"Earn while you learn” opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships, allow students the option to work for local businesses while gaining the hands-on experience needed to complete their education.
Turn your hobby into a business. Have an idea you are ready to launch? We help budding entrepreneurs and small business owners scale and grow their businesses.