Clark State Community College Workforce and Business Solutions in partnership with Virtanza Career Pathways will continue to offer reduced tuition on the Professional Sales Ready Certification, a virtual career development program. The reduced tuition enables workers sidelined by COVID-19 to expand their skills to prepare for re-entering the job market.
The program is an opportunity to learn – from home – the virtual technology skills used by businesses as the need for remote employees increases. Professional Sales Ready, a $3,690 value, is now being offered for $1,300.
The 7-week, 33-hour, non-credit online program is highly interactive, using a revealing assessment and true-to-life role plays to prepare students for successful sales careers that align with their strengths. In addition, it enhances and strengthens the skills anyone needs to succeed in today's in-demand job market.
“Our Professional Sales Ready Certification provides a valuable advantage for in-demand positions. It provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of the sales cycle, setting and meeting goals, networking, utilizing Salesforce, CRM, online research and tools, self-branding and preparing and presenting sales-related proposals,” said Lesli Beavers, director of workforce and business solutions for Clark State. “Clark State will also provide students with additional coaching sessions to help them polish their resume and prepare for sales position interviews.”
The course offers a well-rounded approach to career development. Earners of the Clark State Professional Sales Ready Certification badge demonstrate the ability to take a customer through the life cycle of a sale. They also sharpen the critical thinking, articulation and communication skills so vital to success in the contemporary work environment.
“This will be our third cohort of our Professional Sales Ready Certification,” said Beavers. “Within our first two cohorts, we have both partnered with businesses to train incumbent workers and served displaced workers looking to train into a new career field. Sales careers continue to be in demand and will play a pivotal role in the post COVID economic climate, and we are working hard to make this course affordable and accessible so all can gain these valuable skills.”
Virtanza’s mission is to connect college students and adult learners who seek a pathway to income security with employers in need of qualified business development candidates.
“With our third session beginning in January, Clark State's Professional Sales Ready Certification class delivers on our shared mission of empowering learners with the immediately transferable, in-demand business development and sales technology skills that Ohio employers are seeking as they participate in a recovering economy in 2021 and beyond,” said Debbie Holzkamp, founder/CEO of Virtanza.
Holzkamp said the synchronous, experiential format of the curriculum allows learners of all backgrounds and industries to enhance their natural abilities with best practices and processes taught through real-world role plays, group presentations, guest speakers and other hands-on sales activities.
“Funding from area Workforce Development gives us the opportunity to support under-employed and unemployed, and that is paramount to the success of our partnership,” she said.
The seven-week Professional Sales Ready Certification has two remote sessions per week using video conferencing for its virtual classroom. The program integrates Microsoft Word and PowerPoint just as employers do to collaborate across teams and transact business remotely.
Graduates receive professional career coaching and job placement assistance from Clark State and Virtanza to find work in sales technology-enabled industries. Both organizations arrange direct introductions to employers who seek skilled business development associates and candidates for other roles.
The third cohort of Clark State's Professional Sales Ready Certification class begins January 25 and runs through March 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Registration is now open at: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ehe8rcju5f595e7b&llr=o66wj9bab.