Former unemployed resident of Mililani Brandon upside down started his new job at HMSA in December 2020. The business data analysis and reporting analyst attributes his job to the free training he received from the University of Hawaii Community colleges across Oahu Back to work.

Weeks after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Askew was fired from his position as an enterprise systems analyst for the Hawaii Congress Palace. The eager listener of Hawaii Public radio heard about the free training offered by Oahu Back to Work, went online to investigate and signed up for a Python programming course that day.

“I think it made the difference to get the job at HMSA because in the job description they specifically called the Python programming language skills, ”Askew said. “I felt I had grabbed the bull by the horns at the right time to start taking a Python class, and then find this opportunity later, that it would help me get this job.”

In August, the EUH Community Colleges and the City and County of Honolulu have announced the latest round of free job preparation courses for Oahu residents who are struggling to find employment.

Oahu Back to Work is a rapid response employment training program with courses running until December 17, 2021. Instructors at age seven EUH Community colleges and EUH Mānoa Outreach College offers over 50 courses in business and technology, healthcare, human services, and trades. To find out more, see available courses or to apply, visit the Oahu Return to Work website: OahuBacktoWork.com.

Give hope

“Oahu Returning to work gives hope. Knowing that there are people, organizations, government who are really here to do what they can do to help get through these difficult times, ”Askew said.

The 50-year-old also encouraged those who might be intimidated by the idea of ​​”going back to school” after decades.

He said: “I could see there was some trepidation in taking this opportunity, but I just want to share with people that it’s really worth it, and while these resources are available, we should all be looking to. see how we could benefit from it. them.”

Courses still available

Before September 14, Oahu Back to Work already had nearly 400 registered, and 400 places are still available in a variety of workforce training programs that lead to immediate or short-term employment. The courses include:

• Preparation for the Honolulu Police Exam starting September 27 and November 8
• HVAC, Refrigerants and basic controls: EPA Exam preparation from October 4
• Certified accountancy from October 4
• AWS Cloud Foundation from October 4
• Basics of data analysis from October 18
• Safety + training starting on October 11 and November 3
• Preparation for the commercial driver’s license test from November 8