What is the Pre-Hire Training Program?
The Virginia Ship Repair Association, in a partnership with our Member Companies, local Workforce Development Centers, and Virginia’s Community Colleges, has developed an exciting new Pre-Hire Training program. This program is designed to help our future workforce get a head start on skilled trade careers in the Ship Repair industry, while filling entry-level vacancies in high-demand fields with a future. The course is an 88-hour comprehensive, intensive training program that introduces students to the skills necessary for successful entry to ship repair trades such as coatings, marine electrical, welding, and outside machining.
Who are the students?
Pre-Hire Training student participants come from many different backgrounds. Each applicant must be over 18 years old, a United States citizen, and possess a valid driver's license to qualify. In order to enter the class, they must score a Silver Level or higher on their WorkKeys Career Readiness Certificate, pass a drug test, and may be subject to a background screening. They are pre-interviewed before acceptance to ensure they are a good fit for ship repair trades work. No experience is necessary to participate, but candidates are evaluated on their work history, skills, and previous training.
Does the program work?
To date, this program has an excellent success rate. Two coatings courses and one electrical course have completed, and the students are now well-prepared, competitive entry-level trades workers.
Applicants to your company who have completed the Pre-Hire Training Program will have already passed a drug test and background screening, and will have completed VSRA Safety Orientation, Compartment Location, Nomenclature, and OSHA 10-hour training.
When is the next course?
An electrical course will ran from September 22nd through October 6th at Thomas Nelson Community College, and a coatings class is scheduled to be held at TCC in Suffolk from October 20th through November 3rd. After a development break, courses will resume in the Spring.
How can I participate?
The Pre-Hire Training program is designed to help our member companies identify and select competitive candidates for entry-level positions. If you have an applicant whom you believe would benefit from some extra training before you add them to your team, refer them to ShipRepairTraining.com to fill out an information form. Additionally, if you are looking for well-qualified candidates for an opening, contact the VSRA and schedule a time to interview students in-class or at your office.
Where can I learn more?
For more information on this excellent program Click Hereplease see our promotional flyer by clicking here. Also, view our Company Partner Process Chart for a more in-depth view of how your company can participate.
To begin taking advantage of the Pre-Hire Training program, please contact Michelle Tomaszewski by e-mailing MTomaszewski@VirginiaShipRepair.org or calling (757) 233-7034.
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