420 S. Pastoria Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA   94086
Direct: 408-774-2365
TTY: 408-774-5448
connect@novaworks.org

Hou
rs:

   Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
   Closed holidays and weekends

Directions:
   Google Map Directions


Descriptions


Workshops

Getting Started

    
 

Career Advising
Career advisors are available to meet with you for one-on-one job-search assistance. Advisors are available daily. To speak with a career advisor, contact the CONNECT front desk.

Managing Change
An interactive workshop to help you move through the stress and uncertainty created by job loss. Learn how to work through your emotions, launch an effective job search, and explore what's next for you.

CONNECT Library Orientation 
Learn about CONNECT Library resources and services
Tour the library and see a demo of business databases that are available to assist you with your career and business research.


Focus

Discover You
Interactive workshop to help you explore your interests, values and brainstorm career options.

Who Am I?
A survey of available career assessment tools to help individuals define their skills, interests, values, and personality and then apply this information to career decisions.

Career Assessment
Take career assessment tools to identify your skills, interests, values and personality. Then participate in an interactive workshop to interpret the results. Talk to a career advisor for more information. 

Career Exploration
Learn how to gather information about career options, develop an understanding of how to access the latest career information resources, and discover the value of career exploration in making smart and informed career decisions.

Résumé/Applications

Résumé Facts
Learn the answers to the most common résumé questions including: What goes on the résumé? Do I need to customize my résumé? What are the best ways to organize my information? And is a cover letter necessary?

Résumé Critique
Have a career advisor review your résumé and provide you with information, ideas, and assistance in creating your résumé. This service is offered during career advising appointments. 

Customize Your Résumé
This is an opportunity for you to work independently on your résumé and customize it to a specific job posting. A facilitator is available to provide assistance as needed. Please bring a copy of the job description and a hard copy or electronic copy of your résumé with you. Résumé Facts is required prior to attending this class. 

Job Applications
If your job search includes filling out applications, and most jobs do at some point, learn how to not screen yourself out. Discover how to successfully address legal issues and sticky questions.

Job Search

How To Find Job Leads
The more exposure you and your resume have during the job search, the more likely you are to find a job. Come learn how to get known by people with the power to hire you.

Job Search Tips for the Mature Worker 
Mature job seekers frequently have concerns that their age or number of years of experience may create obstacles in their job search. Learn how to identify age-friendly employers, age-neutralize your resume, and answer the tough interview questions. 

Networking
What is networking? How do I introduce myself? How do I start a conversation? Learn all of this and how to make attending networking events effective.

Real-Time Networking
Practice your networking skills and grow your network at the same time. Meet with other job seekers to network in small groups and ask for advice, information and referrals.

Using LinkedIn 1
Learn the basics of LinkedIn including setting up your profile, managing your account settings, and adding connections.

Using LinkedIn 2
Learn how to use LinkedIn as a job search tool including finding people, using groups, and locating job postings.

LinkedIn Lab
Dedicated time to use what you've learned in LinkedIn 1 and apply it in a group setting to develop a more effective LinkedIn profile.

Informational Interviewing
Build your confidence requesting and conducting informational meetings with people who have the advice, information, referrals you need.

Interviewing/Negotiations

Ace the Interview
The most simple interview questions can be the most difficult to answer. Learn how to handle questions about your salary requirements, your weaknesses, and your strengths. Discover effective, proven techniques to prepare you for tough job interviews.

Ace the Interview is strongly recommended before taking any of the following workshops:

Interview Practice
Practice your interviewing skills with a partner. Each session will cover questions related to a specific interview tool: Summary, PSR, Sandwich, or Salary Screen. 

Customize Your Interview
This is an opportunity for you to work on targeting your interview responses to a specific employer and job posting. You will work on PSRs andsandwiches and practice responding to targeted questions with a partner. Please bring two copies of the job description and your résumé with you. Ace the Interview and either Presenting Accomplishments or Behavior-based Interviewing are required prior to attending this class.

Presenting Accomplishments
Add impact to your interviews by learning how to talk about your successes, highlight your strengths and minimize your weaknesses by turning negatives into positives. It is recommended to bring a copy of your resume and a sample job description with you to this workshop. 

Behavior-based Interviewing
"Tell me about a time when..." Prepare for tough questions asking how you handled specific situations in your past, including both successes and failures. Create your own job profile and practice responding to related questions. It is recommended to bring a copy of your resume and a sample job description with you to this workshop. 

Negotiating the Offer
Discover what, other than money, is negotiable. How should you position yourself? What do you ask for first? Can you get a sign-on bonus? Get these questions answered, and practice negotiating with a partner.


Classes

Professional Effectiveness Program


PEP classes
 feature practical, state-of-the-art techniques, interactive exercises, and immediately useful tools in the areas of communicating, team building, and problem solving.
  • Learn communicating skills that will help you resolve problems, respectfully present your point of view and listen to others.
  • Enhance your ability to give and receive feedback.
  • Learn facilitation skills to improve team dynamics and increase productivity.
  • Apply collaboration and consensus building techniques used in high- performance teams.
  • Learn skills to analyze and creatively solve problems in a team setting.


Class registration button

Computer Skills

Students must be able to attend all sessions of each class.


Intro to Computers
Basic overview of how a computer works and how to use the Windows Vista Operating System. Class also provides an introduction to the internet and internet-based email.

QuickBooks

Class reviews the functions and features of QuickBooks including accounts, lists, customers, vendors, sales tax, invoicing, inventory, reporting, and more.

Microsoft Office Classes

The Microsoft Office classes introduce students to the Microsoft applications. Participants should be comfortable with basic computer functions.
Microsoft Word
Editing, formatting templates, wizards, layouts, graphics, columns, and tables.

Microsoft Excel
Editing, formatting, printing, charts, and basic calculations.

Microsoft PowerPoint
Creating a presentation, adding / modifying slides and templates, inserting information, and printing slides.

Intro to Access
Basic course in understanding databases; tables, queries, forms and reports. An understanding of Microsoft Excel is helpful.

Employer Presentations

Information Session
Learn company specific information, hiring process and job opportunities. Resumes may be collected.

Recruitment Session
Employer is seeking to fill certain position(s) and will review your resume for referral and consideration. Same day onsite interviewing may occur when noted.

Entrepreneurship

Should I Start A Business?
Learn the fundamentals of what it means to run your own business and local resources available to assist entrepreneurs.

Franchise Options
How to start a franchise and local resources available to assist entrepreneurs.

Orientations

ProMatch Orientation
Learn about ProMatch, a member-driven networking organization that provides connections and resources for professionals engaged in job search. 

Prove It! Orientation
Prove It! provides
 online skills testing to determine your technical proficiencies.  Orientation will cover process to access the assessments, test taking tips, and how to understand the results.

CONNECT Library Orientation
Learn about our library resources and services. Tour the library and see a demo of business databases that are available to assist you with your career and business research.

On-the-Job Training (OJT) Orientation

Learn about NOVA's On-the-Job Training program to decide whether OJT is right for you. The process of developing an OJT is explained and a career exploration guide for OJT is distributed.


Financial Resources

  

Mastering Your Money
Review the basics of a spending plan and the ins and outs of credit.

Disability Services

Disability Navigator: Please see the front desk to schedule an appointment
The Disability Navigator can provide guidance on benefit issues, disability disclosure, workplace accommodations, legal issues, and other programs and community- based organizations that can help leverage the job search of individuals with disabilities. Please see the front desk to schedule an appointment.

Department of Rehabilitation Orientation
An overview of the services offered by California Department of Rehabilitation and how to apply for services. Please sign up at the CONNECT front desk.

Community Work Incentive Coordinator 
If you have questions about working and collecting SSI or SSDI please call the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center at 408- 894-9041 and ask to talk to the CWIC.