News

March 12, 2007
YTEP Holds Second Employment Workshop

From left are GED students George Bell and Milton Batts, Youth Job Counselor Randy Mitchell, and GED student Brittany Parker. Bell and Batts conducted field exercises as part of a YTEP workshop in customer relations, and Parker served as facilitator of the workshop. YTEP is affiliated with Edgecombe Community College.

Students in a youth training program in Rocky Mount learned about customer service during a recent workshop.

The Youth Training and Education Program (YTEP), part of the Workforce Development and Training Center, is holding a five-part series of workshops on employment. This event was the second workshop.

The center operates through federal funds from the Workforce Investment Act, and it is affiliated with Edgecombe Community College.

YTEP students, along with GED/Adult High School students from the college, attended the workshop. Sabrina Kerzick from West Corporation was the guest speaker, and she focused on the importance of customer service.

GED students Milton Batts and George Bell participated in a field exercise that tested six areas of customer service. The students chose two areas on ECC’s Rocky Mount campus to see if they met, exceeded, or failed the requirements of each field. The two areas selected were student services and the library. The students reported that both areas exceeded expectations.

Milton Batts, a GED student, conducted his field exercise in student services. “I really enjoyed the field exercise and learned a lot. I saw the importance of providing good customer service to people. I left there knowing what it is going to take to enroll in college after I complete my GED,” he says. “She (staff member) also made me feel that I was wanted.”

George Bell, also a GED student, conducted his field exercise in the library. “My experience was good,” he says. “The person who helped me went out of her way to make sure that I got everything that I needed. She made me feel welcome.”

The purpose of the field exercise was to give students a firsthand look at the effects of good customer service. The workshop also covered the practice of customer service at work and school. School appearance, attitude, and interaction were emphasized.

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