Job-seeking skills are emphasized throughout the program. Following the completion of training, students meet with a Community Employment Specialist for job placement assistance.

The Business Employment Skills Training program started in 1991. Since that time over 380 students have successfully completed the program. Our completion rate continues to exceed 80%. 83% of those students completing BEST have obtained competitive employment in the community. The Business Employment Skills Training computer lab consists of twenty, up-to-date, Dell computers. Our facility meets OSHA accessibility standards, and we can make accommodations for assistive technologies on an as-needed basis.

Offered twice a year, the classes are limited to twenty students each and meet Monday thru Friday from 9am to 3:30pm at the Goodwill Employment and Training Center, 1005 Virginia Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia.

We also offer Microsoft Certification Testing to the public as an approved site.

For eligibility requirements, to discuss enrollment or to take the certification test, e-mail best@goodwillhunting.org or call 304.523.7461.

Computer Skills Microsoft Office 2003 (Word, Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) Clerical Skills Filing Typing Office Procedures Dictaphone Electric Calculator Proofreading	Basic Business Skills Math English Spelling Communication Human Relations Resume Preparation Job Development Mock Interviews Microsoft Certification -Word -Excel
Professional Development Classes Special classes for employee groups may also be arranged by contacting the Career Center Outreach Coordinator. Intro to Computers Keyboarding, Exploring Windows, Microsoft Office 2003, (Word, Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Another BEST Success Story: In the spring of 2003, two BEST graduates obtained employment in the registration department at a local hospital. Big deal? It is when you consider that these individuals had over twenty-five years experience in the RETAIL FIELD! Both students were dislocated workers due to the closing of their store, and both wanted to make a career change. Their goal was to acquire skills to qualify for office positions in hospitals located in the Tri-State area. With limited skills and a tight labor market, they knew this would be difficult. They were referred to BEST for training and excelled right away. Each student displayed positive attitudes and completed BEST with high scores in all components. With the skills gained in BEST, both individuals were able to obtain full-time jobs with excellent pay and great benefits. They reached their goal of making a career change, and both landed the jobs they wanted. These graduates proved that desire, attitude, motivation and the right training can make dreams come true.