Skip to main content

Career Training & Education

or text JOBS to 71492

Overview

Photo of four individuals smiling and bumping their fists together.

Train for a New Career

Industry-specific training programs help expand the skills and qualifications needed to start a new career in just 8 - 12 weeks (eligibility screening and entrance test are required prior to enrollment). 

  • Enroll in trainings in high demand fields in automotive, construction, business services and financial industry at no cost.
  • Earn industry certificates, college credits and connect with employers with hiring and advancement opportunities.
  • Receive stipends or training wages while enrolled in select courses. 

College Navigation

College navigators guide individuals in selecting a program of study, provide support through enrollment, and help develop academic strategies for success.

  • Balance education with work responsibilities; build a professional image.
  • Overcome obstacles and access support for transportation, childcare or housing.
  • Connect with college staff, faculty and employers; navigate tuition and financial resources.

Job Placement, Retention and Advancement

Personalized, flexible job placement services are the heart of GESMN’s mission; we work closely with job seekers and employers to connect people to a career.

  • Explore goals, strengths and interests and plan for a career.
  • Prepare for interviews and build personal skills in employment & career readiness trainings.
  • Receive support and career navigation from experienced staff and instructors.

Learn more and apply

Learn more about automotive, business professional pathwaysconstruction and financial industry.

Contact us at 651-379-5837 or outreach@gesmn.org.


Goodwill-Easter Seals is licensed as a private career school with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 136A.821 to 136A.832. Licensure is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions. Goodwill-Easter Seals is a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Certified Training Provider. Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota has consistently maintained CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation since 1977.

Automotive

Photo of a man smiling and cleaning his hands in an automotive facility standing under a raised vehicle. of the Automotive

Automotive Career Paths

  • Express lube technician
  • General service technician
  • Maintenance technician
  • Parts counter salesperson
  • Service advising/writing
  • Tire technician

Learn more and apply

Watch a pre-recorded information session and apply online. Or to attend an in-person information session on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at our training facility at 635 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104. Register by phone or email. 

Contact us at 651-379-5837 or outreach@gesmn.org.

What to Expect

  • Get started with eight weeks of training that includes job placement assistance
  • Interactive online training with an instructor, career navigator and peers; additional hands-on training in our 5,600 sq. ft., 4-bay automotive training facility
  • Instruction in shop safety, engine lubrications, cooling systems, tires, belts, brakes, customer service, technical service information, multi-point inspection and maintenance
  • Industry speakers, tours and employer contacts
  • Assistance with resumes, applications, interviewing, job search, retention and advancement
  • Earn college credit and industry certificates
  • Training hours: Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Training available at NO COST to eligible students; women are encouraged to apply
  • Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota has articulation agreements with Dakota Technical College, Dunwoody College of Technology and Saint Paul College. Students who successfully complete the Automotive Training course at GESMN can earn transfer credits for specified automotive programs at the institutions noted above.

Business Professional Pathways

Photo of a women sitting at a desk with her hands on the keyboard

Business Professional Pathways Career Paths

  • Administrative assistant
  • Project manager
  • Medical office
  • Insurance claims
  • Customer service

Learn more and apply


Contact us at 651-379-5837 or outreach@gesmn.org.

What to Expect

  • Get started with ten weeks of training that includes job placement assistance
  • Interactive online training with your instructor, career navigator and peers
  • Explore career pathways for a future in business
  • Learn foundational project management concepts and how to build your career with certifications from Google and The Project Management Institute
  • Build skills in technology, professional communication, productivity tools and corporate culture through group and independent online learning
  • Get insights and guidance from business professionals, employers and industry experts
  • Participate in first-round interviews with employers to kickstart your career
  • Assistance with career planning, resumes, applications, interviewing, job search, retention and advancement
  • Training available at NO COST to eligible students

Construction

Photo of a woman wearing a construction hat and vest standing in front of a bulldozer.

Construction Career Paths

  • Carpenters
  • Commercial roofers
  • Ironworkers
  • Laborers
  • Plumbing, electrical, HVAC
  • Siding and window installers

Learn more and apply

Watch a pre-recorded information session and apply online. Or to attend an in-person information session on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at our training facility at 635 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104. Register by phone or email. 

Contact us at 651-379-5837 or outreach@gesmn.org.

What to Expect

  • Get started with twelve weeks of training that includes job placement assistance
  • Interactive online training with an instructor, career navigator and peers; additional hands-on shop training in our training facility plus paid training on construction sites
  • Instruction in construction concepts, green building practices, tool use, blueprints, math and measuring, insulation, drywall, siding, roofing and deconstruction
  • Industry speakers, tours and employer contacts
  • Assistance with resumes, applications, interviewing, job search, retention and advancement
  • Receive an OSHA 10 Completion Card and an industry recognized credential
  • Earn 36 continuing education units and college credit at St. Paul College
  • Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota has a training articulation agreement with Saint Paul College. Students who successfully complete the Construction Program at Goodwill-Easter Seals can bypass the first term of Saint Paul College’s Carpentry Diploma program and start in semester two
  • Training hours: Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Training available at NO COST to eligible students, women are encouraged to apply

Financial Industry

Photo of women smiling and talking at a desk.

Financial Industry Career Paths

  • Annuity call center professional
  • Credit relations manager
  • Financial advising
  • Licensed customer service professional
  • Investment contact center
  • Personal banker

Learn more and apply

Contact us at 651-379-5837 or outreach@gesmn.org.

What to Expect

Fast-track your way into the financial industry with SIE Securities Industry Essentials certification, a gateway credential to mid/high-level positions and increase your marketability [valid for four years].

  • Advance your career; advance YOU! In under eight weeks, train for a financial services position plus earn up to a $1,000 stipend while you learn.
  • Learn introductory fundamentals or concepts such as types of products and their risks, the structure of the securities industry markets, regulatory agencies and their functions and prohibited practices.
  • Professional career coaching with flexible, online training that fit your schedule, including a customized study plan.
  • Graduates can start and advance a financial services career in just a few months with our employer partners Wells Fargo, Ameriprise, U.S. Bank or Thrivent.
  • Training available at NO COST to eligible students, Hennepin county residents will be given priority.
Logo of Ameriprise Financial
Hennepin County logo
City of Minneapolis logo
Thrivent logo
US Bank logo
Wells Fargo logo