by Krystal Paco

Guam - With the potential of layoffs looming for GovGuam workers, there's new program aimed to help make getting a job easier. The KeyTrain Program helps assess an individual's skill levels to better match them to potential jobs.

Today marked the launch of KeyTrain, a free training component of the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate Program sponsored by the Guam Community College and the Agency for Human Resources Development. The program is used in all 50 states and assesses skills on bronze, silver, and gold levels in math, English, and locating for information. AHRD director Frank Roberto says both job hunters and employers will benefit from such a program.

"If you've taken your car and you've gone through the diagnostics, this is exactly it; it's not based on the resume that you've brought out, of course that's a critical component but based on this test it ensures the employers that are now looking for employees to hire that they are sound that they can read instructions they can do basic math," he said.

The program couldn't have come at a better time with impending layoffs for Government of Guam workers. Department of Labor Director Leah Beth Naholowaa said, "It just so happens that the government is going to layoff, we're taking this opportunity to use this work assessment to give assessment to those that are going to be displaced. We're looking at avenues to really support them in this whole transition of the government reorganization."

Governor Eddie Calvo says KeyTrain is a tool to making a more efficient government because employees and employers will be better matched, saying, "It's important for an organization such as this to look and analyze those skills sets and then with that correlates it with what potential opportunities are out there in this community for job placement."

All those interested in making a career change or those not sure what career to pursue are encouraged to take a free pre-assessment test at One-Stop Career Center in Hagatna. A full assessment test will cost $56 and is available at GCC.