ELEVEN job seekers graduated from Sureway Employment and Training with a certificate III in business this week.
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Course facilitator Jane Williams said the graduates, who are unemployed, undertook 26 weeks of training, which included letter writing, public speaking and team building.
She said the course offered them a chance to build new skills, which would give them an edge on competition.
"The (unemployment rate) varies between six and 10 per cent (for Bendigo). That is quite high," she said.
"We are trying to give these people a really good chance to get a job. We have looked at etiquette of business attire and lots of others things which will put them ahead of other people.
"It's a competitive job market and employees are looking for people who are bothered to better themselves.
"They also learnt the importance of being professional, that is a very important skill."
She said some of the graduates would seek work in administration - an industry that was growing.
"Admin is huge. It's a really big industry," she said.
"Really, because it is the face of the business.
"You are the first person everyone sees - you have to know everything about your business."
Ms Williams said Sureway Skills Training helped people build and develop new skills to enhance their likelihood of gaining employment.
"Employers in all industries are looking for people with skills. But training has become very expensive. It costs to up skill," she said.
"But it's definitely worth it."
Graduates include Ryan Thompson, Caroline Daykin, Amara Shepherd, Mikayla Roberts, Khaiden Turra, Ryys Noonan, James Davis, Galina Guseva, Deborah Parsell, Samantha King and Lisa Mullen.
Sureway is located at 41-43 Mundy St, Bendigo.
For more informationon Sureway, visit www.sureway.com.au