Plan your career and educational pursuits with our programs below.
Are you looking to take charge of your career? Do you want to carve out a new path, identify education needs, and turn new career goals into reality? The Ed Assist can help.
Ed Assist helps IBEW members think about and plan for career ambitions. With it, you can explore all areas of your professional future: from new skills, new schooling, and new positions, to decisions about retirement, next chapters, and encore careers.
Start with a one-on-one advising session with an EdAssist® advisor. Ed Assist (ACCLS’ advising partner since January 2017) offers a team of professional career consultants who understand Verizon careers and VZLearn, and who can help you get the most from your ED Assist benefits. Personalized, one-on-one advising sessions are included with your benefit; use them to set goals for your career and then find educational opportunities in your area (both on campus and online) to meet them. Advisors can also help you explore transferring within Verizon using the VZCareers/RAMP internal transfer systems.
Your benefits also include access to ED Assist’s webinars and related resources.
Contact Information:To schedule an advising session, general questions or support, email Barbara.VanDyk@brighthorizons.com.
The Ed Assist Webinar Series is designed to help Verizon employees thrive and succeed in the ever-changing job market. These webinars are available 24/7 from any device that has internet access.
Overview Of Accls Benefits
This webinar describes the ACCLS benefits including family care, education, health & wellness, education, etc. Web Link
Job Transfer Within Verizon
Facts & Myths about the Internal Job Transfer System (RAMP): This webinar will clear up some common misconceptions about Verizon’s VZCareers/RAMP. The webinar also provides key information to help you make the system work for you as you complete for a job transfer. Web Link
Finding Union Jobs at Verizon:Verizon has created a new system for applying for internal jobs. To make the learning curve easier, we have created a short 9-minute webinar to walk you through the steps of updating your profile and finding jobs. Web Link
VZCareers/RAMP - Part 1: Job Selection Code: Everyone interested in transferring to another job at Verizon should go to this webinar. It explains how the selection process works and what you can do to be more competitive. Web Link
VZCareers/RAMP - Part 2: The Resume: This webinar will explain the details required for your “resume”. You don’t need a traditional resume to apply for union jobs. This webinar will explain the information needed. Web Link
VZCareers/RAMP - Part 3: Search & Apply: This webinar will explain how to search for job openings, how to apply and what happens after the application process. Web Link
Staying Current In The Ever-changing Workplace
Building Your LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network on the internet. You can use LinkedIn to network with others, find a job, and strengthen your brand. This webinar will teach you to create a strong profile Web Link
Up-skilling to Future Proof Your Career: Smart technology has enhanced our lifestyles, but smart tech also comes with an uncertainty about job security. More and more we see robots taking over the jobs. The good news is that research indicates that technology will likely create more jobs than it erases. However, the key is not to depend on your employer for up-skilling. Instead, to survive and thrive in this ever-changing job market, workers should take on the responsibility to up-skill. Web Link
Setting & Achieving SMART Goals: Setting and achieving goals is a powerful process for focusing on your ideal future and for motivating yourself to turn your vision into reality. Without goals, you dreams are often just wishful thinking. When you stop to set goals, you break out of auto-pilot and take charge of what you want for yourself. Web Link
How to Be Happy at Work: In today's ever-changing workplace it can be a challenge to be happy during the 2,000 hours per year that we spend at work. Many feel job growth is stagnated, creativity stifled, and stress ever-present. As a remedy, this webinar will give you tips to change direction toward finding happiness at work. Web Link
How Career Savvy Are You – Part 2: Skills & Accomplishments: Skills are the foundation of your career and as the saying goes, “skills pay the bills.” This webinar will help you focus on the hard skills and soft skills that are critical to your career. We also provide action steps on how to identify and fill skill gaps that could hold your career back. Web Link
How Career Savvy Are You – Part 3: Personal Branding which is all about identifying what makes you marketable and effectively strategizing to communicate your personal brand. Savvy professionals take control of the brand instead of leaving it to chance and by doing so, they are usually the ones to get ahead. The webinar will provide the information to create your own person brand. Web Link
How Career Savvy Are You – Part 4: Your Elevator Pitch: Personal Branding Crafting Your Elevator Pitch is part four in the Essential Career Tools series. You’ll learn to craft a well-received, memorable, and succinct elevator pitch to help you respond to inevitable questions, such as "what do you do?" or "tell us about yourself" or "why should we hire you?" Web Link
Building Your Resume – Part 1 In today’s job market, everyone should have a resume. This webinar is the first in a series that breaks down the process of creating your resume into smaller more manageable steps. We will also teach you how to make your resume stand out from the crowd. We’ll walk you through the process of building your resume – section by section. You can email me your draft resume and I’ll polish it up for you. Web Link
The Job Search During the Pandemic and Beyond is not only for those planning to retire from Verizon with the objective of finding another job or second career, but also beneficial to those who want to proactively prepare for the future. The webinar addresses relevant issues and offers tips on the job search, skills and accomplishments, resumes and LinkedIn, networking and interviewing. Web Link
Finding Remote Jobs for Life After Verizon This webinar was designed for those who are considering retiring from Verizon and who may want to seek a new job – whether part-time, full-time or seasonal. Throughout this webinar, we’ll provide the tools you need to land a remote job. We also encourage you to be wary of work from home scams. The resources provided in the webinar will help you find legitimate jobs in dozens of career fields. You’ll gain information on companies that offer remote jobs, types of remote jobs, and where to conduct your search. Web Link
Are You Retirement Ready? Many Verizon union members start to think about retirement when they hit the target mark of 30 years or that magic number of 75 or even when an enticing package is offered before they hit 30 years. So, we thought it would be beneficial to put together this webinar to focus on some of the reasons people retire as well as some of the key benefits to staying employed at Verizon. We also emphasize some things to think about and the importance of planning. Web Link
Remote Job Options for Life after Verizon. Many people who retire from Verizon choose to continue to work. Remote job options enable a person to work from home without the bother of a commute. This webinar will provide information on how to find remote jobs. Web Link
Education Topics, Including Verizon Tuition Assistance
Explore College Majors and Career Options: This webinar will discuss the factors adult learners and college-age students should consider when deciding on a college major. Tools for researching occupations and college majors will be discussed. Additionally, you’ll get information on a temporarily-free career & education assessment for yourself or your children for career and education guidance. Web Link
Alternative Ways to Earn College Credit: Education entails more than just textbooks. In fact, some of the best learning comes from life outside the classroom. Universities understand that adults have a lot to offer when it comes to lifelong learning. Many colleges use the term, credit for life experience. This webinar will explain how life experience can translate into college credit. Join us to learn which option may be right for you (or your family) and how to pursue alternative ways to earn credit. (The webinar can be accessed 24/7 from any device with internet connection.) Web Link
Short-Term Education Has Its Benefits: This 30-minute webinar shares detailed information about novel types of short-term learning as well as online learning platforms to pursue skill-development programs such as: certificates vs. certifications; for-credit, non-credit, CEUs and PDUs; Micro-credentials; nano-degrees, digital badges, MOOCS and stackable programs. Web Link
Learning (for Free) via LinkedIn Learning. Verizon employees now have access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers thousands of on-demand courses covering topics such as technology, business, preparation for certifications and personal development. This webinar will walk you through the process of registering for and accessing the free courses. Now that most of us are under stay-at-home guidelines, this could be a good time to catch up on learning something new. The webinar is available 24/7 from any device that has internet access: Web Link
The Adult Learner's Guide to Choosing a College focuses on important factors to consider when choosing a college. Over the past decades, formal educational institutions have evolved to create numerous options. While options are great, so many choices can result in confusion. This webinar will provide you with a foundation to understand the current educational landscape and make decisions about which college would best suit your needs. Web Link
The Gift of Education: Benefits, Examples & Tips: Sixteen gifts, ten examples, and numerous solutions are offered in this educational webinar. Education opens doors for new opportunities. Technology has enabled a wide variety of educational options. Solutions exist for some common obstacles that get in the way of pursuing education. Get a glimpse of what education can do for you, some ideas to get you started, and tips to keep you on track. Web Link
Thinking About Going Back to School? People are often consider going back to school. There are many advantages to having an education -- both professional and personal. This webinar will also provide you with information about the many education options that exist today and will also provide you with examples of how IBEW members are using their tuition benefits. Web Link
Considering a Telecommunications Education? For those who want an extended career in telecommunications, whether with Verizon or any company that depends on telecommunications for business needs, continuous education is critical in order to stay competitive. This webinar focuses on options for courses, certificates, associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees. Web Link
Online Telecommunications Courses, Certificates, and Degrees: Online telecommunications education has enabled Verizon employees to develop knowledge, earn credentials, build on practical work experience, and advance careers. There is something here for everyone, not matter what job you hold at Verizon. Web Link
ACCLS Competitive Skills Award
IBEW employees who successfully complete college courses and/or degrees related to Verizon jobs may be entitled to the Competitive Skills (cash) Award. There are two separate but broad areas of competitive skills that qualify for the incentive awards: Telecommunications Technology and Customer Service. Telecommunications would include most majors that are information technology related. Customer Service includes most majors that are business related. Web Link
Career Change
Considering Career Change – Part 1: Boost your confidence and focus on what you need to do to create a new vision for your future -- whether that’s a complete career change, a side gig, or a retirement career. Web Link
Online Tools to Find a Career that Matches Your Interests: A career that matches your interests will increase the likelihood of job enjoyment, fulfillment, success, and your overall wellbeing. This webinar walks you through a quick assessment which links you to a list of careers that match your interests. Additionally, you’ll be able to explore career options to learn more about each job, including salary information and other details.
For Verizon Family Members Seeking a Job during the Pandemic: Thirty million people were furloughed or experienced job loss during the Coronavirus pandemic. This webinar can be utilized by anyone in your family who may need job search advice. Web Link
Money
Financial Retirement Planning (brought to you by Scarborough Alliance Group). This webinar is designed to help Verizon employees with income and investment planning. Web Link
Ways to Make Extra Cash - Part 1: Many people express their desire to make some extra money to supplement their income. Most, for a variety of reasons, don't want to leave their current job; but they do want some extra cash in their pocket. Whatever your goals, we hope some of the ideas in this webinar may suit your needs or stimulate your thought process to come up with other ideas. Web Link
ONLINE Ways to Make Extra Cash: Advances in technology have changed the way we work. Technology has new opportunities, including ways to make money online - full time, part time, or whenever you want. Some of the options we're about to suggest require little skill, others require specific skill. Some of the options could turn into a full-time career or a part-time retirement career. Web Link
You Social Security Retirement Benefits: An Overview This webinar will provide you an overview of your Security Retirement Benefits, including information and resources to help you nuke decisions to take better control of your retirement finances. This information is those who are days, months or years until retirement. Web Link
Making the Most of Your Money: 401K Basics by Scarborough Alliance Group: focuses on 401(k) plan basics, financial benefits, and the importance of plan participation. It is presented by Scarborough Alliance Group.
Miscellaneous
Seven Simple Ways to Relieve Stress: The need for stress management is a sign of the times. In this webinar we focus on mindfulness for stress management which is ancient practice yet a topic that has grown in interest and potential over the last several years. If you’ve heard about mindfulness but don’t really get what all the fuss is about, this webinar will offer an overview of what mindfulness is all about as well as seven mindfulness techniques to help cultivate a sense of inner peace throughout your day to day life. (The webinar recording is available 24/7 via any device with internet access.). Web Link
There’s No Time Like the Present to Get Organized: Doing so will increase your ability to be happy, healthy, wealthy and wise. Most of us can benefit from taking small steps in various areas of life or even setting short-term or long-term goals. Getting in tune with what’s important, and what you want out of life, can help propel you forward. Web Link
Using Zoom to Stay in Touch: While many people have joined a Zoom meeting after getting an invite, not everyone has created or hosted a meeting, so we’ll show you how to do that was well. Web Link
Volunteering Pays Off in More Ways than One: Many Verizon employees have a passion to serve others in need and find that, as a volunteer, they also benefit in numerous ways. Verizon supports employee volunteerism through programs such as the Matching Incentive Program, the Volunteer Incentive Program, and the Employee-to-Employee Relief Fund. And, in case you want to volunteer but don’t know where and how, this webinar will also provide that information. Web Link
If you don't see what you are looking for please contact us.
Certain telecommunications technology and customer service skills are highly competitive and desirable. Employees who complete specific educational programs related to such skills (specifically those identified by the ACCLS) will be eligible to receive an incentive.
Read the attached form for more information on the Competitive Skills Incentive Award Program, or send your questions to Barbara.VanDyk@brighthorizons.com.
Home Study courses are self-paced instruction designed to improve your skills or prepare for VZCareers qualifications. Such programs provide a convenient way to complete a course or prepare for a Verizon test at your own pace — anytime, anywhere. Home Study offers a wide selection of subjects and will give you the flexibility and convenience you need. It is also the ideal way to “test the waters” in an unfamiliar area, at no cost. There are two types of home study courses: VZCareers-Qualifying Courses and Test Prep Guides.
If you would like to order a home study course or need more information please email Barbara.vandyk@brighthorizons.com
These study guides provide material and sample questions for Verizon secondary tests, as well as the Talent Skills Assessment, which has replaced the Universal Test Battery (UTB).
Computer and Internet Knowledge - #204
Test prep for the Fiber Customer Support Analyst position.
Field Operations Assessment - #208
Test prep guide for Services Technician jobs in Pennsylvania. (This job title is equivalent to the Facilities Technician job in New Jersey, which doesn’t require the test.)
General Test Taking - #41
Prep guide to help you comfortably handle various kinds of questions and test formats.
Network, Internet and Data Knowledge - #205
Test prep for the Fiber Network Technician position.
Network Systems Assessment - #207
Test prep for the Network Systems Assessment test which is now required for Equipment Switching Technician jobs in Pennsylvania, and Central Office Technician jobs in other mid-Atlantic states.
Remote Technician Assessment - #209
Test prep guide for the Network Technician job in New Jersey.
Talent Skills Assessment (TSA)
Test prep for all associate jobs at Verizon. This test, the initial test for all Verizon jobs, replaced the UTB to measure basic skills, abilities and characteristics that are key to performing Verizon jobs well.
Technician Mini-Course (TMC) - #200
Test prep for the Systems Technician< test.
To order your Test Prep Guide, email your request to Barbara.VanDyk@brighthorizons.com.
Verizon's Tution Assistance Plan for Associate Employees
Verizon and the ACCLS encourage IBEW members to pursue education and life-long learning. Verizon's tution assistance benefits provide for out-of-hours study at qualifying institutions and for eligible academics. To learn more, contact our ACCLS Career & Education Advisor, Barbara Van Dyk at Barbara.VanDyk@BrightHorizons.com
Since 1999, NACTEL's employer-education partnership has created online education solutions to move the communications workforce forward. Please click the link for more information.