Technical Skills Training in Buffalo: Plan and Hire

Define the work your employee should complete

Write a concrete learning goal: reconcile a practice transaction, build a spreadsheet report, update a website page, or organize shared files. Describe the result you expect and the errors you want the employee to recognize. Prepare a sample that removes customer names, payment details, passwords, and confidential business information.

Ask an instructor to assess starting skills before proposing a group class. Identify employees who need the same workflow and those who need help with basic computer use. Specify the software edition, device type, and account access learners will use. Request a lesson outline that connects each activity to your chosen task.

Check the community labs before buying certification coaching

Buffalo EOC describes ATTAIN as community computer labs open to everyone, with no payment, income eligibility requirement, or EOC enrollment requirement. It lists Microsoft Digital Literacy, Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Certified Fundamentals, and Intuit QuickBooks certification among its offerings. The university states that users pay nothing for services, including MOS and MCF certification exams. [1]

Contact a coordinator with the exact skill or exam you want. Ask about registration, prerequisites, the current calendar, software versions, and practice access. Confirm whether an employee can attend around their work schedule. If you also need instruction in your business’s own procedures, ask a private instructor to quote that work as a separate scope.

The chart counts the local access points named by the supplied program pages: two ATTAIN labs and three Workforce Buffalo career centers. These are different services. Use the counts to understand the available contact routes, then confirm which location handles your request. [1] [3]

Discuss employer assistance before signing a contract

Workforce Buffalo describes Customized Training as group training designed around an employer’s needs and identifies training cost reimbursement assistance for eligible current employees. Its On-the-Job Training program serves new hires through supervised training in a targeted skills gap. Employers can receive up to 50% reimbursement of the new hire’s wage under that program. [2]

Tell business services whether you want to train existing employees or a new hire. Explain the skill gap, proposed instructor, and expected result. Ask about eligibility, approval timing, covered expenses, documentation, and reimbursement terms before signing. Obtain confirmation of the assistance you can use before including it in your training budget.

Compare instructors using the same written scope

Ask each instructor to quote the same outcome. Request relevant teaching experience and an example lesson using your intended software. For coding or data work, ask how they would teach an employee to diagnose a practice error and explain the correction. Arrange an introductory lesson before committing to an extended package if you want to assess the teaching approach.

Request a quote that separates instruction, preparation, materials, subscriptions, exam fees, travel, and follow-up support. Confirm the group size, lesson format, cancellation terms, and any charges for rescheduling. For remote lessons, agree on screen-sharing access. For sessions at your premises, name who supplies computers, installs software, and prepares practice files.

Agree on a final demonstration: the employee completes the practice task, explains their choices, and corrects an error. For certification coaching, name the intended exam and ask the instructor to distinguish completing lessons from earning the credential. Request instructions or practice exercises employees can retain after the session.

Refer laid-off workers to the individual funding route

Workforce Buffalo’s dislocated-worker resource page addresses people affected by layoffs, company closures, or downsizing. It describes Individual Training Account funding for eligible individuals pursuing approved training and identifies Buffalo and Erie County residents as the geographic audience. The organization directs applicants to its career centers to discuss an ITA. [3]

If an affected employee asks about retraining, suggest a career-center inquiry before they purchase a course. Ask the adviser to confirm eligibility and approval for the particular program. Keep that individual inquiry separate from your business’s request for customized staff training, and avoid assuming assistance will cover a private lesson.

Listed local access points for training and funding inquiries

Choose a route for the training you need

Your hiring checklist

1. Write the task each learner should complete after training.
2. Record software versions, equipment, and starting skill levels.
3. Ask the relevant ATTAIN coordinator about offerings and scheduling.
4. Discuss assistance eligibility and approval timing before signing.
5. Request comparable written quotes with additional charges itemized.
6. Prepare practice files without confidential customer or business data.
7. Agree on cancellation terms, follow-up support, and a final demonstration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an employee use ATTAIN without enrolling at Buffalo EOC?

Yes. Buffalo EOC states that ATTAIN users need neither EOC enrollment nor income eligibility. Contact a coordinator to confirm registration, scheduling, and the offering your employee wants. [1]

Does the 50% reimbursement cover an existing employee’s course?

Workforce Buffalo describes up to 50% reimbursement under its new-hire OJT wage program. It identifies Customized Training as a separate route for eligible current workers. Ask business services about the terms for your proposed training. [2]

Should I book a group class or individual coaching?

Ask for group instruction when employees share a learning goal and can practice together. Request individual coaching for a separate pace or project. Have the instructor assess starting skills before choosing the format.

Can a laid-off employee get help paying for retraining?

Workforce Buffalo lists ITA funding for eligible individuals and approved training on its dislocated-worker resource page. Contact a career center about eligibility and course approval before paying. [3]