Office Skills Training Program

Polish American Association offers a free Introduction to Office Skills Program GOISA(General Office Information Support Assistant) for participants who are motivated to improve their qualifications and find a fulfilling career in an office environment.

The program trains future office assistants in today's most popular computer programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Quick Books) and other office skills, which include business correspondence ,filling ,bookkeeping and accounting procedures. Students improve their communication skills and command of the English language. They learn standards of office behavior, including: dress code; work habits and values; relating to the public, supervisors, and other employees. Students create a resume; learn about job sources and how to fill out a job application. They also participate in a mock job interview. Students must pass a test after each part of the covered material.

A person is enrolled when he or she completes the enrollment form provided by the Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS), submits all required documentations, passes the English test , and her or his income is calculated.

The program, including the textbook and other materials, is free of charge. Instruction takes place in a well-equipped computer lab. Each student has access to a computer and the Internet. The PAA provides placement assistance, which includes teaching job search, job readiness skills, as well as finding jobs for participants and placing them into unsubsidized employment. We follow up our students' employment after 30 and 90 consecutive days of employment. Confirmation forms are signed by the employer.

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. be authorized to work in the U.S.A.
  2. be 18 years of age or older
  3. must live in the City of Chicago
  4. have a low or moderate income status* 

(*Information on current income limits is available at the PAA.)

For more information call at (773)481-5401

The program is sponsored by Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS)

The school is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (www.ibhe.org).

The Polish American Association is not accredited with a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting body.

Complaints, which cannot be resolved by direct negotiation with the School in accordance to our written grievance policy, may be filed with the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701 or at complaints.ibhe.org/.

A statement of the institution's accreditation status with a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting body. If no such accreditation exists, the institution must prominently state this in its advertising and published materials; (Are you or are you not accredited)

(Institution) is approved by the “Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.”