When Wendy Scarbrough lost her job after 10 years as a television news producer for NBC, she decided it would be smart to pursue a new career and to improve her skills.

At a job fair, she learned about a course that she was sure would make her more marketable to employers. Within weeks, she was enrolled in that course, in project management, at Northern Virginia Community College, alongside 15 other laid-off workers.

It felt a little odd enrolling at a community college, Ms. Scarbrough said, because she already had a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Still, she said, not only were the instructors knowledgeable, but also the course involved visits from prospective employers, and she was able to polish her skills in budgeting, personnel management and other areas.

“I learned a lot,” she said. “It also helped me psychologically after looking for a job for a year and feeling discouraged. It gave me a new direction and has certainly been helpful for networking.”