Spies Wanted. Can you look out your window and see if...

In Vancouver, Canada (The job market is ok here.) a lot of these services are offered by the government, community centers, employment center etc. for free. I think that may also be true in the US.

There is an extensive small business center that the the same thing for people trying to start a new business (ie. incorporation, business plan advice etc.)

Also a lot of those courses (MS Excel) can be taken at a community college given by the same instructors that you intend to hire.

What might be good is:

1) Interviewing practice - I have not seen this offered at all although
2) Marketing yourself on the internet
3) Job search boot camp

There are a lot of books that teach you the 'Process' of getting a new job. And it is a process. But like a book on jogging you get no benefit until you are actually jogging. Reading about it is no help.

So like boot camp maybe a 'Job Camp' where they train you on the process and get you into the mindset of daily networking, calling prospects etc. etc.

After the boot camp you have some momentum to continue the search.