Career and Job Search Help Blog

What should I do NEXT? Take a Gap year, an apprenticeship, budget perhaps...

 

So, you may be wondering - what do all these things have in common? Well, for one thing they are all things that many young people consider with regards to their career choices,  but they are also part of North York Central Library's Business department's Generation Next Series of free educational programs.

Generation Next refers to a demographic cohort of  individuals born between 1980-1999. Other names for Generation Next are Generation Y, Millennial Generation or the Net Generation many of them are the children of Baby Boomers. People of this generation are known for:

• Being technologically savvy, being the first generation to experience social media
• Having a strong belief in equal opportunity,they are very ethnically and racially diverse.
• Their ability to multitask and think quickly
• Having a greater tolerance for differences than their predecessors.

This is the newest generation and will be the future leaders of tomorrow, they are currently our teens and twenty somethings - and many of them are either just starting their careers, thinking about their careers or transitioning from school to career. So, if you or someone you know is part of this generation why not join us (but remember, all are welcome!):

 The Gap Year Alternative...What You Need to Know, Thursday, April 19, 2012, Auditorium

A Gap Year is a time away from normal routine, a time for you to experience personal growth through volunteerism, travel and work. Find out about the benefits and changing perceptions of taking a "Gap Year" and how it can help you expand your horizons and find new excitement. All are welcome!

 

 

Apprenticeships: Earn As You Learn! Tuesday, April 23, 2012, 6:30 -8:00, Auditorium

Come join us for the second program of our Generation Next Series. Prof. Angelo Palantzas will discuss apprenticeship training for construction and industrial trades. Apprentices learn a skilled occupation by combining college courses with paid on the job training. Skilled workers are in high demand in current industries. All are welcome!

For more information on apprenticeships, check out this blog!

Juggling Student Loans, Credit Card Debt, & an Entry Level Salary? Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 6:30 - 8:00, Auditorium

In this session financial advisor Anthony Romano will share the single biggest money mistake we all make and how to avoid it. He will discuss how to venture past a regular savings account into the world of mutual funds and TFSAs and the impact the world's financial situation could have on you.
Learn to manage your money, pay off debt, and control your financial future. All are welcome.

If you'd like to register call the Business Department @ 416-395-5613, or just come!

Apprenticeships - Earn as You Learn!

An apprenticeship is an agreement between a person who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker. For the majority of apprenticeships you receive most of your training on the job from other more experienced workers - actually according to Employment Ontario 90% of most apprenticeship training is provided in the workplace. However, you also are required to complete some classroom instruction at an educational institution for a theoretical foundation.  One important thing to know is that there are two categories of trades; for some you must get a Certificate of Qualification- meaning that you must pass a provincial exam to prove you are indeed skilled in your trade, and the others certification is voluntary. The education component of apprenticeships prepares you for certification.

If you are the type of person who enjoys working with your hands, you feel like you couldn't see yourself sitting in an office, or you prefer to learn by "doing" rather than listening then maybe an apprenticeship is for you. Actually, my partner is one of these people - he has a knack for fixing things, problem solving, hates to sit still and is a mechanic. When he graduated from high school he started working right away in at an auto-shop and did one three month term a year in school. Eventually, he went on to work as a truck mechanic and even went up to Yellowknife to work on the famous and dangerous Ice Roads - in Yellowknife the salaries tend to be higher.  One good think about careers in the trades is that you are eligible to work in many provinces across Canada. Actually, there is something called the Red Seal Endorsement, which permits skilled workers of elgible trades to work anywhere in Canada.

There is a high demand for skilled workers in the current industry. Industries need to stay up to date with technology which is changing at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the global economy. According to the Ontario Business Report by 2020 Ontario will face a shortage of 190,000 skilled workers due to retiring baby boomers. So, right now the province is really trying to attract people to skilled trades. You can apply for a $1,000/year tax dedcutible apprenticeship incentive grant which will help to pay for books, transportation, tutition, tools etc.

There are over 150 trades to choose from ranging from steamfitters, cabinetmakers, arborists, hairstylists, automotive painers and many more. The trades are divided into four categories:

1. Construction
2. Service
3. Industrial
4. Motor Power

There are so many different paths you can choose when you graduate from highschool; university, college, or even working right away. When you're doing an apprenticeship you are a worker, so you earn as you learn.

Below are some helpful links:

Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

George Brown College Apprenticeships

Youth Canada - Apprenticeship programs

Canadian Apprenticeship trades

 

 

 

Searching for a job, try a "Job Search @ Your Fingertips" workshop

Are you looking for a job, and need some more resources for your search? The library is a good place to start. Every month North York Cental Library has a workshops called Job Search @ Your Fingertips usually on a Thursday afternoon from 2:00 - 3:30. Registration is required, you can register in the business department on the 4th floor of North York Central Library or call 416-395-5613. In these workshops online career resources are discussed, using the library website. Career related databases are also explored, such as:

 

Business Writing 

Core skills for business writing including letters, reports, emails, etc. This is a good resource for assisting with grammar especially for resumes and cover letters. This database is available anywhere with a library card.

 

Scott's Business Directories Online

Canadian company information by product, type, location, exports, demographics, contact information. This database allows you to search for companies across Canada by geographic region and many career categories. The database provides company information such as: executive names and email addresses, company websites, yearly estimated sales, company size etc. You can find companies to contact in your field for employment. This database is available anywhere with a library card.

 

Canada Employment Weekly

Canada's Largest Career Newspaper which lists full time occupation for thousands of jobs for over 80 occupations every week. Online access is available only at North York Central and Toronto Reference Library - you can ask library staff to help you.

 

 

Other libraries have many other Career & Job search related programs such as:

Resumes and Cover Letters that get Results,

Access the 80-90% of Hidden Market Jobs 

Ontario Works Information Session.

 

Click the link for other Career & Job Search programs at a branch near you.

 

Emerging Careers for the 21st Century

By: Jane

What are the jobs going to be in the next 5 years?

The Counselling Centre at the University of Calgary has some suggestions:

Emerging Careers for the 21st Century

•    Space City Designer
•    Data Recovery Consultant
•    Aquaculturist
•    Vice-President Protocol
•    Bionic Electron Consultant
•    Cloning Expert
•    Personal Nutritionist for Busy Executives
•    Virtual Vacation Broker
•    Fusion Engineer
•    Legal Consultant on One-World Trade Agreement
•    Horticultural Therapist
•    Online Astrologer    •    Gene Replacement Specialist
•    Personal Efficiency Advisor
•    Cultural Protection Advisor
•    Materials Utilization Specialist for Resorts
•    Euthanasia Ethics Advisor
•    Forensic Entomologist
•    Robot Technician
•    e-Commerce Business Consultant
•    Multi-Generational Relationship Counsellor
•    Computational Linguist
•    Underwater Archaeologist
•    Credential/Training Advisor

 You should also be comfortable with hi-tech, speak another language plus English, and be a good communicator. Summertime in Toronto invites practicing your skills on the outdoor patios:  all in the name of furthering your career!

Check out the University of Calgary's Counselling Centre, as well as Ontario Job Futures' websites as well as our online database, Career Cruising.

And don't forget the books!

         

Learn More, Learn More About Job Hunting

How does this sound? A free course in using a cash register. AYCE has a free course coming up this Friday. Check their site for this and other programs.

Or are you having trouble figuring out what to do next? The Career Foundation has a class that helps you explore the different career opportunities that are currently in demand. See how your existing skills can be transferred to the right job.

Want to find unadvertised jobs? Access Employment Services has a session on May 12th on cold calling - how to make contact with employers. Check the calendar on their website for this and other training opportunities.

Don't forget the nuts and bolts of job hunting. Check out WoodGreen Jobs. They have sessions on resumes, interview skills and more.  CultureLink holds Job Search Workshops which teach you everything you need about job hunting. Some of CultureLink's programs are held at Toronto Public Library branches.

Find other agencies that offer these and similar free classes through the Employment Ontario help finder or through 211Toronto's list of organizations that offer job search training.

Last but not least, TPL has upcoming employment classes in French and English, including resume workshops, social networking to find jobs and more. Check to see what's on offer near you.

New Year's Resolution: Check out what's new at the Library for Job Searching

With the new year comes a plethora of new books - I love cracking open a new book, don't you? The library has acquired a number of new titles on job interviews: Top Notch Interviews, Ultimate Interview... We're also focusing on a cool new database called Business Writing. It's full of hints and examples to help you improve your business writing skills - now you can write more effective reports, letters, emails, etc. Plus, more databases are now accessible through our library website and we've highlighted the relevant ones on the right-hand side. And don't forget the new roster of free job search seminars at many library branches in TPL. Check them all out in our Market Yourself section of our Job & Career Help webpage.

Now, this is one New Year's resolution that you can easily keep!

Getting Job Hunting Help

Employment services in Ontario are changing and haven't settled down yet.

Check out this article, One-Stop Employment Services from Possibilities, the Toronto's online employment resource centre.

Possibilities says that agencies that delivered services targeted to specific groups such as newcomers or women will be revamping their services to serve all population groups. In the meantime, some Toronto Employment Resource Centres which offer a minimum of services will run until at least April 2012.

See the full article.

For in depth information about the changes and how it will affect job hunters, see the Employment Services Implementation FAQ from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. 

For example, the FAQ says that "agencies and organizations providing the new model will help people find work. The services provided include job search strategies, such as resumé preparation, as well as information about different careers and occupations, the local labour market, employment and training opportunities, on-the-job training and/or work experience. They also include information about all Employment Ontario programs and services, as well as information about and referral to other community services and supports."

Find an employment resource centre or other job hunting help through a search of 211Toronto. Your tax dollars have paid for these services!

How to Market Yourself

The good folks at Skills for Change recently put forth a number of tips on how to effectively market yourself. SFC is a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Their mission is to provide learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees to access and fully participate in the workplace and wider community. However, every piece of advice in this article will be useful to anyone looking for a job! 

So what else is out there? Have a look at these books!

     

Be Your Own Boss!

The University Settlement Employment and Training Centre, at 720 Spadina Avenue in Toronto, is offering 8-week training programs for people who want to start their own business. There are a number of qualifying criteria that you must fulfill before you are admitted into this program - but it looks like a very promising program! Start date is the first week of each month. Have a look at their website.

Job Search Workshop for Newcomers at Lillian H. Smith Branch

Free 4-day information program for newcomers to Canada.

Monday - Thursday November 15, 16, 17 & 18, 2010
4-8 pm

At this course, you will

• Develop a job search action plan
• Learn to market your skills effectively
• Prepare a professional resume and cover letter
• Accessing hidden job markets: find out about different ways of networking and contacting employers in Canada
• Prepare for a job interview and practice successful interview techniques
• Learn about workplace culture

This workshop is available to Landed Immigrants (Permanent Residents), Convention Refugees and Live-In Caregivers.

Register in person at the Lillian H. Smith branch of Toronto Public Library
239 College Street (College and Huron, 1 block east of Spadina)
or
Telephone CultureLink at 416-588-6288

After you complete this 4-evening workshop, you will get individual employment counselling from CultureLink Settlement Services.