When you are looking for a job sometimes everything feels very overwhelming! There are many things you can do to find employment. Remember: finding work is a full-time job! Sometimes it will take months to find a job- but stick with it and use all available services! If you follow the steps below, your job search may become easier! Step One: Have a clear plan. Answer the following questions:
Step Two: Now that you have a clearer plan of the type of the employment you would like, write it down in a notebook. You will use this notebook to keep track of all the jobs you apply find and apply for. It could look like this (you can copy this into your notebook): Job Name: Company Name: Company Contact- Name?: Contact Information- email? Phone number?: How do I apply? Email? In person? Online?: By what date do I need to apply by?: Resume done?: Cover letter done?: Interview?: OR keep track of this on your computer OR save all the job postings you have applied to (you could even print them off!) Step Three: Start looking for jobs. If you are looking for entry level/retail jobs, you could use are indeed.ca, jobbank.gc.ca, careerbeacon.ca. When you go onto these sites, it will ask you to enter WHAT you are looking for and WHERE you are looking. If you are looking for retail jobs you will put RETAIL in the WHAT box and HALIFAX or DARTMOUTH or BEDFORD in the WHERE box. You can also leave the WHAT blank if you would like all jobs to come up. If you are attached to an employment agency, you can use their website to job search as well. They post many links to employers who are ready to hire! Step Four: Narrow your search to jobs that meet the criteria that you stated in Step 1. Once you have found jobs you would like to apply for, fill in the information above so you have are organized. It will show you what jobs you found, what jobs you applied to and the status of the job. This is important when you get discouraged- you can see how much job searching you have done! Remember- it can take a lot of time to find a job. Step Five: Don’t stop job searching or applying for jobs just because you applied to one job. You can apply for numerous jobs all at the same time! You can always contact your agency if you need help applying. Top Tips:
SCHOOL WORKS CANADA also known as TRAACE is is designed for high school students, 15 -21 years of age, to better prepare them for when they transition out of school and into the workplace.The curriculum consists of skill building modules and all participants are placed in an eight week volunteer position to give them the hands on experience of being out in the workforce. COMMUNITYWORKS is pre-employment program for teens and young adults with ASD who are attending high school. Working alongside peer mentors, participants take part in various volunteer opportunities throughout HRM, where they will have the chance to develop social, communication, résumé-building, and other pre-employment skills. Eligibility criteria for CommunityWorks Canada include:
EMPLOYMENTWORKS is an employment program for adults with ASD who are out of high school, up to age 29. The program consists of twice weekly sessions comprised of structured, tailored content aimed at employment and social skill building. Participants also get the chance to sample various types of employment through job-shadowing at a minimum of 4 locations throughout HRM. Eligibility criteria for EmploymentWorks Canada include:
AUTISM WORKS LAUNCH PAD is a comprehensive program that teaches the skills needed to enter the workforce. While we support our participants through real-life work experience and classroom lessons, our Regional Autism Coordinator creates connections with employers to develop jobs.
Work ExperienceThe Promise of a Pearl is a social enterprise that has gained the reputation for high quality, affordable jewellery made by people with autism, their friends and families. Participants learn how to make products, manage quality control, package retail orders, and be a part of the Promise team. Customer service experience takes place at the Halifax Seaport Market and various craft events. In my line of work I meet with many individuals of all ages, backgrounds and experience. The common denominator between everyone is “moving towards employment”. The move into employment happens differently for all of us, but one key factor that is going to determine if a job seeker is chosen by an employer to move into paid work is skills and not just any skills, but the right set of skills to get the job done. In today’s ever changing modern economy there are multiple opportunities for a person to build employment skills and one approach to acquiring basic or advanced employable skills is by participating in an employment program.
Employment Programs help individuals develop employment skills to become more employable and transition into paid employment. Employment programs are designed to:
Autism Nova Scotia offers four distinctive employment programs and encourages all individuals with autism 15yrs. of age and up to experience, explore, contribute and flourish in one employment readiness programs:
Each employment program is slightly different and offers its own unique training to prepare job seekers for the work force, however, their main goal is to equip all job seekers to enter and remain in the labour force. If you are a job seeker and are still unsure if one of our employment programs is right for you keep reading to learn about past participants’ experiences and why they place such a high value on the skills they developed in Autism Nova Scotia’s Employment programs: CommunityWorks Canada: “I learned a lot if skills and jobs.” “My son got exposed to a variety of work environments and obtained various skill sets.” EmploymentWorks Canada: “If I had to sum it up in one sentence I would say I am learning new job skills I never knew I had, like skills that will help me find a job.” “The worksites have been very helpful. Its’ certainly helped me in making time for myself and actually working on a resume and cover letter. It’s a good motivation tool.” SchoolWorks Canada (TRAACE): “Calm, better than I thought, helpful, collected, confidence boosting, active, helpful, good info.” “I think there wasn’t just one thing about the program, but everything combined that makes me feel more prepared for life.” Launch Pad: “Autism Works LaunchPad has been an amazing experience that helped my career. During my time there, we learned a lot about professionalism and how it helps in the work place. When got the job opportunity at Cineplex Dartmouth Crossing, David and I did practice interviews – I was on the top of my game when it came to answering interview questions. When finally got the job, I knew that Autism Works LaunchPad was best choice I could have ever made.” “We learned so many new things in LaunchPad: interview techniques and opportunities to practice them, how to write resumes and do job searches. We learned how to match skills to jobs, and how to set goals. We learned about proper behavior in the workplace, and how to talk with employers and colleagues. We also had fun! I’ve been working at Value Village since April, 2016. I really like my coworkers, and my job coach was such a big help. I feel more positive about my future, and getting a paycheck every two weeks is a bonus.” If you want to feel more positive about your future, then help yourself prepare for your future by clicking on the following link: http://www.autismnovascotia.ca/pre-vocational-employment-programs to learn more about each employment program. If you have further questions or want to know when the next employment program starts so you can register contact: Jamie Lynn Hill Clinical Supervisor CommunityWorks & EmploymentWorks Canada Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-593-1015 Ext. 1 Marcia MacInnins Education & Employment Manager SchoolWorks Canada (TRAACE) Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-593-1015 Ext. 3 David Paterson Education & Employment Manager Autism Works Launch Pad Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-446-4995 Many people can-you are not alone, and you already know most of them:
“The Autism Job Seekers Database is an important new tool for both job-seekers and employers” and here’s WHY: Job Seekers
The Autism Job Seekers Database is a source of a large and diverse pool of potential job seekers that fit your hiring needs—“helping employers build more inclusive workplaces and positively impacting their bottom line.” Ready, Willing & Able offers support with resources, consultation, and answers to your questions about the modern inclusive workforce. If you are an employer who is interested in hiring inclusively through Ready, Willing & Able all you need to do is follow these simple steps:
Ready, Willing & Able has partnerships with various employment agencies across Halifax Regional Municipality and Nova Scotia, to further enhance employment services for YOU! There are numerous employment agencies designed to help you find employment. Every agency is inclusive, which means anyone who is 16 or older, of any ability, can access their services. If you are thinking of joining an employment agency, but are unsure of what they do, you have come to the right place! Outlined below are various things an agency can do for you: •Give 1:1 case management advice on types of employment you are looking for, funding you are entitled to, and career goals. •Provides workshops on employment needs such as how to write a resume/cover letter, how to disclose a disability, transferable skills etc. Each agency has a schedule of workshops they offer monthly. You can find these calendars at your agency or online for most agencies. If you want to attend a workshop, your case manager can sign you up or you can call the receptionist and sign up. •Provides you with a resource room where computers, printers etc. are available for your use for free! Some agencies also have free phone services you can use to call employers about possible job leads or to set up your interview. •Job Developers- these individuals go into the community to find jobs. If your case manager has suggested you work with a job developer, then you will be sent jobs that match your specific requests for employment. •Provides you with an up to date Job Board where you can examine jobs that are available right now to apply for! •Employment Support Practitioners- Some agencies have people devoted to help you with mock interview support and on the job support once you are successful in obtaining employment. Your case manager will link you with an Employment Support Practitioner if they feel you would benefit from their services. Employment agencies do require you to complete paperwork on your first visit and they will ask you have a valid SIN card. If you do not have a SIN card, you will need to get one before visiting an agency. It is important to note that employment agencies DO NOT job search for you- that part is up to you! They DO, however, give you all the resources you need to job search and, once you find a job, your case manager can help you apply. Want more information about agencies? Check out the following websites: www.jobjunction.ca teamworkbridge.org opportunityplace.ca ymcaemploymentcentre.ca If you have a formal diagnosis or self-diagnose as having ASD you can also rely on support from the Employment Support Coordinator, Sheila at Autism Nova Scotia- [email protected] Part of job searching is ensuring you are applying to several jobs at once. When applying to various jobs, it is important to tweak your resume so it links to the job for which you are applying. You should have one master resume and cover letter that you can then tweak to suit the job description. It is not enough to substitute one company name for another! Think about what you want your resume to say to the employer. It should link directly to each bullet point or requirement listed within the job description. This will require a bit of time and effort, on your part, to complete. If done well, this is an extremely effective method of getting your resume noticed, showing you are serious about your job search and willing to put in the extra effort needed to be successful. So how do I tweak a resume? Sit down with a highlighter and read the job description. Go through and highlight the points that seem important (they could be mentioned repeatedly) and the points that you could speak to with your experience and skills. This is always step one— you can’t tweak your resume for a position if you don’t know what the job requires. If you have an objective on your resume, tweak it! Objectives are great as it shows the employer the type of work you are wishing to find. Be sure to always tweak your objective so that it corresponds with the job! This will show the employer you are interested in working for their company. Show you know the company's core mission and needs. You should research the company. If you can show you understand the core mission of the company and how they relate to the job, you will show you are interested in working for that company. Furthermore, if you can identify some needs of the company and how you can address them, add that in your resume. Ask a friend Ask someone else—your case manager, a friend or teacher— to examine your resume. If they can explain why you’re interested in the position just based on reading your resume, then you have tweaked it well! If your friend can’t work out why you’re applying or how you’re a good fit, then more tailoring is likely needed. Top Tips: Always be searching for more than one job Read the job description carefully Tweak your objective to meet the job Have one master resume and cover letter |
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