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
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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 For some businesses summer employment recruiting starts as early as January. This means if you are a post-secondary student hoping to find your ultimate summer work experience, start job searching in January too or shortly after. High school students looking to gain work experience and earn a paycheck, should look for potential jobs in April, May or June. Maybe you’re not a student, but you have been absent from work, have gaps throughout your employment history or are interested in gaining new work skills. If this sounds like you, a summer job can help you connect to a new career or simply get you back into a healthy work routine. The job might be short term but beneficial for you to have current work experience on your resume; the pay might not be what you earned at your last job, but the skills you learn are worth every penny; maybe your starting at the bottom again, but keep in mind we all need to start somewhere. There are many benefits to accepting a summer job, so don’t wait until June to JOB search-do it today. In Nova Scotia there are many different programs that offer students an opportunity to participate in paid and non-paid work. Both opportunities allow students to build employment skills, network, explore different careers, and much more. To find out more info about Nova Scotia Student Employment options such as:
The websites listed below can help you find summer jobs or engage you in career exploration: careers.novascotia.ca/youth-and-students makeithere.novascotia.ca/ (click on summer employment, these summer positions are with the Government of Nova Scotia) novascotia.ca/programs/student-summer-skills-incentive/ www.halifax.ca/rec/employment.php (Parks & Recreation | Youth Employment Opportunities) https://ca.indeed.com/Summer-jobs-in-Nova-Scotia http://www.simplyhired.ca/search?q=summer+student&l=nova+scotia http://clean.ns.ca/programs/youth-engagement/youth-corps/2592-2/ https://www.careerbeacon.com/ http://www.wowjobs.ca/BrowseResults.aspx?q=student+employment&l=Halifax%2C+NS Successful Summer Job Search Tips
Should I take a seasonal job?
What does ‘seasonal employment’ mean? Seasonal employment is a temporary job wherein the employer has decided that the demand for their services will be higher during that time therefore they will need to hire more people. These types of jobs can last several weeks or a few months. Anyone can apply to seasonal jobs- especially if the job seeker enjoys working for a limited amount of time. If you decide to apply for a seasonal job, you will need to tweak your resume to suit the job- look out for future blogs on this topic! Types of Seasonal Jobs- There are many types of seasonal jobs- and the hint is in the name ‘seasonal’- jobs could be posted for spring, summer, fall or winter! For example, a Ski Hill is more likely to post jobs for the winter as their demand is higher. This goes hand in hand with Christmas tree employers or even being Santa in the mall! Summer amusement parks, resorts/hotels and tree planters are usually hiring for the spring and summer. You must ensure that you are searching for job postings EARLY for seasonal positions. For instance, postings for jobs beginning in the summer could begin as early as January and become more plentiful in March and April. Postings for winter jobs usually begin in August and September so employers are ready for the Christmas rush. Benefits of Seasonal Jobs:
Drawbacks to Seasonal Jobs:
How do I find a seasonal job in HRM? Halifax Regional Municipality has a lot of great seasonal jobs! If you are attached to an employment agency and have a case manager, you can let them know you are looking for seasonal employment. You should also be job searching yourself! If you use the website Indeed.com and write ‘Seasonal’ in the What box and ‘Halifax’ in the Where box, lots of opportunities will be listed. Currently, there are many summer positions listed so get searching! Top Tips: Summer jobs can be posted as early as January A great way to get work experience and references Tweak your resume to suit the seasonal job Could lead to a more permanent position Gain new experiences Use Indeed.com to search for Seasonal jobs Sheila, one of the writer’s for the blog and she is the Employment Support Coordinator for Autism Nova Scotia. In my role, I link and support adults on the Autism spectrum to employment agencies across HRM, complete mock and interview support, assist in job searching, coordinate job coaches and work closely with Ready, Willing and Able Staff, like Chrystal, to ensure adults with ASD are linked to long lasting employment opportunities.
Like Sheila, Chrystal, the other blog writer, also support individuals to find employment. Chrystal is an Autism Outreach Coordinator and works for a new national initiative called Ready, Willing & Able in partnership with Autism NS. She manages the Autism Job Seekers Database and raise awareness among persons with ASD about the potential employment opportunities generated within RWA. After meeting with over a 150 job seekers with autism and their families, we learned there is a need to create opportunities where people can share current information about Nova Scotia’s employment situation and the employment process. While at the same time, when educating employers and employment service providers about autism, we discovered there is a need for employers to better understand the practices around inclusive hiring, specifically around hiring individuals with autism. When Chrystal approached Sheila to contribute to this blog, she immediately jumped at the opportunity. There is a lot of misleading information about inclusive employment on the internet so we will aim to clarify that information and give viewers instruction on everything employment! So what does that mean? The purpose of the blog is to be a community resource that:
We want to give you a chance to ask your own questions and comment on the information posted. We encourage readers to share their own experiences around the employment process and let us know what information about employment or inclusive hiring you are most interested in learning about. As of Friday, April 21, and every Friday thereafter, you can expect to see one blog entry a week that focuses on employment or inclusive hiring. If YOU want to ask questions, comment or share your employment story we ask that you email [email protected], and Sheila or myself will respond to your message within five business days. |
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