Making Connections

Help for female job seekers The old adage, "You alone can do it, but you can't do it alone" certainly rings true for women job seekers in the GTA. COLLEEN CLARKE

[ 2006-07-05 ] Send to a friend Print

Government-sponsored workshops and counselling is available for women of all ages, stations and challenges.

Marie Heron, the regional manager of the HRSDC-funded On-Track Pre-Employment Program, offers women 28 years old and up a three-week career exploration program -- a lifeline for women looking to return to the workforce.

On-Track helps women in career exploration, job maintenance and lifelong learning. Whether you are employed, unemployed or returning to the labour market after staying at home to raise a family, this program will get you focused and back on your feet.

Since 1999, On-Track has assisted hundreds of women to get beyond low-paying service jobs and into careers they excel at and are passionate about.

Heron's On-Track program (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) is worth checking out. Start by calling 416-667-0669, where the program will be described to you. If you think you would like to register, a meeting is arranged to determine your eligibility.

You are then assigned to one of three locations most convenient to you: Danforth Scarborough, North York or Malvern. Employed women receive free counselling by e-mail with assistance for resumes, cover letters and referrals to outside career support. Programs start the second Monday of each month.

Week one is all about you, Heron says. It covers career exploration, personality and academic assessment, as well as courses in stress management and relaxation. You will even learn about labour-market forecasting so you can choose the most lucrative industry when making your career decision.

Week two is all about employability skills training, communication, managing change and decision-making.

By the third week, you are ready to write your resume and cover letters and begin practising your interview and presentation skills. Upon graduation, you will have a plan of what you might like to do and will be referred for skills training through an assessment centre or aligned with volunteer work to hone some newly needed skills. Guidance and counselling is available for up to a year.

The website is www.get-on-track.net.

Other available programs include:

- Times Change

(416-927-1900, ext.0) -- this one-on-one service caters to all women, working, underemployed or unemployed.

- Skills for Change

(416-658-3101) -- works only with immigrant and refugee women. They have employer contacts and provide outreach.

- Office Workers

(416-925-7155) -- available for administrative assistants only.

You are not alone, just pick up the phone.

Colleen Clarke is a career specialist and corporate trainer and author of Networking - How to Creatively Tap Your People Resources

--www.colleenclarke.com

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