Landing that first job can be difficult without the right knowledge or skills, which is why one organization is helping youth learn how to enter the workforce with their summer program.
Lutherwood runs the Youth Job Connection: Summer Program which helps 16 to 18 year-olds learn how to secure jobs and develop basic workplace skills.
“After participating in the program, we do expect that they’ll have a better understanding of their own personality,” said Vlad Pop, supervisor for employment services at Lutherwood, “We’ll look at learning about their interests and motivations for securing employment.”
It works by having participants engage in 20 hour paid workshops, which prepare youth with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the workforce.
To participate, youth must be a resident of Ontario, eligible to work in Canada and are not currently working. They will also need to have remote access and be able to do work independently.
Pop explains youth learn about resume building, job searching, networking and identifying career options.
“What we also do is we help our participants actually find the right position,” says Pop, “So we look at the labour market in the Guelph area and we present them with some options that are the right fit for them.”
“The services are very individualized for each of our participants.”
Pop mentions they also teach youth remote interview skills, which have become essential during the pandemic.
“We look at training them how to prepare a professional setting...how to use the camera, how to present professionally in a virtual environment so that they are the successful candidates for the role,” he says.
“We also set the expectation that the current reality is that their job search could include both in-person and remote interviews.”
The program also offers an eight week paid summer placement which exposes participants to potential careers. Working part-time, Pop mentions these roles are in-person and mostly situated in retail, customer service roles and food service.
“The practice that they build on their summer position will help them during their future career,” says Pop, who mentions some students are eligible to obtain their positions with employers after the program if they are not attending college or university.
With the program starting on Monday, students still have a chance to sign up this month or join the next group in May. To enrol within the program, those interested can call Lutherwood at 519-822-4141 or text at 519-400-2053.
For more information, go to beemployed.ca.
