Our services are designed with flexibility so that CareerworksNova can ensure adaptability to changing client needs and labour market trends. CareerworksNova is the starting point for anyone looking to establish their career goals and develop a plan that will guide their future employment success.
Job Search Assistance
This is part of the daily activities of CareerworksNova and involves the Client Services Navigator who deals with general or basic questions regarding a clients job search. Drop in Clients can access the computers to search current employment opportunities, labour market and employer information.
Reference books, job boards, CWN developed job search materials/resources and other employment related printed promotional materials on programs and services available locally, provincially and nationally, are also available for self serve clients. This information is maintained and updated regularly. For more detailed job search assistance, unemployed clients will receive a referral to an Employment Counsellor or group workshop. See the CareerworksNova Blog for related tools and information.
Résumé and Cover Letter Assistance
Clients choosing the self-service options at CareerworksNova can utilize WinWay Résumé, which is a user friendly software program that provides numerous professional résumé formats and cover letter samples/layouts. The Client Service Navigator can also provide assistance with simple format, content and design of a résumé and help with general computer usage and software (i.e. Microsoft Word) applications.
The CSN also maintains a client résumé database, this feature is available to all self serve CWN clients to store their résumé for future use. This information is kept private and can only be accessed by the CSN or other staff when necessary. For a more detailed résumé consultation, our unemployed clients will receive a referral to an Employment Counsellor or group workshop.
Internet Access for Employment and Career Related Research
Clients can access the internet via one of the ten computer stations for any employment related need. Clients can only access appropriate and relevant material related to employment as all social networks, chat lines and other non employment related sites are banned from use at CareerworksNova. Job, employer and educational links are researched and updated regularly. Quick links to such sites as the Service Canada Job Bank and Careerbeacon are available on the CareerworksNova website.
The website also includes career inventory, educational/training institutions and industry links that are relevant to our client base. There are no time limits to internet access as long as the activity is employment related. Limits will only come into affect if all computers are in use and other clients are waiting.
Labour Market Information
The dissemination of Labour Market Information happens on a daily basis at CareerworksNova. It is a large part of the Counselling activities but is also available to our self service clients. LMI covers a wide variety of topics including; occupation summaries, current labour market news/articles and reviews, employer lists and skills requirements, Nova Scotia wage information and statistics, community profiles, industry summaries, trends and opportunities. Direct links to LMI sites are available on the CareerworksNova website and are advertised within the Centre. Resources, i.e. the Nova Scotia Career Options Book (which is also available on-line) are available to clients who prefer to research through hard copy material.
Career Related Interest Inventories/Assessments/Resources
At CareerworksNova, clients wanting to explore their values and competencies can do so through one of the many online inventories available. Links can be found on our website, through a list compiled by the Client Service Navigator. In addition, new updated resources on these topics can be found in hard copy in our Centre.
In an effort to support an increased need for career exploration resources, CareerworksNova has obtained a license for the software Career Cruising. This software offers tools to help clients gain better self knowledge relevant to career planning. The Career Cruising software also provides extensive databases of information dealing with occupations, post-secondary educational institutions (with a strong Canadian content).
Clients are able to develop a personal profile and assess their skills, experience and interest in order to cross reference suitable career options. Assistance with this software is available through the Client Services Navigator and for unemployed clients requiring a more detailed or individual career assessment, a referral to an Employment Counsellor occurs.
Photocopying/Faxing/Printing and Telephone
These services are all available free of charge to all clients. The Client Service Navigator monitors these services to ensure they are only being used for employment related purposes. Self serve clients can access unlimited local and national faxing (overseas is restricted), unlimited printing (within reason) and telephone (local calls and some long distance when necessary). Photocopying is generally limited to 20 copies per day (for résumés and cover letters). All other photocopying needs are again monitored by the Client Services Navigator to ensure it is not in excess and always relevant to a clients employment needs.
Employment Counselling
In many cases clients will self identify a need or want to meet with an employment counsellor. Other times they are referred through an outside organization or recommended to participate by one of the CareerworksNova staff.
The following is an overview of this particular activity provided at CareerworksNova which has been broken down into three areas. (a) Intake Process:
This begins with the Client Services Navigator who will ask the client to complete an intake form. Once completed, the CSN will briefly scan what the client is seeking in order to ensure that a visit with a Counsellor is warranted or if self service activity is more appropriate. (b) Needs Assessment Process:
Prior to the initial appointment, the Employment Counsellor will review the intake form of their assigned client and will have contacted the client by phone to discuss their situation. During the first session, the counsellor conducts a needs assessment to determine and assess their needs in regards to employability. Generally, it is at this time that any barriers to employment will be identified. This will create a dialogue where the Counsellor will determine the client's employment history, education, skills, aptitudes and initial career goals. (c) Counselling Process:
During this process, the Counsellor develops the Return to Work Action Plan for the client and focuses on the appropriate Employability Dimension or combination of Employability Dimensions necessary to assist. They include: Career Decision Making, Job Search, Skill Enhancement and Employment Maintenance. The counsellor and client work together to resolve issues and to develop a realistic Return to Work Action Plan that is exclusive to that client and designed to increase their likelihood of finding long term sustainable employment. The goal is to develop a plan that increases their employability (skills, knowledge) incorporates the current labour market trends and realities and finally works in a framework of time that is realistic and attainable.
This activity further enhances the case management process by providing a link between our employer community and our job ready clients. This activity falls under the responsibility of our Job Developer, who will meet with clients through a referral from the Employment Counsellors. The Counsellors will refer any of their active Job Search clients who they feel can benefit from the Job Developer service. It is at this time they will identify within their Return to Work Action Plan the specific support/service their client needs.
Job Developer services fall into two categories - Group Session (workshops) or Individual (mock interviews). In addition, this activity involves assessing the employer and local labour market needs of our community so as to provide a bridge between these job ready clients and potential employers.
The Job Developer works to enhance this connection in the community, which is especially relevant as we experience a shift in the labour market in terms of employer demands, requirements and expectations vs. employee aptitudes, attitudes, skill level and barriers.
Employability Workshops
Résumé & Cover Letter Writing
In this workshop, participants will learn how to prepare a professional résumé and cover letter to correctly identify and market their skills and education. Focusing on skills and abilities that fit the job being advertised will help create a great cover letter and résumé. Different styles of résumés will be discussed, along with how to avoid common mistakes and how to highlight your experience. Interview Skills
Preparing for the interview process is the focus of this workshop. Covering some common interview questions will help participants be prepared to give good answers. Time will be spent talking about overcoming nervousness, having the right attitude and body language, doing research, and how to deal with a telephone interview. How to do a follow-up call or email will be covered as well. Ask the instructor about arranging for a separate one-on-one mock interview. Job Search Techniques
This session introduces participants to the different areas where job seekers can look for work. Traditional job search tools such as newspaper, radio, and the internet will be covered while also talking about the hidden job market. To help increase job potential during the search, networking within the community will also be discussed. Labour Market Information
Focusing on different methods of how to gather Labour Market Information will help participants make informed career choices. Answering why LMI is important and how it can be used effectively will be the core of this workshop. A portion of this session will be allocated to researching online and how to do this effectively. See the CWN Blog for Dates and more information on Workshops.
Employment Works
This is an important component of the regular services found at CareerworksNova. It is unique to the Centre and has been offered in various formats since 2001. This program design has been very successful since that time as it provides a necessary compliment to the counselling/case management services.
Employment Works is a week long program for clients who are job ready but who lack the necessary tools to find employment and who may also be experiencing stages within the Job Loss Cycle. Group activity and consultation during this cycle is a successfully proven method to assist individuals to transition back into the workforce.
Additional topics include; the application process, the hidden job market, networking skills, business etiquette, labour market trends, and effective résumé and cover letter preparation and presentation.
