Skills for Change



SfCeNews
April 29, 2005
Volume 6  Issue 4
Circulation 6,690 Subscribers

Skills for Change (SfC) is a non-profit agency based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Our mandate is to provide learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees so that they can participate in the workplace and wider community.

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Programs and Services Calendar

In this edition...

one2one COACHING
Occupational Terminology for the Foreign-trained
Overview and Orientation for the Foreign-trained 
Laugh or Go Bananas  
Volunteer of the Month
Transferable Skills
Language Upgrading Courses

one2one COACHING      NEW!
What you need, when you need it.

one2one COACHING is for the internationally-trained -- especially those in the fields of accounting, engineering, health care and IT –- and for others interested in fast-tracking their job search.

You may need help with your work search documents, preparing for an interview or conducting an effective job search. Our coaching team can help you with resume critiques, mock interviews, career counseling, and much more.

Gearing Yourself Up for an Interview ($100 · 2 hrs) REGISTER
You’ll go the whole nine yards in your job interview with just this 2-hour individualized coaching session. The first part will cover all the basic things you ever wanted to know about interviews, e.g., what type of questions to expect, guidelines on how to respond, ‘what to say/what not to say,’ how to present yourself using positive body language. The second part will be rehearsing for the actual interview itself under the guidance of a professional. We will videotape your practice session and give you feedback as we review your interview.

My Resume is Not Working! ($75 · 1½ hrs) REGISTER
The objective of this 1½-hour session is to help you fashion an attractive and effective resume, one that accurately reflects your specific job objective.

It will include: focusing your resume to the job you are applying for; formatting it appropriately considering your situation; making sure that correct terminology is used, and that buzz words and key phrases are included; and editing and proofreading it for grammar and spelling.

Fashion Models Need a Portfolio;
and so do Professionals Like You! ($100 · 2 hrs) REGISTER
You will have your own usable professional portfolio by the end of this 2-hour private coaching session. The session will cover the ‘what,’ ‘why,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ and ‘how’ of portfolio building: What to include in your portfolio? Why the need for a portfolio? When and where do you use your portfolio? How to actually organize your portfolio and use it strategically for self- marketing and job search purposes?

Cover Letter First Aid ($75 · 1½ hrs) REGISTER
You’ve written a cover letter but no one is reading it. This 1½-hour ‘fix- it’ session will help you personalize your resume, focus it on the job you want, match your qualifications with employment requirements, and make a good first impression that hopefully will motivate an employer to invite you in for an interview. Part of the package will be formatting, editing, proofreading and the like.

Cover Letter from Scratch ($75 · 1½ hrs) REGISTER
You’re applying for a position and need a great cover letter.

Knowing the job you want, and given the information you have about the company you are applying to, this 1½-hour one-to-one session will help you compose an impressive cover letter that can accompany your resume.

It will be a one page (correctly formatted, edited and proofread) document that is tailored to the requirements of the specific position and company you are interested in.

Microsoft Office ($50 · 1 hr) REGISTER
Have an interview tomorrow and need a quick review? Don't quite understand how to do a Word mail merge? Need to be able to use Excel Pivot Tables to manage a database? Have to create a company newsletter next week using Publisher, but don't know how? one2one COACHING for Microsoft Office applications is for you.

Use your one hour to be personally instructed in, or review, any combination of Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and Publisher. After the initial hour, extra coaching time is available at $40 an hour.
 

Occupational Terminology for the Foreign-trained     NEW!

Are you an Internationally-trained Engineer, Health Care Professional or Accountant looking for employment in your field?

Our Occupational Terminology course provides you with the terminology used in your occupation as it is used at work, in job advertisements, and in testing and licensure. Courses are available for Engineers, Health Care Professionals and Accountants.

More information here.
 

Overview and Orientation for the Foreign-trained    NEW!

Enroll in our Sector Terminology, Information and Counselling (STIC) program and learn the labour market for your profession; requirements for members of your occupation; legislation related to your profession in Ontario; professional registration and how to qualify for a license; alternative opportunities for people in your field; and impact of technology on your profession.

More information here.
 

TechSkills  

TechSkills specializes in hands-on, instructor-led training in the latest software applications. We offer instructors with years of real-world expertise in a fun informal setting, teaching everything from basic web site development to more advanced accounting and database design.

Our courses are structured to encourage beginners and professionals to start at the level that matches their skills and to lead them progressively to more advanced topics. Because our classes are limited in size, students have more hands-on interaction with the instructor.

· Experienced professional instructors
· Small class sizes
· Quality training materials
· Competitive pricing

Registration
By phone - 416 658-3101 ext. 700
On-line - www.skillsforchange.org/register
Complete course listing - www.skillsforchange.org/techskills

Tuition tax credit forms will be issued. Some classes are held at another location. Additional materials or textbook fees may be charged for some courses. EI recipients welcomed.
 

Laugh or Go Bananas  
A Humour Therapy Workshop for Your Organization or Company

Exercise regularly. Stay away from fried foods. Laugh more?

It doesn't seem like the typical prescription, but the benefits of laughter may help keep the doctor away – and keep you sane at the office.

Laughter has been touted by a growing number of health care professionals as a form of exercise that helps keep the body and mind fit.

The benefits of laughter and humor can be experienced through our Humour Therapy Workshop – Laugh or Go Bananas.

This 90-minute, interactive workshop gets groups (from five to 200 in size) up on their feet, practising their laughing exercises, letting off steam, and dancing the salsa.

Under the care of Dr. Giggles, participants shed their inhibitions and learn how to manage their external stress with their “internal smile.”
 

“Very uplifting for everyone." “Very positive an effective ways of dealing immediately with stress and bringing motivation in my life" "Best presentation so far for me... an uplifting gift” “I came in all stressed out and I am leaving with two smiles (one inside and one outside)." "I will do my best to keep Nelson’s laughing face in my pocket! It is better than a million dollars." "I found it relaxed, interesting, respectful, just right!" "Thanks for giving us the strength we need to continue in the job search without stress.” “A fabulous set of skills in coping with a job hunt in the Toronto environment. Breaks the ice in record time.” “The staff at Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre highly recommends the workshop. We found it was a great stress reliever, an amazing way to build team spirit, an educational workshop (we walked away with many new techniques and tools to better deal with the fast pace in our workplace). The workshop took place on the Friday and Monday when staff arrived to work they still talked and laughed about the experience on Friday.” “Dr. Giggles held his energy level so high!" "A real self-discovery.”

Interested in our workshop for your organization or company?  Contact us for more information.

Volunteer of the Month

SfC recognizes Jawed Siddique as April’s Volunteer of the Month.

Jawed was responsible for coordinating the operation of our Community Income Tax Clinic during March and April. The Clinic, delivered in partnership with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, provided free assistance to newcomers who were filing their Canadian income tax returns, many for the first time ever.

Jawed immigrated to Canada from Pakistan in 2003 and is a graduate of the Skills for Change STIC program for Accountants. In Pakistan, Jawed was a senior business manager and bank manager.

Many thanks to Jawed for the donation of his time to helping other newcomers.
 

Transferable Skills
What Do Employers Want? - Transferable Or "Soft" Skills

by Libby Ackermann

More and more employers today are demanding transferable or "soft" skills? What are transferable or soft skills and why do employers find them so important?

You don't have to go to school to acquire transferable skills. They are often basic skills like the ability to:

· understand and communicate clearly
· think and solve problems
· find and use information

They are the personal skills, attitudes and behaviours you need to:

· grow on the job
· work with others
· contribute productively

More...
 

ESL Courses

The following courses are still available:

Start Date: April 25, 2005
ESL/Advanced Communication in the Workplace for Working People (Evening)
ESL/Introductory Bookkeeping (Monday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.)
ESL/Keyboarding (Evening)

Start Date: May 9, 2005
ESL/Introductory Bookkeeping (Evening)
ESL/Microsoft Office (Evening)
TOEFL (Evening)

How to Apply
Please call (416) 658-7090, Monday to Friday between 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m., or Monday to Thursday, between 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. or Saturday, 10:00 a.m. -12 noon.
 

Language Upgrading Courses

Are you an Internationally Trained Teacher (ITT) who wants to improve your level of English in order to teach in the Ontario Public School System?

Skills for Change through the Teach in Ontario Project is offering Language Upgrading Courses that are specifically designed for the ITT whose goal is to become a teacher in Ontario.

These courses are designed based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels 7 to 10 with a focus on the Ontario Schools Curriculum. Each course targets primarily those language skills needed to function confidently and proficiently as a Canadian teacher.

Daytime Sessions (M-F, 9a - 4p)
· June 6 - July 30

Additional details here.
 

Special Guest Series

MAY GUEST SPEAKERS
Pre-register at reception or call 416-516-4689 to reserve a seat

JOB SEARCH TIPS for Internationally Trained Engineers (Mechanical/ Electronic/ Industrial), Architects, IT Professionals (Technicians & Technologists)
Joan Kent, Culture Link   
Internationally Trained Professional face many obstacles in finding employment in Canada. Joan Kent will discuss how to overcome these obstacles, how to write an effective resume and what employers and employment agencies are looking for. Find out how the programs offered at Culture Link can help you find work.  
Monday, May 2, 2005 at 1 pm
Monday, May 30, 2005 at 1 pm

INFORMATION SESSION:  PLC (Programmable logic Controller) TRAINING
Stephen Hossbach, from RETS Career Training (www.rets.ca) will cover the following topics:
-What is PLC?
-How does PLC training enhance your job security and advancement? -What are the labour market trends in this field?
Monday, May 9, 2005 at 1 pm

INFORMATION SESSION Clerical Employment Services – Skills for Change
Kanchan Lakhotia
Attend this information session and find out how the Clerical Employment Services program helps Newcomers find work in the field of customer service, administrative, retail, or clerical accounting. Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 1 pm

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD: CREATING A POWERFUL PORTFOLIO
Showcasing Your Job Skills & Experience
Roy Morley, B.Sc., M.B.A., P.Eng., Professor of the School of Business Management at Ryerson Polytechnic University, discusses how to create – and present - a professional portfolio that will impress prospective employers. -What is a portfolio? -What goes into a portfolio?
-How does a portfolio help me find a job?
-Does everyone need a portfolio?
-How do you present a portfolio to an employer?
Monday, May 16, 2005 at 1 pm

All workshops will take place at:
DUFFERIN MALL EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CENTRE
900 Dufferin Street, Suite 101 Toronto, ON M6H 4A9
More Info? www.derc.ca 
Contact Us:
t: (416) 516-4689  e: erc@skillsforchange.org
 

Acronym Soup

Confused? Don't be. Here's a list of our agency acronyms, what they mean and (where applicable) a link to the program web page.
 

CES	Clerical Employment Services
CIS	Cultural Interpreting Service
EAS	Employment Assistance Services
EPRS	Employment for Retail Services
ERC	Employment Resource Centre
IAT	Intake, Assessment and Training
JSC	Job Search Centre
JSW	Job Search Workshop
LINC	Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada
ONIP	Ontario Network for Internationally-training Professionals Online
NPA	New Pioneers Awards

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