So, you’ve just graduated and are fresh out-of-school, or you’re interested in working in the field of employment services, but don’t know where to start. In that case, this is exactly the page for you!

Working as an Employment Specialist is a very rewarding job, as you are supporting a number of clients on their journey to finding meaningful work. By counseling clients on their employment needs and learning about the barriers that impact their job search, you are problem-solving, and coming up with solutions to help them move forward.

Better Jobs Ontario (BJO), previously known as Second Career, is a provincially funded program through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, which helps individuals who are unemployed train for occupations in Ontario that are in high-demand. Such programs must be 52 weeks or less in duration to ensure that the job seeker gets back to work quickly (Government of Ontario, 2023). 

The program offers up to $28,000 in financial assistance to eligible candidates. This sum of money can cover expenses such as “a basic living allowance of up to $500 per week, books, other instructional costs such as student fees and supplies, transportation, and tuition” (Government of Ontario, 2023). 

Are you ready to begin your job search, but don’t know where to start? Or have you been applying to positions but haven’t had any luck? Centre for Skills has got you covered! Whether it’s composing a professional summary or identifying your transferable skills, this tip sheet will show you the best way to highlight your assets to the ATS, and to impress the employer!