Women in Nelson, Kaslo, Salmo and Slocan may be eligible to participate in Transitions for Women, a new program designed to reduce employment barriers and encourage community connections.
Delivered by Nelson Community Services Centre and Kootenay Career Development Society/WorkBC, the program combines personal development seminars with employability skills workshops to provide the most comprehensive program for women who are seeking employment or training.
“The program is designed to support women who may have been out of the workforce for a while, are looking for their first job, have struggled to maintain employment, or need current information about upgrading work-related skills,” said Ursa Jeanettechild, co-facilitator of the program. “Our goal is to ease the anxiety that can accompany job search and provide the resources needed to help women find work or enter into a skills-based training program.”
Participants can expect coverage of the most current topics relevant to employment and self-discovery, led by a team of knowledgeable and compassionate women facilitators. Workshop topics include career exploration, tapping into the hidden job market, identifying strengths, building self-confidence, letting go of self-doubt, interview skills and writing resumes for today’s employers.
The program’s curriculum also includes interviews with guest speakers as well as information about how to access funding for skills training and wage subsidy programs. Upon completion of the program, participants are eligible for free short-term certificate training such as WHMIS, construction safety training systems, computer training, first aid and Foodsafe.
Transitions for Women is a full-time program scheduled to run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Eligible applicants self-identify as a woman, are 19 or older, are unemployed or underemployed (working less than 20 hours per week) and are legally entitled to work in Canada. For more information, contact Ursa Jeanettechild at 250-365-6515 or 1-855-365-6515. Space is limited.