Looking for a job is not always an easy task, and one local organization is striving to make the job hunt a bit easier.
The Sunshine Coast Em-ployment Centre, located in Sechelt, is a free drop-in resource centre assisting those looking for work. Facilitated by Sunshine Coast Employment Services, a range of amenities are offered including assistance with resume writing, job search strategies and one-to-one employment coaching.
Eve Hamilton, Sunshine Coast Employment Services job developer, said the employment centre is open to everyone.
"The employment centre is for anybody to go in and see what they need. We have councillors, we have computers that people can use, we have a great library to help with resume writing, and there's a job board. It's a central place to get all the help you need," Hamilton said.
Programs and workshops are offered at the employment centre offices. Ranging from short, one-day workshops to more intensive courses lasting several weeks or months, job seekers can receive help with career decision-making, computer training and work transition support.
Courses are open to everyone, but some are tailored to those of specific age groups, including those 50 years and up, a group that may experience unique challenges with mid-career changes.
"My experience working with them is they really are reinventing themselves," said Hamilton. "That age group, and I'm in that group certainly, we never had the computer and the technical training until much later in life, so we are, as I say technorexic. But they really are reinventing themselves in thinking, what are my skills, what am I good at, what would I like to do? It's really interesting to see some the combinations people come up with for looking at other alternative work."
Bill Astalnok, co-ordinator for the service's search, strategize, succeed and JumpStart programs, added those in the 50-plus group have achieved great success in programs tailored to their needs.
"I think it's getting to the fact that some people may not have worked for a while, in the 50-plus group, and it's getting back the self-confidence and realizing, hey, I still have skills that transfer to another work setting," Astalnok said.
Youth employment is also high on the centre's radar and, just like those of the 50-plus group, programs exist that cater to youth specific needs while aiming to keep youth on the Coast.
Employers benefit from a multitude of services as well, such as information on government wage subsidies and employee job sharing.
Serving both employers and employees is a mainstay of the centre.
"You know the whole thing of it takes a village? We want everyone aware that we can make and build a community and help on both parts," Hamilton said.
For more information on the Sunshine Coast Employ-ment Centre, visit their website at www.scces.ca.
