Continuing Education's Employment Skills Program - Increasing Confidence for Adult Job Seekers
Over 250 adults currently seeking employment have participated in Delta Employment Skills Program (DESP) workshops in the past year. Free to qualified participants, the Ladner-based program is operated by Delta School District’s Continuing Education branch and is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.
Workshops range in length from one hour to 2 full days and focus on the development of quality résumés, interview skills, electronic résumés, communication skills for job search, and more. For up to 3 months following workshops, participants can also consult with DESP professionals, use computers or office equipment to aid in their job search, receive help with revisions to résumés, or get help accessing current labour market information.
“Individuals truly benefit from the attention they receive here,” says DESP facilitator, Gillian Derksen. “They benefit from the group support, the increase in confidence while facing the job search, and the possible contacts.”
Since 1983, Delta Continuing Education has been actively involved in offering government-funded employment assistance and skills training programs to the community. The Employment Skills Program’s workshops have provided Metro Vancouver job seekers with up-to-date job search skills for more than two years.
About recent trends, Derksen says: “Many people are going ahead with further training to wait out the current economic conditions and increase their marketability. We encounter many individuals lacking the necessary credentials or experience that is recognized in B.C. and feel this is an opportune time to add to their skill set.”
To qualify, workshop participants must be unemployed or working less than an average of 20 hours per week, over 19 years of age, actively seeking full-time employment, and able to speak English at or above an intermediate skill level. The Delta Employment Skills Program works successfully with job seekers of all ages and occupational backgrounds, from entry level to senior management.
For more information, or to book an interview, phone 604.946.6926 or e-mail DESP@deltasd.bc.ca.