Plastic? Fantastic! But Buyer Beware...

By Susan Biagi

Jobseekers will often lament, “If I only had a job, my life would be perfect.”  

A new job, however, can’t solve old problems.

Consider credit-card debt: a new job will sometimes eliminate that debt—for awhile. Too often, however, the debt starts creeping back. This is usually because the problem is not the lack of funds, but the underlying behavior. People with high incomes find themselves riddled with debt just as often—or more often—than people with low incomes.

Credit is easy to obtain in our society: university students and others with no income frequently receive multiple offers for credit cards. Unless they’re very careful, students can become enslaved to credit card debt early in their lives and remain that way for decades.

Unfortunately, many cardholders remain totally unaware of how credit cards work. The following are a few basic facts to help people conquer their debt issues:   

1. Fact #1: The interest rate offered to cardholders varies widely, depending on the following:

a)      The cardholder’s credit history: someone with a poor credit history, or none at all, will usually be offered the highest interest rate, often around 19%; someone with a good and lengthy credit history will pay as low as 9.99%.

b)      The type of card chosen: cards that offer rewards will often charge a high interest rate as well.

Variations in interest rates hardly matter to cardholders who pay off their bill in full every month. But when trouble hits, in the form of a job loss or injury, that interest rate will make a huge difference. Compare for example, the following scenarios. Two cardholders have each racked up $5000 in credit card debt. Cardholder #1 will pay 19% interest on that $5000, while cardholder #2 will only pay 9.99% interest.

Solution: People with no credit history, or a poor history, may have to accept a credit card at a higher rate of interest. This is a situation that should be remedied as quickly as possible. Once cardholders establish a good credit rating with their current credit-card company (by always paying the balance in full, for example), they can then request a lower rate of interest. In fact, once a credit history improves, other companies will step in to offer lower rates. Cardholders can simply inform their existing company of these offers and threaten to switch companies if the current rate is not lowered.

2. Fact #2: Cash advances are a dangerous use of credit cards—perhaps the most dangerous of all. When credit cards are used to purchase goods, there is usually a grace period of at least 21 days, during which no interest is charged on that purchase. Unfortunately, there is no grace period on cash advances, which start accruing interest immediately. This interest accrues daily, often at a higher interest rate than the rate charged on purchases. In addition to the interest, some credit-card companies charge a fee to process cash advances, while ATMs may charge still another fee, depending on the bank.

Solution: Avoid cash advances. It makes better financial sense to purchase groceries or pay utility bills as straight credit-card purchases, rather than using cash advances to cover such items. This lets the cardholder take advantage of the interest-free grace period.

3. Fact #3: Unless the bill is paid in full each month, interest will be charged on all purchases. Imagine that a cardholder charges $500 in purchases in a given month. That same cardholder manages to pay the company $475 before the grace period ends. It makes sense to believe the cardholder will only be charged interest on the remaining $25, right? Wrong! Interest will be charged on the entire $500. Furthermore, if the balance is not reduced to zero before the next billing period, the grace period is lost on any additional purchases.

Solution: Bring the full balance down to zero before the grace period ends. If a cardholder is unable to bring the balance to zero, that person should avoid making additional purchases, to avoid accruing even more interest.

Jobseekers who could benefit from additional information on credit-card use are invited to attend Career Link’s “Credit Cards and You” workshop. To register, call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free! Visit our site at http://careerlinkbc.com

A three-week program for marine industry job seekers and workers that are:

a) unemployed with no attachment to EI in the last three years for a regular claim or past five years for a Maternity/Parental claim; or

b) under-employed but with no post-secondary education towards a degree or recognized certification (upgrading or a few courses is not considered post-secondary)

Not sure if you or your employee qualifies? When in doubt apply, apply, apply! But don’t delay, the application deadline is this Friday, January 13.  Pick up and drop off your application at Career Link or VIU Powell River.

Career Link is keen to partner with VIU to promote this program because it’s local, there’s free tuition and books, and the certificates serve both new job seekers as a first step to employment and seasoned workers as a means to meet updated industry standards.

Marine Industry Owners and Operators: what are your current and future hiring needs? Could this program’s graduates and/or Career Link’s free services for employers assist? Please do let us know.

For more information contact Laura at 604.485.7958  or laura@careerlinkbc.com.

Funding provided through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement

With the new year upon us, it’s time to think about making changes. Susan Biagi guest blogs for us this week with a timely post featuring 20 Quick and Easy Job Search Tips.

We at Career Link wish you much success in 2012, and hope you will take advantage of our many services, including free workshops and career counselling to help make your employment dreams a reality. Drop by for the scoop on what’s new for 2012 – training programs and funding, new workshops and computer classes are starting soon!

20 Quick and Easy Job Search Tips

By Susan Biagi

The following are some things you can do right now to jumpstart your job search.

1. Make sure your résumé is targeted to the job you’re seeking. If you’re looking for a job as a Caregiver, avoid emphasizing your previous career in cooking.
2. Ask friends in your field to provide feedback on your résumé. Ask a friend who has good spelling and grammar skills to proofread it for you.
3. Don’t limit your job hunting to the classified ads. People who go through the phone book and systematically call or visit employers will usually find work.
4. When telephoning, get dressed to the shoes, smile when you speak, and stand up straight. Enthusiasm and energy come across over the phone.
5. Don’t limit your search to large, visible companies. Small, out-of-the way companies also have openings.
6. When visiting employers, leave friends, children, or parents at home. A badly behaved child can scuttle a job search.
7. Compile a list of 25 target employers. Study each company’s website or google the employer’s name. Use this information to help build a better résumé or cover letter.
8. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before embarking on a job hunt. If you have a cold or are feeling unwell, leave it for another day. Employers are leery about hiring people who aren’t in good health.
9. Learn to shake hands properly. Many employers are turned off by “cold fish” handshakes.
10. Practise making eye contact. If this is difficult for you, look at the spot just above the eyes, in the middle of the forehead. The employer can’t tell you’re not looking directly into the eyes.
11. Employers prefer to hire people who look as though they fit in. Study what the employees are wearing and dress the way they do.
12. Make sure that your hands and shoes are neat and clean. Employers will often focus on small details such as these.
13. Prepare a short “commercial” you can use when telephoning or visiting. For example, “I’m an Office Manager with 12 years experience in the field. I’m fully skilled in the use of Microsoft Office and various accounting programs. I’d like to send you my résumé and speak with you about my background and experience. When would be a good time?”
14. If you’re having trouble contacting the employer directly, try leaving your “commercial” after hours on the employer’s voice mail. Immediately follow up with an email, with your résumé attached.
15. Have your early morning coffee at cafés that are popular with local employers. This is especially important for construction workers. Dress in work clothes, and try to make a good impression. Tell people you’re looking for work.
16. Learn to use Internet job banks, as more and more employers are advertising this way. Our Career Link workshops will help you master this skill.
17. Shop at stores or eat in restaurants where you hope to work. Get to know the staff. Analyze the employer’s needs.
18. Volunteer for short-term projects. You’ll meet a lot of important contacts and acquire needed skills. Volunteer Powell River (http://www.volunteerpowellriver.com/ops.htm) has plenty of short-term opportunities you can apply for online.
19. Avoid posting compromising pictures or comments on a Facebook page or other social media. Employers consult these sites when researching  job candidates.
20. Never give up. There’s a job out there for you.

Jobseekers who require help putting these tips into practice are invited to book some one-on-one time with a Career Link employment consultant, or attend a workshop. Call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free!

• In both months, the top 3 sectors were: Food Services, Retail Trade and Health Care.
• Rounding out October’s top 5 sectors were postings in Construction (6) and Social Assistance (3).
• There was a decrease in Education sector job postings after their rise in September.
• Two employers hiring for administrative positions in the Construction and Transportation sectors reported receiving a staggering number of applicants: 40 and 60 resumes each!

And how do the year-to-date (January to October) job posting numbers compare?

• Jan 1 2010 to Oct 31 2010 = 358 job postings
• Jan 1 2011 to Oct 31 2011 = 477 job postings

What about those 42 clients who found jobs in October? Where are they finding work? In a variety of areas through targeted, diligent job search techniques supported by their employment counsellor.  They are telling us they are working in/at:

• Food services – both in town and in remote camp settings as cooks
• They also found work in our large and small grocery stores both serving food at deli counters and in customer service at the tills
• Catalyst Paper - both in the trades (electrician and power engineer) and at the entry level
• Maintenance jobs in both industrial and commercial settings
• Some clients are starting out with part-time or casual hours in a local real estate firm and at one of the local banks
• In the Forestry sector – both logging and silviculture work was reported

Regionally, the Vancouver Island/Coast unemployment rate for October was 6.9%  just above the BC average of 6.6% (source: BC Stats Labour Force Statistics October 2011).

Looking ahead to jobs in November and December – we suggest looking in Retail and Food Services.  You could broaden your search beyond ”main street” to include businesses that offer catering and personal services such as cleaning and caregiving at this busy time of year.  And if the job market is tight in your chosen area consider this a good time for volunteering and networking – think of all those holiday events as a chance to spread goodwill and keep your spirits up.

For the latest Powell River job news, keep in touch with us.  Read our tweets, follow us on Facebook, comment on this blog, send us an email, give us a call, visit our website, and of course stop by our office (#103, 4511 Marine Ave. Powell River, BC).

Shipbuilding Revival

The Shipbuilding and Repair industry and their training institutions are preparing for increased activity on BC’s Coast.  North Vancouver’s Seaspan Marine, owner of Victoria and Vancouver Shipyards, was recently awarded an $8 billion shipbuilding contract for approximately 50 non-combat vessels for the Department of National Defence and the Coast Guard over the next thirty years… read more.

A few highlights to get you up to speed.  Note the dates; there’s time to complete training for work in this exciting new era of shipbuilding….read more.

• The first ship built will likely be a fisheries research ship, with work beginning late in 2012 or early 2013.
• The first seven large ships will be built over eight years with materials and equipment purchased from suppliers across the country.
• 80% of construction work will be performed in Vancouver; the remainder in Esquimalt at Victoria Shipyards.
• Before construction starts on ships, Seaspan will spend about $160 million on their infrastructure at its Vancouver facilities and another $30 million at its Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt.
• Seaspan’s contract is expected to create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• Closer to home, we could see some jobs at Nanaimo Shipyard Group
  and Port Alberni at Alberni Engineering Ltd.

Inexperienced but want to catch the wave in Shipbuilding? Good news! The industry has prioritized entry-level training programs in this field and the government has obliged with financial support.  Start exploring career options and researching the key employers in the industry at the “Resource Trades Rock” website here .

A number of players from industry, education and government are working together to make sure the right people with the right skills are ready to work and sustain this long-term period of activity.  Career Link is going to keep our eye on the following for job and training news in Shipbuilding and Repair:

• The Resource Training Organization (RTO)  –  oversees Apprenticeship training specifically for the resource sector; watch for their links to shipbuilding news.
• Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre (IMTARC) - new training centre opening soon in Esquimalt for entry-level skills. Curriculum still under development but training could start in early or mid 2012.
• Industrial Training Authority (ITA) – there are two new shipbuilding-specific trades programs soon to be approved by the ITA: Marine Fitter and Shipwright. Training will start in 2012.
• Unions such as the Marine Workers and Boilermakers Union.
• News from Training Schools in BC - look for revamped courses in 2012.
• The BC Government –  Ministry of Jobs Tourism and Innovation.
• New Shipbuilding Workforce Table - details in this press release; look for future announcements from this table of industry leaders.
• Seaspan’s website – check out their Careers section.

To explore your fit with this industry and how to jump in, meet with a Career Link employment counsellor.  It’s easy to book an appointment online or call us at 604.485.7958

Dollars and Cents

We’re thinking BC workers may have started their November a little brighter with the knowledge that our general minimum wage increased on November 1st to $9.50 per hour.  The wage will increase again on May 1, 2012 to $10.25 per hour, just in time for the spring jumpstart of seasonal jobs.

BC’s minimum wage now beats Alberta’s $9.40 and Yukon’s $9 an hour. The raise matches BC with Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.  Newfoundland, Northwest Territories and Nova Scotia currently pay a minimum wage of $10 an hour, while Nunavut pays $11.

We will tie with Ontario for the second highest minimum wage in the country at $10.25, when it jumps another 75 cents in May 2012.

So, how much more money does November’s extra 75 cents put into minimum wage earners’ pockets? Based on working a total of 40 hours per week the following calculation applies to the increase in gross earnings:

$0 .75 x 40 hrs. = $30.00/wk. = $129.00/mo. = $1548.00/yr. more

The non-hourly rates paid to camp leaders, live-in home support workers and resident caretakers will be adjusted at the same time in proportion to the increase in minimum wage. The minimum wage amount therefore depends on the type of position you hold.

Liquor servers:
November 1, 2011 – $8.75 per hour
May 1, 2012 – $9.00 per hour

Live-in home support workers:
November 1, 2011 – $95.00 per day or part day worked
May 1, 2012 – $102.50 per day or part day worked

Live-in camp leaders:
November 1, 2011 – $76 for each day or part day worked
May 1, 2012 – $82 for each day or part day worked

Resident Caretakers
November 1, 2011 – for an apartment building containing 9 to 60 suites, $570 per month plus $22.85 for each suite; and for an apartment building containing more than 60 suites, $1941.56 per month
May 1, 2012 – for an apartment building containing 9 to 60 suites, $615 per month plus $24.65 for each suite; and for an apartment building containing more than 60 suites, $2,094.84 per month.

How did the minimum wage increase affect you? Let us know by commenting on this post!  At Career Link we have more information on current wages in BC and Canada for specific industries or regions.  Drop by and inquire or make an appointment to further explore, we would be pleased to see you.

Let Your Fingers Do The Talking

By Susan Biagi

It used to be that people’s greatest fear was public speaking. It’s even been said their fear of public speaking was greater than their fear of death!

But the times, they are a’changing. According to a new survey published by Sandler Training Inc., people are now more afraid of cold-calling than they are of public speaking. In fact, people would rather give up sex for a month than call a stranger to sell a product, or ask for a job. Only a root canal was considered more painful.

At Career Link, we have observed that of all the job-search strategies, cold-calling is the least preferred by jobseekers. And yet, it remains one of the most effective. One-on-one contact with an employer—either by phoning a place of business or dropping by to hand-deliver a resume—is  still one of the best ways to get a job. (Cold-calling is also one of the very few ways to access the hidden job market, in which unposted positions are said to comprise between 80 and 85% of all job vacancies.)

Instead, people prefer strategies that are relatively anonymous: faxing off resumes, for example, or applying online. While it is true that some employers ask that people apply only by fax or email, there are many who prefer to meet the candidate in person. Jobseekers who muster their courage to do so may be pleasantly surprised at their reception.

Fear of rejection probably lies behind the fear of cold-calling. Rejection seems somehow easier to take when it comes in the form of a letter or email. Being told, in person, that one does not qualify for a position is a bigger blow.

Some jobseekers will even encounter a very busy employer who rudely berates them for interrupting. To cut down on this possibility, jobseekers should do a little research into that workplace, to make sure they don’t call or arrive at a busy time. At Career Link, our advice to jobseekers is not to be deterred from cold calling by a rude employer or two: as the most effective job-search strategy, it is still worth the risk.

Perhaps the very term “cold calling” puts people off. For this reason, some job-search experts prefer to think of it as “warm calling.” They suggest that jobseekers adopt a “warm and helpful attitude” when speaking to employers for the first time.

The attitude with which jobseekers approach a call will go far towards ensuring their comfort with the process. First of all, jobseekers must be prepared to hear the word “no.” Employers may simply not have an unfilled position to offer. The chances are actually quite remote that a jobseeker will happen upon a place of business at the exact moment the employer is looking to hire. When dropping off a resume, jobseekers should keep in mind that their goal is to inform the employer of their availability, when a position does become available.

Although it may not ever be necessary, jobseekers should also have a back-up plan in the event an employer speaks rudely. A simple apology for interrupting at a busy time goes far toward easing the tension. It shouldn’t end there, however! The jobseeker can follow up with “What would be a better time to contact you? Or, perhaps you would prefer if I emailed my resume.” Maintaining a warm and helpful tone will also help ease the situation.

As a final note, jobseekers should remember that a single contact is rarely enough to remain “top of mind” with a potential employer. Follow-up is a necessary second step. An easy way to do this is to call the employer after a week or so, with the following question: “Good morning, Mr. Boss. My name is Jilly Jobseeker and I dropped off my resume last week. I was wondering if you had any questions about my skills and experience.”

Jobseekers who require help facing their fear of “warm calling” are invited to book online some one-on-one time with a Career Link employment consultant, or attend a workshop. You can call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free!

The new Westview Elementary

Powell River job seekers in the construction industry have a prime opportunity to find employment next week.  Save the date and polish up your resume because Yellowridge Construction Ltd. is hosting a job fair here in Powell River on September 15th from 5pm to 7pm at the Grief Point Elementary School gymnasium.

Yellowridge is the design-build contractor for School District 47′s newest school Westview Elementary. The Port Moody based construction company may ring your memory bell as they were behind the Powell River Kiwanis Housing Project. To learn more about their current Powell River project check out this link http://www.sd47.bc.ca/Schools/newschool/Pages/default.aspx 

We know that for many job seekers, the chance to meet with employers face to face is often a rarity.  This event is an excellent chance to meet some contractors, discuss work prospects in several areas of interest (see here for a full list), ask questions and of course network! Everyone is welcome.

Planning on attending? Excellent. We’d be pleased to work with you to maximize the impact of your first impression with Employers. Career Link has drop-in self-help services in our Career Lab.  There you will find computers, printers and helpful resume/cover letter guides. If you get “stuck” (like you could really use some help formatting or proofreading your documents) our Career Lab Advisors Giovanni and Rob can give you a hand.

Don’t have a current resume? Want to practice your interview skills before the job fair? How about making an appointment with an Employment Counsellor for one-on-one help and feedback? You can book an appointment by calling 604.485.7958 or online at http://www.careerlinkbc.com/appt.html.

Job Fair FAQ’s

• What do I bring? An up to date resume (be sure your contact information is correct). Why not bring a couple of copies? Job Fairs are networking events so best to be prepared.
• What do I wear? First impressions are important.  If the job doesn’t require a business suit then no need to wear one.  You can put your best foot forward with a clean and tidy appearance, offering a genuine smile and by maintaining eye contact throughout your conversation. Showing interest and good manners is important, regardless of the type of job you are looking for. Every employer appreciates someone who is dedicated, conscientious, and attentive.
• Who will be there? In attendance from Yellowridge will be Eileen Hawboldt, Manager of HR and Marketing, Brian Wess, Site Superintendent and Aaron Toews, Project Manager. Representatives from Dual Mechanical Ltd. and Houle Electric will also be there.     
• How do I follow up after the Job Fair? Contact information will be provided there and it’s a good idea to follow up to say thank-you and show you are serious about the job.  
• I can’t make the job fair! or I missed the job fair, now what? You can email your resume to careers@yellowridge.ca We suggest a relevant subject line such as: Powell River New School Construction.

Dream Job Ahead

It’s back to school time in Powell River and not just for the kids.  With Fall just around the corner, it’s also a time when we grown-ups may be dreaming of sharpening our pencils and minds too. But what to do? What’s new? At Career Link we’ve been reviewing local opportunities for learning and seeing how these can work themselves into new career directions. Here’s a sampling of some courses and related  job postings to get your motors running.

Traffic Control Persons/Flaggers are in demand. Take the course at home: http://www.viu.ca/ccs/courses/firstaidandsafety.asp#worksafe 

Serious about WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training? The WHMIS 101 course meets your company or personal education needs and meets the legal requirements of WCB/WHMIS legislation. http://www.pr.viu.ca/onthejob/WHMIS.asp

 Lots of job postings for Cooks in town: http://prpeak.com/classifieds/employment/

 Get your FOODSAFE online, in person through Donna (the next session is September 25, 2011 8:15 AM- 4:00 PM at Seventh Day Adventist Church: 4880 Manson Ave. Powell River, BC Contact 604.487.0647 or 604.487.9127)  or Vancouver Island University has a Food Safety for Food handlers (equivalent to FOODSAFE 1) course.

VIU Powell River called to say spaces and student loan funding still available in several Trades programs:

•  Culinary Arts (Level 1 Apprenticeships) has 7 seats still available: http://www.viu.ca/culinary/index.asp
• Carpentry (Foundation program) has 5 seats open: http://pr.viu.ca/carpentry/index.asp 
• Auto-mechanics (Foundation) has 5 seats open: http://pr.viu.ca/automotive/index.asp
• Hairdressing (Apprenticeship) has 2 seats open: http://pr.viu.ca/hairdressing/index.asp

Current First Aid certification is always valued by Employers, St.John Ambulance released their new 2011/2012 calendar.

Want to work as a lifeguard or in Aquatics? The Rec Complex has you covered, call 604.485.2891. 

According to the annual Robert Half global financial employment monitor, 67% of respondents said it is either very or somewhat challenging to find skilled accounting and finance professionals for certain jobs. Train for this industry at VIU starting with a bookkeeping course http://www.pr.viu.ca/bookkeeping/index.asp and then take the Simply Accounting for Windows course there too. Two local finance sector jobs:  http://www.powellriver.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=52 and http://jobview.monster.com/Coordinator-Financial-Services-Powell-River-Sea-to-Sky-Sunshine-Coast-Job-Powell-River-BC-CA-100016021.aspx

Aquaculture Technicians are in demand at our local hatcheries and shellfish leases. So far in 2011, we’ve had 7 aquaculture job postings (compared to 2010 with 1 job posted by this time). Excel Career College offers the Aquaculture Technician Program and reports that to date, 100% of their  graduates are working in the industry.  The program’s details and upcoming Open House September 15th in Port Alberni can be found toll-free at 1.888.280.2451 or www.excelcareercollege.com

Speaking of outdoor work, there’s a 3 hour course to learn about the fun, easy and profitable venture of picking salal and mushrooms at the Rec Complex October 23rd, call 604.485.2891 to register.

Already a full-time student? Tourism Powell River seeks a Saturday Tourist Information Counsellor for the winter leading to full time work come May, 2012.  More job details here http://www.careerlinkbc.com/posting.php?id=3234 

Ready to explore what education or training plan could benefit your career path? Meet with a Career Link Counsellor and see where the road of education could take you. Book an appointment online  http://www.careerlinkbc.com/appt.html or call 604.485.7958.

Learning without borders

It wasn’t so long ago that “correspondence” courses were advertised on matchbooks, or in the last few pages of comic books.

The industry has certainly come a long way since then. Today’s student has a wealth of high-quality, distance-education courses on offer. These are also known as “online courses,” since most are delivered via the Internet.

Distance-education offers many benefits to the student, the first of which is cost. Although tuition is not significantly lower than that of classroom-based courses, distance-education offers significant savings in cost of living. Students who study from home avoid the high cost of living in residence, or moving from one city to another.

Another benefit of distance-education courses is that they’re not limited to BC. The cost is comparable whether the course is delivered from Kamloops or from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Clearly, this provides students with a wider range of choices than would otherwise be available to them. The key is making sure, in advance, that potential employers recognize the course as valid training for their workplace.

One question that students may ask is, “Are distance education courses any less valid than those delivered on campus?” The answer is “no.” What counts is the quality of the institution issuing the diploma. A diploma from the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) carries the same weight whether the training is delivered in the classroom or online.

How does one choose a distance-education course? Most colleges and universities deliver both “credit” and “non-credit” courses. Credit courses generally result in a certificate, diploma, or degree. Non-credit courses, also known as continuing-education courses, do not provide certification of any kind. They can, however, provide the student with skills that are highly valued in the workplace.

Students considering distance-education courses can now choose from a host of high-quality institutions. An early innovator in the field—the Open Learning Agency—is now a division of Thompson River University, delivering everything from individual courses to degrees. For more information, consult its website at www.tru.ca.

An easy way to access the offerings of individual institutions is to consult Career Link’s education page at www.careerlinkbc.com/education.html. On the right-hand-side of the page is a list of all publicly funded colleges and universities in BC. After choosing a specific institution’s website, simply type “distance education” into the keyword search box. For non-credit courses, type “continuing education.”

Expect to spend quite a lot of time exploring the options. Incredibly, even training as a

pharmacy technician or embalmer can be delivered online! Students enrolled in courses that require hands-on learning begin by studying theory over the Internet, then follow up with a practicum delivered at the workplace of local employers.

Students considering distance-education can also choose from a wider variety of instructional techniques than those available in the past. Thanks to changing technology, online courses are now highly interactive, offering audio, video, chat rooms, and even instructor-led courses delivered in real time.

While checking each institution’s website is an effective way to sift through courses, it can be slow and labourious. To help speed the process along, Career Link’s education page contains a number of links designed to help a student search a number of institutions at once. These links are all located under the “Distance Education” heading. Clicking on “Find a Distance Education Program or School,” for example, provides access to Schoolfinder.com. From there, in the box beside “Find a Program,” students can simply type in their field of interest. Typing “health care” will result in a number of offerings.

Those who require help exploring distance-education options are invited to book some one-on-one time with a Career Link employment consultant, or attend a workshop. Call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free!