"I think my skill is that I can show people their full potential," says Marjorie Henhawk, workshop facilitator for Grand River Employment and Training (GREAT). When Marjorie conducts workshops in surrounding local high schools and on Six Nations, she asks the students, "Does anyone here know how to send e-mail and chat on-line with friends?" After head nods and a show of hands she asks them, "Is it on your resumé?" One of the
most important things, she says, is to help people identify basic skills to fill
up their resumé. "It helps them realize they can do a lot more than they
think," she says.

Marjorie, alongside career resource technician Laurie Froman, helps
people without clear career goals, find occupations that will suit their skills. Using GREAT's Career Information Centre (CIC) resources, Laurie and Marjorie can provide any kind of job search information from career
planning and education materials to various training materials.

As well as offering the use of computers, fax machines and phones to get your job search going, they offer expert advice to guide you along the way. If you're looking to update a tired old resumé you can attend one of the many resumé and cover letter workshops. If you need help finding job opportunities, the CIC has postings, newspapers and Internet access to
help you locate that elusive position.

Career Cruising, a computer-based program which allows clients to fill
out a questionnaire and then provides
a list of careers that are ideal for them, is also available. The program provides information about schooling, salary and an interactive interview with someone in the field. "It asks you what kind of work

the field. "It asks you what kind of work environment you'll like…and then matches you up with 12 to 13 occupations," explains Marjorie.

In today's competitive workforce it's hard to know what skills employers want from potential employees. That's why the CIC has developed a directory of businesses which explains their hiring procedures and the skills they value in their employees. Tim Horton's, for example, is constantly hiring and right now is a peak hiring time for many businesses preparing for the Christmas rush.

With workshops like Reality Check, which explains the reality of being in the workforce without a high school diploma, and Extreme Resumé Makeover, which helps clients develop skills-based resumés, Marjorie is promoting self-sufficiency and helping students and clients attain jobs that they'll enjoy. "Some 35 per cent of people all over North America like what they're doing, the rest are doing what they're doing because they have to," she says.

In the future Marjorie and Laurie hope to add more services to the centre. "Aptitude testing is something I think we need," says Marjorie. They'd also like to refresh some of their resources.

The CIC is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. See page two for a workshop schedule.

OSTTC is offering a number of new short courses this fall which vary in length from 2 hours to 2 days. Please continue to visit our website at www.osttc.com for current schedules.

Two new, specialized courses also commencing this fall include:
Computer Business Basics - Oct. 4 to 29, 2004
Four week program, Monday to Friday,
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
This course introduces participants to the exciting world of computers in a fun and relaxed environment. Windows, keyboarding, computer basics, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, surfing the net and electronic mail basics are explored.

TeKnoWave's Networking Systems Administrator/Anaylst
Start Date: November 22, 2004
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission requirements: Grade 12 or equivalent with some computer experience.
Part of a national program to increase Aboriginal participation in the information technology sector, this 52-week course is very intense and challenging. Successful graduates earn a college diploma, a University level management certificate and a number of industry designations including A+, MCSA, MCP and CCNA.

Since HRSDC introduced on-line employment insurance applications, filing your claimants report is just a mouse-click away. Now that they've completely done away with the paper application forms, the service is
simple, fast, convenient and secure.

On-line employment insurance, or EI Appli-Web, is part of the Government
of Canada's efforts to bring their services to all Canadians by 2004. You can access all your government needs from the comfort of your own home. But what about those people who don't have a computer or don't know how to use a computer? For those of you who do not have computer access, all is not lost. GREAT's Career Information Centre has a computer available specifically for clients to fill out on-line forms. If you're not comfortable using a computer, help is available.

"We have a computer devoted to employment insurance," says Laurie Froman, career resource technician for GREAT. Now that it's the only way to

apply she has noticed more people coming in to use the service. As well as providing a computer to file applications, GREAT also photocopies record of employment forms and void cheques, needed for the application, and sends them to HRSDC's Brantford office.

"It's good to have local access to it here for people who don't have transportation to Brantford," adds Marjorie Henhawk, workshop facilitator for GREAT.

The two have noticed one glitch with the new program. Once the application process has begun, applicants can sometimes encounter a run time error and will be kicked out of the system. However, the site does offer a password that as long as you try to re-enter the program within 24 hours it will take you back to where you left off.

EI Appli-web is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It offers step-by-step instructions for new users and has an on-line help feature in case you run into any problems. For more information please call Insurance Telemessage during business hours at 1-800-206-7218 and press "0" to speak to a representative.

To file your employment insurance forms visit the HRSDC website at www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ei-ae.