April showers have come and gone and May flowers are arriving bringing along the familiar sight of students hitting the pavement in search of summer employment opportunities. Patty Davis, student office co-ordinator for Grand River Employment and Training (GREAT), would like to see students registering now for summer employment.

"Whatever we can do to help our students move forward, we should do that," explains Patty who says her number one priority is partnering with community organizations to create student job opportunities. With 290 students registered last year, and 103 placed in jobs with various organizations like the Children's Aid, CKRZ and First Nations Engineering, GREAT is gearing up for what they hope will be another successful year.

As well as offering job postings, the student office is able to assist students in gaining the career knowledge and skills needed to get a job. Resume and cover letter assistance, labour market information, on-site computer lab and career coaching, are a few of the services offered to students. "Information is powerful, it's important to have a place where students can go to find summer and part-time employment opportunities as well as access information to assist them in their career planning and goals," says Patty.

With such a high population of students the office is important in that it provides support, encouragement and guidance for those students seeking summer employment and part-time opportunities while they continue their studies in high school or post-secondary institutions. These opportunities help students gain insight into different careers, workplace skills and obtain on-the-job training experience. "Students who really work on their resumes and cover letters benefit from these employment opportunities," explains Patty.

A well thought out resume and a cover letter tailored to the job description will help obtain an interview. Researching the business or organization you are applying to will benefit you as well. The more research you do, the more apt you are answering questions in the interview process.

The student office offers opportunities for students to learn the job hunting process and find a summer job they'll enjoy. This is a good reflection of the labour market process outside of our community. The more practice and experience students gain in applying for summer jobs and part-time opportunities here at home, the easier the transition will be for them to compete for off-reserve jobs. Students need to realize they have many transferable skills they’ve learned in school, through volunteer work, playing sports and at home, which they can use on the job.

Already this year GREAT's student office is receiving positive feedback from employers in the community. According to Patty, approximately 127 employers are offering positions from tour guides, inventory receivers and researchers, to dental clerks, landscapers and production assistants. "We can do good things for the people and students here," she says.

With funding aide, screening of potential employees and free advertisement of their job posting, employers also benefit from the services of the student office. Employers interested in hiring students for the summer can fax a job description or provide information over the phone. "If they need a student immediately, we will do our best to recruit the best candidates for them; if we have some lead time, we will post the job on our student radio job board at 4:30 p.m. daily on CKRZ and we can place the job posting in the local newspapers," she explains.

Students must remember to bring along a copy of their resume, their status card and Social Insurance Number. She also suggests students submit a short paragraph with their application explaining their plans for the future. "When I look at their goals I can help direct them to the right job," says Patty.

The student office is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Extended summer hours for Tuesdays and Thursdays are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The GREAT student office is also offering the Young Worker's Awareness Workshops on May 20, June 17 and July 6, 2005 in the GREAT Theatre.

A trade can be more than a job. It can be a career! Many tradespeople spend a lifetime working in the same field and can’t imagine doing anything else. They like the work they do. Are you looking for rewarding work that pays well? Have you thought about getting into trades? Trades are for both men and women.

OSTTC is starting new classes for automotive service, gas technician, teknowave and landscaping with native plants. Need welding training? Our door is always open. Perhaps you have to learn computer skills or need to update your skills. OSTTC can provide tips from how to buy a computer to how to use programs like Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

It doesn't stop there: we offer more than computer training and skilled trades. Our general interest courses include various development courses, automotive care and accounting related courses to suit the needs of the people. Whether you need to know or want to know what is happening with the money around you OSTTC is there to offer non-computerized courses in accounting and bookkeeping basics and understanding financial statements.

Maybe you are ready to become your own boss. You have the idea and skills or have been working at it on a small scale but now it’s time to expand. Business plan training might be what you need. This course gives insight into what the business needs are from money, time and clientele to you and your responsibilities. Then at the end pulls it all together to be submitted for possible financial grants or loans.

Courses are run depending on interest. If there is something you would like but don't see listed or scheduled, let us know. Your suggestion could become a reality. Remember to visit us at www.osttc.com for schedules and course listings or give us a call at 519-445-1515 or toll free 866-827-5912. We will be happy to give you more information and help you in any way we can.

Youth Intake