New employment program means more job success

Imagine that after being on income assistance for months, you haven’t managed to land a job. You’ve handed out countless resumes, followed up with phone calls – even had some positive interviews – but still no job. Each time gets harder and more frustrating, and your confidence is at a low ebb.

Then imagine you are given a personal job coach who identifies three things that will make a difference for you. Now you have the support you need to develop an eye-catching resume, to practise and perfect your interview skills, to upgrade your skills – in short, to land a great job.

Welcome to the B.C. Employment Program, which offers new hope to 15,000 British Columbians a year, and is expected to put participants on the road to building a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Under the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance’s new $35-million program, service providers are working one-on-one with clients for the first time. Together they develop an individualized package of employment services and supports specifically designed to meet their needs and capabilities.

“We’ve been highly successful over the past few years helping our employable clients find and keep good jobs,” says Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance. “Through this new program we’re able to provide people who have more barriers to employment with the individualized supports they need to succeed.”

The ministry has contracted three prime service providers to manage and deliver the program – GT Hiring Solutions, the B.C. Society of Training for Health and Employment (THEO BC) and WCG International Consultants. These organizations, in turn, are working with over 80 community-based service providers who have the in-depth knowledge and experience to help people build their skills and find jobs.

Services range from basic supports like self-directed job searches and access to job banks and computers to more intense supports like short-term certificate training and work experience. Clients may also receive help for work-related expenses as needed.

Christine Stoneman of GT Hiring Solutions says the new program will make a real difference in the lives of people facing greater challenges to employment – including older workers, people with a long welfare history or limited work experience, new immigrants, and people facing personal problems.

“We’re excited about working with clients through this new program,” says Stoneman. “Recognizing the unique challenges and needs of each person and helping them move forward and make progress in their employability, and ultimately helping our clients live a more fulfilled life, is what the B.C. Employment Program is all about to us.”

Certainly there has never been a better time in British Columbia to find a job. B.C.’s economy is thriving, creating a record number of jobs. Since December 2001, British Columbia has created over 302,000 jobs, and almost 90 per cent of these are full time.

For more information on the B.C. Employment Program and other Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance programs and services, please visit the Online Resource at www.eia.gov.bc.ca/olr.