Vocational Services
Vocational services are designed to assist individuals seeking to transition to a new career for personal reasons or individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities who are precluded from returning to their pre-disability / pre-injury occupation. Services focus on assisting individuals in identifying viable alternate occupations based on a combination of their transferable skills, aptitude, education, training, and work history.
Once suitable alternate occupations have been identified, additional services can be uniquely tailored to each individual to enable participants to attain the skills, resources, and confidence needed to successfully obtain and sustain alternate employment.
Career Counselling / Exploration / Transition
Services are designed to engage individuals by exploring potential career options. While traditional career counselling does not typically consider an individual’s medical status, earnings potential, or education/experience, these factors can be included upon request.
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As an exploratory service, career counselling always includes completing interest inventories (e.g., STRONG, MBTI, CWPI, COPS), along with considering the client's expressed interests, current transferable skills, education, training, and work experience. This comprehensive approach helps identify viable occupational options, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their career paths and pursue realistic employment opportunities.
Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA)
A TSA is a theoretical approach to estimating the vocational potential and opportunity that exists for an individual that does not involve vocational testing. It is an interpretive vocational service based on the analysis of documentation of an individual’s education, training, and employment experiences. These details are used to identify viable, defensible direct-entry vocational options within the individual’s physical/functional capabilities so they can perform the typical tasks and duties involved in the types of work options recommended for consideration. All reporting includes current labour market examples.
Job Search Skills Development
Job search skills development is a tailored, collaborative service that assists individuals with gaining insight into their unique transferable skills. At the conclusion of services, individuals are anticipated to be fully competent to independently engage in job search endeavours.
Services are designed to:
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Mentally and Psychologically Prepare for Work: Equip individuals with the tools and strategies to mentally and emotionally prepare for their return to the workforce, fostering resilience and readiness.
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Guidance on Workplace Disclosure: Educate individuals on effectively and professionally discussing accommodations or disabilities with their employers, including best practices for proper disclosure in the workplace.
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Employer Expectations: Provide a comprehensive understanding of what employers expect regarding performance, behaviour, and communication, helping individuals align with workplace standards.
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Increase Functional Capacity: Help individuals enhance their functional abilities and re-establish a consistent work-life routine, gradually building endurance for workplace demands.
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Boost Resilience, Confidence, and Self-Esteem: Empower individuals by strengthening their resilience, self-confidence, and overall self-esteem, promoting success in the return-to-work process.
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Foster a Positive Perception of Work: Encourage a shift in perspective, helping individuals develop a positive outlook on work and the benefits of re-engagement in the professional world.
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Individuals Will Learn Skills and Knowledge Related to:
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Résumé Development: How to create or update a professional résumé tailored to the current job market.
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Cover Letter Creation: Techniques for writing and submitting personalized cover letters that meet industry standards and highlight their qualifications for each job application.
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Job Application Process: Best practices for effectively searching, completing, and submitting job applications accurately and efficiently.
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Application Follow-up: Strategies for professional and timely communication to follow up on the status of job applications.
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Interview Skills: How to refine and improve their interview skills through targeted training, practice, and constructive feedback.
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Mock Interview Preparation: Participate in at least one mock interview session to gain confidence and readiness for actual interviews.
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Cold Calling and Emailing: Effective techniques for inquiring about job openings with potential employers through phone calls and emails.
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Job Search Strategy Discussions: These are ongoing reviews and discussions to assess progress, adjust strategies, and overcome challenges in their job search.
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Job Leads: Receive curated job leads every one to two weeks, with guidance on following up on relevant opportunities.
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Networking Skills: Learn and practice networking strategies to expand their job search through personal and professional connections.
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LinkedIn Profile Setup: How to create, optimize, and leverage a LinkedIn profile to increase professional visibility and networking opportunities.
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Indeed Account Setup: Steps for setting up and managing an Indeed account to access job postings and organize their applications efficiently.​
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Life Transition Planning
Life transition planning is a comprehensive, personalized process that supports individuals through significant life changes, whether preparing to return to school to pursue an alternate career, transitioning to long-term disability (such as Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits), or planning for retirement. This service sets clear, realistic, and achievable goals tailored to each person’s unique vocational and personal circumstances. By identifying the appropriate services and steps required to reach these goals, life transition planning empowers individuals to navigate change with confidence, ensuring their long-term well-being and quality of life are prioritized throughout the process.
