The Career Foundation: Youth Job Talk

Youth Job Talk host, Cherryl-Lyn, sits with Nora Burns, coordinator of the Cannabis Production Worker Training & Recruitment Program at The Career Foundation. Nora provides information about the program, including eligibility criteria and potential career opportunities in the cannabis sector.  They also discuss the impacts that COVID-19 has had on the industry. Additionally, Nora gives insight on what it's like to work in the cannabis industry and debunks some of the stigmas people may have about the field.

The Youth Job Talk team talks with Echo, a client of The Career Foundation's Youth Job Connection Program. Echo successfully completed the program and is now working full-time. On the side, Echo is a Social Media Influencer and Spoken Word Artist. She talks about her experience as a client at The Career Foundation, and talks about the importance of networking to 'get noticed' and develop a personal brand as an influencer. Additionally, she tells us about her poetry and how it has become a form of therapy to write and perform. Echo also recites one of her original spoken word pieces. Finally, Echo discusses the Black Lives Matter movement and how important it is for her growing up as a black woman. Follow Echo: Instagram page: @echoxeffectYouTube channel: Echo Effect

In this episode of Youth Job Talk, the team talks about their past experiences in university/post-secondary school. They talk about the degrees they obtained and the process they endured to get there. Additionally, they discuss campus culture, the pros and cons of living on campus, extracurricular activities they were part of, and friendships made. They even delve into the mistakes they made during their university days, such as not taking advantage of all the on-campus resources and what they would have changed if they were able to go back in time.

The Youth Job Talk team speaks with William Truong, an expert in the areas of Esports and Events Operations. William talks about the quickly growing Esports industry—a form of sport competition using video games—and how it has evolved into a popular career path. The team also talks about the stigma that once existed for Esports and the miraculous "Cinderella Story" the industry has experienced in recent years. It is now considered an industry with many legitimate career paths! Finally, William talks about getting started in the industry and walks us through his personal journey to success. Resources: Follow William Truong on Linkedin

The Youth Job Talk team speaks with Luki Danukarjanto, founder of FOCUS.inspired and a lecturer at Centennial College. Luki provides supplemental training to clients of the Youth Job Connection program. In 2017, he wrote and published a book called "Stuff I Wish I Knew Earlier: How to Unlock Your Career Potential"Follow Luki: Luki's LinkedIn ProfileStuff I Wish I Knew Earlier (Amazon)

Amazon Canada is hiring! The Youth Job Talk sits down with representatives from Amazon Canada to talk about the seasonal, full-time warehouse worker position and basic eligibility requirements. In summary, requirements for all general labour tier-1 positions at Amazon Canada are as follows: Must be 18 years or olderMust have a high school diploma Basic English understanding (verbal & written) For more detailed instructions on how to apply for this position, please visit our website at: https://careerfoundation.com/amazon/

In this episode, the Youth Job Talk team gets an inside look at the architectural & design industry. They speak with Rhonda and Joe from Geraghty + Associates (GNA), an international, multi-disciplinary design innovation research-practice serving public, private and not-for-profit sectors for over 25 years.Recently, Rhonda and Joe launched a project called COVID 20/20 Shield, which offers premium, interlocking shields/protective barriers for businesses, in response to COVID-19. They walk us through the various forms of design – whether it is used architecturally, systematically, or in everyday communications. They discuss how to use design effectively to solve problems. Resources: Domini Design Group Inc.https://dominidesigngroup.comGeraghty+Associateshttps://geraghtyandassociates.comhttps://geraghty98.houzz.com/aboutEmail: joseph@geraghty.comEmail: rhonda@geraghty.comEmail: admin@geraghty.comEngel and Voelkershttps://josephgeraghty.evcanada.com/en/Email: joseph.geraghty@evcanada.comEmail: joseph.geraghty@engelvoelkers.comIG: @joseph.evtorontoFacebook: @josephg.evCOVID 20 / 20 Shieldhttps://covid2020shield.comIG: @CounterShieldsTwitter: @Covid2020ShieldFacebook: @Covid2020ShieldLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/showcase/covid2020shield/Email: COVID2020Shield@gmail.comEmail: info@COVID2020Shield.com

The Youth Job Talk team speaks with Oscar Ip, co-founder of Train Food Safety. Train Food Safety is a company that offers online Food Handler certification. Oscar talks about his experience as an entrepreneur and takes us through his successful business journey.Questions Covered in the Podcast:Who should consider getting a Food Handlers certificate? Does having a Food Handlers certificate give you a competitive advantage when applying for work in the food service industry?How do you overcome the fear of failure?How to come up with ideas for a business/entrepreneurshipJust for fun: What is everyone watching on Netflix? Resources:Train Food Safety website: trainfoodsafety.ca Train Food Safety Instagram:@trainfoodsafetyThe Career Foundation Instagram for Youth: @thecareerfnd.youth

The Youth Job Talk team answers the remaining Instagram questions and selects the winner of our gift card prize!Questions include:If we are missing some qualifications listed on a job posting (e.g. years of experience), should we still apply for the job?If pay is not listed on a job posting, when is the appropriate time to ask about it? Is asking during the interview appropriate?How do you prepare for careers that don’t yet exist?What careers are in demand right now in Canada?Why are university/college degrees not necessary to find a job? It seems work experience is more valuable than earning a degree in these times.How do you properly read a paystub? What do all the different abbreviations mean etc.Where can you go to find a part-time job when you don’t have many connections?How do you apply for jobs in-person? Who do you talk to and what do you say?How can I deal with being employed (part-time/full-time) when having a newborn at home without a partner or family in Canada?Have other questions for us? Ask us today! Follow us on Instagram: @thecareerfnd.youth

The Youth Job Talk team answers listener questions related to job search! Some examples of questions we answer include: What are the best job boards to use for part-time/summer employment opportunities? What are some ways The Career Foundation breaks down employment barriers for young people who have no fixed address? What are the pros and cons of using a recruiter to find a job? How do you choose the companies and roles to apply to? Besides having a plethora of employers to connect people with, The Career Foundation offers help with financial assistance, government funding that people may be eligible for, assistance with housing, and a mentorship program is in the works. For more information, visit our website at www.CareerFoundation.com 

In this episode, the Youth Job Talk team talks about social media. They have some fun discussing the “pre-Facebook” era and platforms they used over a decade ago. They also discuss current social media strategies you can use to find employment. On the other side of the coin, the team observes how social media can harm a person’s ability to find work and how inappropriate social media use can lead to getting fired. Want more access to youth-specific content and programming? Follow our Instagram account for youth under the age of 30: @thecareerfnd.youth 

Recent events in 2020 have caused a lot of stress for a lot of people. This extends to outreach programs in the Toronto area — many of which are catered towards youth. The lack of ability for youth to participate in social activities can lead them down dangerous paths. Youth outreach workers help strengthen deeper connections with young people who are feeling unmotivated or who need additional supports. Outreach workers have a unique ability to build relationships with youth and identify the challenges they are facing so they can help them discover the best possible solutions to their challenges.There are many resources available throughout the city, and countless people are eager to help. Strides Toronto is an accredited multi-service organization providing services to young people in East Toronto. Their services include individual/family group interventions, mental health and counselling, autism services, community supports, etc. They’re also brand-new! They launched in January 2020. In this podcast, The Youth Job Talk Team is joined by Jessica Valleau from Strides Toronto, who talks about mental health in Toronto and the importance of social infrastructure for youth. We’re also joined by Tim Tokunboh from Yorktown Family Services, who gives information about his organization and the role it plays in enhancing youths’ lives.  Contacts & Resources:Jessica Valleau: jvalleau@stridestoronto.caJessica's Instagram page: @jess_thesocialyow Strides Toronto Instagram page: @stridestoronto  Tim Tokunboh: tim.tokunboh@yorktownfamilyservices.com Skylark Youth 'What's up' Walk-in: 1-866-585-MHTO (6486)

The Youth Job Talk team sits with Whitney Pyper, Program Coordinator of The Career Foundation's Completing the Circle (CTC) Mississauga program. They are also joined by CTC Mississauga participant, Darlene. Specifically, Darlene talks about her amazing personal journey (including her brush with death), as well as her career journey and experience with the CTC Mississauga program.We talk about building confidence for interviews, equipping young job seekers with the tools they need to start their careers, and the importance of having a positive attitude — even in the toughest of circumstances.For more information about the Completing the Circle program, which serves youth between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive), click here. The CTC program is now accepting wait-list candidates for the next intake, which is expected to start in late Summer 2020.

In this episode, The Youth Job Talk team sits down with Monique Burke, a registered Holistic Nutritionist.Holistic Nutrition is an approach to nutrition that focuses on the body as a whole: mental health, finances, and supplements are all considered in the holistic nutrition approach. Monique explains how the foods you consume impact different aspects of your physiology, such as your energy, mood, and ability to think clearly. The subject of “energy” in the workplace is also discussed in-depth. The brain uses glucose to fuel the brain; however, problems can arise when you rely on glucose from simple carbohydrates, which increase blood-sugar levels.Finally, a common misconception is that all fats are the same, but Monique explains how they are not. There is a difference between healthy fat and non-healthy fat, and Monique gives great examples, such as the almighty avocado! Monique Burke Contact Info.:Instagram: food.feels.goodEmail: mburkenutrition@gmail.com or info@krampchiropractic.comWebsite: www.krampchiropractic.com

The Youth Job Talk team is joined by James Griffin, who has been involved in the Proactive-Wellness industry for over a decade. James has worked with employees both individually and in group settings to provide training and education in hypnosis, neuro linguistic programming, life coaching, chi-kung, kung-fu, nutrition and more. The team discusses Proactive-Wellness in the Workplace, which includes dealing with toxic situations, the benefits of deep breathing, and the benefits of essential oils. We also talk about James' new book, titled "Get Your Black-Belt in Proactive-Wellness: First Degree."Other topics of this podcast include: How to communicate with and program your body's intelligence to improve its functionality.How to create sustainable changes in your life with much less resistance and far more ease.How to create more harmonious relationships, especially with yourself.How to improve your quality of life in all areas.Resources:James Griffin website: http://www.jamestgriffin.net 

The Youth Job Talk team delves deeper into the Black Lives Matter Movement and discusses how employers can help their staff during this contentious time. The team also discusses racism experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.Black influencer Instagram accounts:@tracimelchor@shaunkingTwitter accounts:@desmondcole

Today's episode starts with Kirsten and Kerry from The Career Foundation's Completing the Circle (CTC) program, based in Mississauga. The CTC program runs in both Mississauga and Hamilton, and equips young job seekers (aged 15-30) with life and employability skills so they can contribute to their workplace and maintain full-time employment.Kirsten & Kerry interview Tina, Recruiter and Brand Ambassador for D&A — a full service, third-party collections agency/call centre that is currently working with the Career Foundation to assist job seekers with finding employment. Tina talks about the ideal skills D&A looks for in a candidate, types of positions at D&A, in-house training, safety precautions for staff amidst COVID-19, and more. Kirsten then joins the Youth Job Talk team to discuss employer expectations and ways to deal with conflict in the workplace.Completing the Circle Mississauga contact info: ctcmississauga@careerfoundation.orgKirsten Toney contact info: ktoney@careerfoundation.org

The Youth Job Talk team discusses recent events around the Black Lives Matter movement. They also share their personal stories of dealing with discrimination. Then Shallu Gupta, a mentor to the Youth Job Connection clients, joins the team to discuss what it's like to be an immigrant in the Canadian job market and gives tips on how to find work as a newcomer to Canada.

The Youth Job Talk team is joined by Jamal from NPower Canada, a charitable organization that provides youth with training, job placement services and ongoing support to succeed in the workplace. Jamal talks about the great program NPower Canada is offering to youth between the ages of 18-30. The Junior IT Analyst program is geared towards youth who aspire to go into the Information Technology field. For more information, contact Jamal Brooks: Jamal.Brooks@npowercanada.ca or visit the NPower website: https://npowercanada.ca

Youth Job Talk host Cherryl-Lyn is joined by Christeen, an Employment Advisor/Job Coach for the Empowering Abilities Program with The Career Foundation. Christeen comes with a vast knowledge of financial-related topics. Discussion topics include savings, investing, credit card usage, "side hustle" jobs, and personal experiences with banks and credit unions.Contact Us:Christeen's Contact: cnarine@careerfoundation.orgEmpowering Abilities Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/thecareerfnd.eap/ Youth Employment Services Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/thecareerfnd.youth/Resources: Work as a personal shopper: www.instacart.comWealth Simple Investing​: www.wealthsimple.comApps Mentioned:Wealth SimpleInvstr