Calendar

The Maple Ridge WorkBC Centre offers a variety of programs and workshops to assist individuals to develop training and career plans and to prepare and conduct effective job searches. Browse the calendar and the workshop descriptions listed below the calendar.

To learn more and to register, please contact WorkBC Maple Ridge at: 604 466-4600 or info-mapleridge@workbc.ca

Leading Edge Workshop Series 

The Maple Ridge WorkBC Centre offers the following career exploration and job search workshop series. Please check the calendar for upcoming workshops.

The Discovery of Work Options
This series of workshops is for clients interested in career exploration. Career and occupational assessments, career planning, goal setting, labour market research and job search are some of the topics covered by the workshops. The series is delivered over two weeks; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

Employment Planning
This series of workshops is for clients who need help to enter or re-enter the workforce. Workshops cover topics including personal planning and goal setting, occupational interests and the current labour market, self-awareness, effective communication and job maintenance. Workshops are delivered over two weeks; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

Job Search Essentials
This series of workshops is for clients who are looking only for the essentials to conduct a job search. Workshop topics include identifying skills, resume and cover letter development, obtaining references, communication and self-marketing. Workshops are delivered over four days; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

Job Search Strategies
This series of workshops is for clients who are looking for strategies to obtain their dream job. Workshop topics include accessing the Hidden Job Market, informational interviews, networking and self-marketing, interview skills and post-interview follow-up, effective communication and job maintenance strategies. Workshops are delivered over four days; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

Steps to Training Success
This series of workshops is for clients considering skills training. These workshops assist clients the readiness necessary to build and complete a skills development plan. Clients will research and develop a skills plan to support the career options they identified within The Discovery of Work Options workshop series. Workshops are delivered over four days; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

Employment Readiness for Mature Workers
This workshop series is for clients 55+ years old who want to re-enter the workforce. Workshop topics include self-awareness, identifying and accessing transferable skills and prior learning and personal planning and goal setting. Workshops are delivered over three days; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

The Professionals Workshop Series
This workshop series is for clients who have been career professionals and want to re-enter the workforce. Workshop topics include job loss and transition, working in multi-generational teams, resumes vs. CVs, professional portfolio development, online job search and networking. Workshops are delivered over four days; participants attend a three hour workshop each day. In addition to the workshops, participants will be supported by an Employment Coach.

Hidden Job Market

Networking is an essential job search strategy that can help you obtain unadvertised jobs (Hidden Job Market). Participants learn how to use networking to their advantage when searching for a job or advancing in their career. Discover practical networking strategies, both virtual and in person, that can help you find meaningful employment.

Interviews

The Interview skills workshop provides clients with the experience to learn about what skills are required in order to have a successful interview, and what interviewers are generally looking for in a candidate. After this workshop, you will be better prepared to answer interview questions and have a better understanding at building rapport with the interviewer.

Effective Communication

In this workshop clients learn best practices of how to communicate in the workplace, as well as strategies to maintain effective communication. Participants learn about handling stress, gossip and punctuality. By learning how to communicate better, participants will interact in a more constructive and productive manner, making the workplace a positive and thriving environment.

Resumes

After this workshop, you will learn how to create a resume targeted to a job posting to achieve the best chance of being selected for an employment interview. This workshop includes resume types, development of the highlights of qualifications, profile section, and tips for applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Changeways

This program offers individualized and evidence-based therapy for adults wishing to address a wide variety of life concerns, including depression, anxiety, panic, and difficulties associated with major life changes.

CAREER PLANNING WORKSHOP SERIES:

Setting the Stage

At the end of this workshop participants will understand values and how they fit into the workplace and career exploration. An understanding of the emotional roller coaster of losing a job and how to transition.

Planning Your Path

This Workshop covers topics including personal planning and goal setting, occupational interests and the current labour market, self-awareness and job maintenance. Clients will develop strategies for professional growth by: Learning strategies to explore a range of careers options, identifying interests, and what skills are relevant to their career goals.

Moving Forward

Move forward to success in the workplace by setting goals and identifying your skills, values and attributes. Learn to manage time, gain adaptability, communicate effectively, solve problems and build relationships to get and keep a job.

Steps to Training Success

This workshop is for clients considering skills training. The workshops assists clients in the readiness necessary to build a skills development plan. Clients will research and develop a skills plan to support the career options they identified within The Career Planning workshop series.

One to Three Hour Workshops

In addition to the workshop series described above, the Centre offers a number of one to three hour stand-alone workshops. Check the calendar for the following upcoming workshops.

• Anger / Stress Manager
• Basic Computer Skills
• Effective Communication
• Exit Interviews
• Housing – Good Tenant Practices
• Interview Skills
• Labour Market Information
• Joining a New Team
• Keeping Your New Job
• Money Matters
• Stress & Anger Management
• Personal / Self Esteem
• Resume / Cover Letter
• Working with Others
• Working Safely

Resumes That Get You Interviews:

This 3-hour session supports clients to:

• Develop a resume with a powerful objective / career summary and strong accomplishment statements
• Identify employer targets and embed these in their resumes.
• Become comfortable with MS Word and creating documents
• Discover ways to create professional and accepted email addresses

Cover Letter That Gets You Noticed:

This 3-hour session supports clients to:

• Have all the tools necessary to write convincing cover letters
• Be familiar with how to use email to submit job applications

Longer Term Skills Upgrading and Career Preparation Programs

WorkBC Maple Ridge also offers the following longer term skills upgrading and career preparation programs.

Workplace Essential Skills
Skills 4 Success is a 40 hour hybrid program that assists attendees helps develop the skills they need to achieve their career goals. Participants will develop essential skills in reading, document use and numeracy. This program guides learners through a process to identify their skills in relation to a specific occupational goal and develop a realistic plan to achieve this. The program is offered in a supportive environment with hands-on exploration and learning to assist participants overcome obstacles to employment.

eTEA (Extraordinary Teens with Extraordinary Abilities)
This program is delivered in partnership with School District 42 and is for Grade 13 students with disabilities. A wide range of topics are covered to support participants to prepare for and enter the workforce. It is a 15 week program is offered on Fridays, full-day.

Encore Career Program
This program is for individuals 55+ years old who are considering launching a consulting practice, looking for a new job, wanting to start a home-based business or explore gig jobs. The program is five weeks full-time in the classroom followed by eight weeks of small group sessions and individual assistance. Groups are beginning soon!

CAVE
This program is for 18 to 24 year olds and focuses on enhancing essential workplace skills and job search skills to achieve employment goals. Workshop topics include resume preparation, cover letter writing, interviewing skills, and industry-specific training courses. The program is five weeks full-time Monday to Thursday in-class follow by 12 weeks of job search support and labour market attachment.

Mature Workers Workshop
The Employment Readiness for Mature Workers Workshop gives mature workers insights into working with other generations and includes the following topics:

• Generations Working Together
• Reframing Unhelpful Thoughts
• Discovering Transferable Skills
• Self-awareness
• Identifying and Accessing Transferable Skills and Prior Learning