9/11/2008 3:07:52 PM
Being close to retirement doesn’t mean you can’t pursue work in a new and exciting field.
College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program equips those 55-64 who are unemployed with the necessary skills to re-enter the workforce.
According to instructor Paul Armstrong, CNA is preparing for its second intake of students for this program.
“This program is basically designed for displaced and older workers to navigate life and work transitions in a way that will enable them to discover satisfying income earning activities for this stage in their lives,” says Armstrong.
“The official start date for the first intake was July 21. The first phase goes for seven weeks and focuses on employability skills. There is also an eight-week program in Fortune that continues on from here which deals more specially with trade skills. That is followed directly by a 14 week work placement.”
Armstrong is responsible for teaching the basic employability skills section of the program.
“We’re doing some self assessment and general employability – normal resume, cover letter – plus professional and personal development such as conflict resolution and stress management. There is a computer session where we deal with basic computer skills as well as self employment, and there are a couple of other things like first aid and workplace health and safety. They also did a flag person course.”
Currently there are 11 people in the three-phase program.
“During the next phase, they have a couple of different options about where they want to specify their training. This group is about to enter the hands-on training portion and they will have the option to focus on safety and security, customer service, construction, or industrial sewing.”
Armstrong says this program is a perfect refresher for anyone who would like to re-enter the workforce.
“If there is an older worker out there this workshop is developed to help them set the stage for their life and help them transition into working in areas where there is a potential for serious skill shortages. It’s all about helping them to find something to satisfy them in this stage of their lives.”
According to student Carrie Kelly, 57, the program does just that.
“I left my job in February where I was a supervisor for home care. I was on unemployment but wanted to get back in workforce. I found I didn’t want to be at home and that I had more things to offer.”
This Marystown resident knew she had only a few more years to work and set out to learn skills necessary when beginning a new career.
“Being 57 I knew I didn’t really want to leave the workforce at that age. Just by chance I came across this program and I knew it would interest me. It’s more of a stepping stone for getting back in the workforce so I applied and took advantage of this training,” she continues.
“I am hoping when I get into my 14-week work placement I will get a job at what I’m going to be doing. If not, I hope to gain the experience on the 14-week program that I can apply anywhere.”
Kelly says when she came across the program she immediately called CNA to find out more.
“My husband brought home a letter about it and I tried to get a few more of my friends interested in it – in fact two of them are taking it with me now. I have found the program to be good and we’re learning lots of things including learning about ourselves and what we have to offer.”
These are skills she believes will be useful in a new career.
“We’re doing a lot of computer skills. In today’s workforce it’s all about computers so we’re learning a lot. We’re using skills we didn’t even know we had. Right now I’m looking at the customer service portion of the course. After our on-the-job-training, we have places in mind that we’re going to contact to see if they will take us,” she says.
“I definitely did the right thing by taking this course and I would recommend it to anyone. I’ve been telling people what a great program it is, especially for our age group. You hear about younger people going to school but this is the first time I’ve ever known about a program for this age group and it’s a great thing. We’ve even had people approach us to see if it will be offered again.”
Campus Administrator Mike Graham says like many programs at CNA, this one is aimed at specific groups, such as with Skills Link or Orientation to Trades and Technology for Women.
“The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is not so much about teaching people new skills, but about helping them identify the skills they already have, where their interests lie, and building the confidence to use those skills in the workforce,” says Graham.
“The participants have a wealth of experience, and have gained many skills in their working life that can be transferred to new employment. Some may decide to pursue further training, but in focusing and enhancing the knowledge and skills they already have, they will considerably increase their employment prospects.”
He says when the advertisement went out to fill the 21 seats available for the second intake which starts Sept. 15, the seats were filled within a week. Another 10 people are currently on the waitlist.
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement enabled the implementation of the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program.
This federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative provides support to unemployed older workers in communities affected by significant downsizing or closures through programming aimed at reintegrating them into employment.
Burin Peninsula’s Older Workers project has received $377,178 in funding with $316,830 received federally and $60,348 provincially. This enables the project to provide support and training to 32 participants. The project is running from July 21, 2008 and March 31, 2009, with an additional 20 students taking a second program in September.
For more information regarding the program, contact Burin campus today at 1-800-838-0976.
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For more information contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca