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Author: Meghan Brown

Disclosing Your Disability During the Job Hunt

Summer jobs, internships and co-ops are a great way for students to prepare for their future by gaining work experience and learning new skills. Finding work you’re interested in — and getting hired — is difficult for everyone. For a student with a disability, getting that job or internship can carry an additional challenge: deciding when, or if, to tell potential employers about your disability.

Depending on the nature of your disability, your employer may eventually need to know, but the time for you to make this information available can vary.

Applications and Resumes

Generally speaking, it is suggested to avoid including mention of a disability in your cover letter, resume or other application documents, for several reasons.

Your resume is how you sell yourself for the job, and unfortunately the job market at any level — even for student summer employment or part time work — is very competitive. Though it can feel unfair, you don’t want to give employers the opportunity to pass over your resume without looking at your qualifications for the job, just because they don’t know what accommodations you might need or are unfamiliar with the disability in question.

It’s also important to keep in mind that from a legal perspective, you are under no obligation to reveal your disability to an employer. In any case, it really should not matter. However, depending on the company, it could.

The exception to this is if you are applying to work somewhere that your experience with a disability is a specific asset to the job. For example, if you have a vision impairment and apply to work at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), or wish to work as a mentor or counselor for others who have a similar disability.

During the Interview

Being invited to an interview is another point where it’s common to feel that you should disclose your disability so that you won’t catch anyone off guard. However, as with the resume, the general advice is not to disclose your disability prior to the interview, regardless of whether your disability is visible or not visible. Instead, be prepared to demonstrate you have the skills and knowledge for the job, and show the prospective employer that you are able to do the work.

It is suggested that you also be prepared to answer the questions an employer may have regarding how your disability affects you, and what — if any — workplace accommodations you might need. Having this information ready to go can help resolve any concerns your potential employer may have.

The exception here would be if you require some form of accommodation in order to perform the interview, such as needing a sign language interpreter, large-print forms and paperwork, or whether the building is wheelchair accessible.

Time to Share

If and when you do choose to disclose information about your disability, just remember to include solutions to the concerns your employer may be worried about. Use this opportunity to show your coping strategies and how they will relate to the job you’re applying for, how they will help you perform the work, and how these unique skills are your valuable contribution to the workplace.

SOURCES:

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/disclose-disability-on-resume

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/when-to-reveal-a-disability-job-hunt

http://jobdoozy.org/to-disclose-or-not-discussing-your-disability-with-job-interviewers-and-possible-employers/

January 1, 2019
A New Year for Change…Or Not?

Happy New Year!

Each new year brings different changes. Of course things can change without ringing in the new year, but there is something about starting a new year that feels so fresh and reassuring. If whatever you’ve been doing has been working, you may not have to think about it too much. However, there are always things to improve upon. There are interpersonal goals, financial goals, academic goals and social goals to think about. One thing to always keep in mind when making any resolutions, is that everyone does what they need at their own pace. Don’t try to compete with others or you will find yourself clinging to something that might be unattainable. Make your own way!

To kick off the year, we have some articles about starting the new year progressively, what a “gig” economy is, resume dos and don’ts, mental health orientated degrees, and the real differences between understanding and memorizing, to name a few.

Be sure to check out our scholarship section so you can get your January applications in before it is too late!

Peace and good luck!

Erin Kelly

Content Editor

January 1, 2019
Financial Aid Available for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities in the Yukon Territory
Each article in this series will put the spotlight on each Canadian province or territory’s financial assistance available for post-secondary students with disabilities. This article will focus on the territory of Yukon.

Out of the three Canadian territories, Yukon is the only one where students may apply for and access federal student funding. Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are like Quebec in that they all manage and administer their own student financial aid organization. All eligible students in Yukon may access the Canada Student Loan and Grant Program.

For students with disabilities in Yukon, access to the Canada Student Loan and Grant Program means they can also apply for the following two grants:
1. Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
This Grant is available to full-time or part-time students who have been assessed to need at least $1. Documentation of disability must be provided; examples include a medical certificate, a psycho-educational assessment, or documentation of having previously received similar governmental funding. Students may receive up to $2,000 per school year.
1. Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
This Grant will help students with disabilities cover education-related services and equipment necessary in their pursuit of education and training. Examples include specialized tutors, note takers, Braille products, and voice recognition software. The eligibility criteria here is the same as the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. This Grant does have one additional criterion: you must provide written documentation of the specific equipment or services required from a person who is qualified to make such a decision as well as the associated costs. Students may receive up to $8,000 per school year. Once you have been approved, make sure you keep all your receipts—you will be required to provide them at the end of the year.

The Yukon Department of Education is responsible for managing student financial assistance. You may either apply online or via a paper application. This general application must be accompanied by a separate application form specifically applying for the two grants named above. These applications go to the Yukon Department of Education, not the Government of Canada.

Your next question may be when you need to submit everything. The earlier you submit your application, the better. Processing a grant can take as long as two months, so plan your application timeline accordingly.

The last thing I want to leave you with is a reminder that the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities are specifically for you, for students with disabilities—but general student financial assistance is also available. This includes the Yukon Grant, designated for full-time students and amounts to almost $5,000 for a standard 8-month school year. Good news is that the general application you submit to the Yukon Department of Education covers this along with the Canada Student Grants.

References:
January 1, 2019
Financial Assistance Available for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities in Quebec
This is the sixth article in a series examining the financial assistance available to Canadian post-secondary students with disabilities. Due to differences in eligibility criteria, amount available, and the application process, each province and territory is accorded their own piece. In this article, I take a magnifying glass to Quebec.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that: post-secondary students with disabilities in Quebec are not eligible to receive Canada Student Loans and Grants. This means they cannot apply for either the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities nor the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities. In other words, post-secondary students in Quebec do not have access to federal financial aid funding. Unlike the other provinces’ financial aid programs, the one the Quebec government manages is completely separate from the federal government.

The organization responsible for post-secondary student financial aid is called Aide Financière aux Études (AFE). Their homepage may be found at: http://www.afe.gouv.qc.ca/en/. Note that there is a toggle at the top-right of the page, allowing you to switch between either French or English for the site’s language.

Within AFE is a specific program called the Loans and Bursaries Program. AFE is the umbrella organization that oversees student financial aid while the Loans and Bursaries Program provides the actual financial aid. Generally, when you apply for financial aid, you are specifically applying to the Loans and Bursaries Program.

There are no specific grants or bursaries whose eligibility criteria purposely states only students with disabilities may apply. Students with disabilities submit the general Application for Financial Assistance form to the Loans and Bursaries Program like any other student. This form must indicate that you have a major functional disability (for example, severe hearing impairment, severe visual impairment, organic impairment, or motor impairment). A Medical Certificate completed by a health care professional must also accompany your application.

Students with disabilities may access funding from the Loans and Bursaries Program as well as another program called the Allowance for Special Needs Program. Once you are recognized by the Loans and Bursary Program to have a major functional disability, you may receive funding from this second program for different types of expenses like specialized services, paratransit services, special needs housing, and material resources. Note that which types of expenses are covered depends on the specific program (college or university; private or public; in or outside Quebec) you are enrolled in.

Now you may be wondering why I have not mentioned amounts at all in this article. The Loans and Bursaries Program expects each applicant to pay what they can for their own educational expenses, so the amount of assistance you receive will be unique, calculated to your own personal circumstances. This is why I cannot cite any numbers to you in this article. However, the good news is that students with recognized disabilities may receive the full amount as a bursary, not a loan.

The main element I want you remember from this article is that Quebec does things differently. You will not know how much you receive until after your application is processed. The key is to make sure your application is as detailed as possible and submitted as soon as possible.

References:
January 1, 2019
$How Math Skills Can Get you a Career as a Brokerage Clerk$

How Math Skills Can Get you a Career as a Brokerage Clerk

You may have heard the saying “Everything is math”, and the reason why it’s a popular saying is because it’s true! If you excel in math and accounting skills, the world is your oyster. There are many great career opportunities where having a knack for numbers is essential. One of these potential careers is that of a brokerage clerk. A brokerage clerk is a finance and data expert that oversees the sales of bonds (a sort of loan to a government or city that you will receive back with interest), commodities (a raw material used in business that people can invest in), securities (a certificate with an implied monetary value that can be exchanged for funds), and stocks (an investment into a company). Brokerage clerks also help out regular brokers in filling out paperwork and maintaining all of the proper trading documentation, reaching out to customers and clients, and helping to take orders.

The more you learn about economics and how it makes the world spin, the more you may find yourself interested in this career. Generally, you will need a finance or business degree in college to gain employment in this field. Here is how math skills can get you a good career as a brokerage clerk:

What are the perks of the job?

First and foremost, the greatest perk of the job is being able to flex those math and finance skills that you have developed. You also work closely with the stock markets and the financial district, giving you your edge if you plan on investing within the market. There was also a reported high job satisfaction with the line of work as it tends to be a non-physical job.

What are some of the setbacks?

The largest setback of being a brokerage clerk is the below-average median salary, which tends to stand around $43,129 annually in North America according to PayScale. It can also be a somewhat stressful career if the workload gets heavy and the clerks find themselves having to process a high volume of paperwork.

How can I grow with this career?

Being a brokerage clerk is an entry-level job that can open many doors within the financial field. Clerks can take on more responsibilities at a higher pay grade or they can receive additional training and education to become a qualified broker.

That’s all great, but could I be hired for other careers?

Because brokerage clerks tend to be knowledgeable in business and financial fields, they can take on many business-related or accounting related positions. A few of these roles include jobs in bookkeeping, being an auditing clerk (reviewing the financial statements of customers), accounting clerk (clerks that review financial and transactional statements of companies), a secretary or an administrative assistant. There any many possibilities when you hold a career as a brokerage clerk.

Reference:

Payscale, “Brokerage Clerk Average Salary”:

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Brokerage_Clerk/Hourly_Rate

StateUniversity.com, “Brokerage Clerk Job Description, Career as a Brokerage Clerk, Salary, Employment – Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job”:

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/155/Brokerage-Clerk.html

Study.com, “Brokerage Clerks: Job Description & Career Information”:

https://study.com/articles/Brokerage_Clerks_Job_Description_and_Information_About_Becoming_a_Brokerage_Clerk.html

January 1, 2019
Careers in Robotics

Robots have many uses in our world. Does your family have a small robot that cleans the floors of your house or that does other tasks? Robots are becoming part of everyday life, and a career in robotics could be a good choice.

Most machines are complicated, and robots can be difficult to understand. People who work in robotics need to know mathematics, physics, and similar subjects. Also, they need to be very good with small details. You can already start learning to work with numbers and try to make your own machines to practice for your future career.

Being able to deal with problems is also very important since many different things can go wrong with robots. Patience can be very helpful, since you might need to work on an issue for a very long time before you can solve it. Creativity is another part of working with robots. People often have to invent new machines or find new ways of dealing with old problems. Being a fast learner is important, since the field of robotics changes quickly.

The field of robotics has three types of jobs, although many other jobs can include work related to it. Robotics engineers study at a university to learn how to design robots for all kinds of purposes. Usually, at least a Bachelor’s degree is necessary, and sometimes a Master’s degree. This means that engineers could spend five or six years in university. When they are finished, they can earn between $35,000 and $89,000 per year.

Robotics technicians assemble, repair and maintain robots. They might have a degree in robotics from a university or a diploma or certificate from a community or technical college, or they might just be very good with machines. Salaries in this job begin at over $35,000 and can rise to about $63,000.

Software developers are also an important part of robotics work. They invent the computer programs that the technicians and engineers use to invent and run the robots. The amount that they earn can vary a lot, depending on where they work and how many software programs they write, but they can sometimes do as well as the engineers.

Depending on the job, work in robotics might be very quiet and physically easy or noisy and physically tiring. Technicians tend to work with welding and other possibly noisy and dangerous tools, but engineers and software developers normally work in offices where they might be alone or work with a few other people.

That can change, depending on the size of office and the types of robotics being developed. In some workplaces, only one or two people might have to do all of the jobs of engineer, software developer, and technician. In larger companies, there might be enough people to allow each one to specialize.

People working in robotics will probably never have to worry about not being able to find work. They might have to move to a different city if they live in a place with few opportunities.

Bibliography:

Grad School Hub. “What Types of Jobs Are in Robotics.” https://www.gradschoolhub.com/faqs/what-types-of-jobs-are-in-robotics/.

Neuvoo. “Robotics Engineer Salary in Canada.” https://neuvoo.ca/salary/?job=robotics+engineer.

Payscale Canada. “Average Robotics Technician Hourly Pay.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Robotics_Technician/Hourly_Rate.

Study.com. “Robotics Career Options, Job Duties and Employment Outlook.” https://study.com/articles/Robotics_Engineer_Job_Outlook_and_Required_Education.html.

January 1, 2019
The Do’s and Don’ts of Resumes
In this very competitive marketplace, it seems that resume writing is getting more complex. Although there are no hard and fast rules, these points should make the process a bit easier.

Do’s:
- Put a title on top to indicate the position you’re applying for. Example: “Target: Junior Financial Analyst Position”.
- Tailor your resume for each advertisement. The one size fits all resume no longer works since hiring managers are looking for specific skills and experience.
- Include a professional profile that tells companies what you can do for them.
- List your technical skills and areas of knowledge.
- Use powerful verbs like “chartered”, “spearheaded” or “captured” to indicate what you did instead of the same old, tired verbs like “handled” or “managed”.
- Quantify your accomplishments, when possible. Instead of saying you made top sales, state the actual dollar amount.
- Include your education, courses or skilled trade training.
- Be consistent with your colour, bullets, headings and font throughout your resume.
- Check and recheck your resume to ensure no typos or grammatical errors slip by.
- Include page numbers. If you have a 2-page resume, format your page numbering as page 1 of 2 and page 2 of 2 so the recruiter knows how long your resume is.
- Put your name and contact information on all your resume’s pages in case a page gets separated from the rest.
- Include a cover letter with your resume to explain what you offer the company and why you’re an ideal candidate.
Don’ts:
- Explain why you left your last job. Save that for the interview only if they ask why you left.
- List obvious skills like Outlook or internet because almost everyone has these skills.
- Include confidential information on your resume.
- Use slang. You may think it sounds cool, but hiring managers think it’s unprofessional.
- Use clichés and buzzwords like “results-oriented” or “team player”. These words have been used too many times to be novel anymore.
- List controversial organizations or hobbies unrelated to the desired position.
- Include a photograph of yourself. Some cultures support this, but it’s not common in North America.
- Include a high school education if you graduated from university, college or a trade school.
- Put “References Available Upon Request” at the end of your resume. This is outdated and it’s understood that you’ll send references when asked.
- Use wacky fonts, garish colors or crazy designs. Stick to a crisp, clean look with a font that’s easy to read.
- Use your company’s email and phone number. It’s better to use your personal information even if your boss knows you’re looking.
- Include information that could be discriminated against such as age, marital status, gender, religion, race, color or national origin.
- Lie on your resume. Your sin will find you out, and you can get fired.
By keeping these points in mind, you’re well on your way to creating a professional resume for the job you want.

Giselle Mazurat received her designation as a Certified Resume Strategist from the Career Professionals of Canada. She also writes technical and business content for government and private companies.

Bibliography:

15 terms you must include in your resume and 10 things that will get it tossed
https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/15-words-you-must-include-in-your-resume-and-10-things-that-will-get-it-tossed/

42 Resume Do’s and Don’ts Every Job Seeker Should Know
https://www.themuse.com/advice/42-resume-dos-and-donts-every-job-seeker-should-know

185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome
https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome

The definitive list of resume dos and don’ts. Don’t break these rules.
https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/the-definitive-list-of-resume-dos-and-donts-dont-break-these-rules/

The Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing
https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/writing-a-resume/the-dos-and-donts-of-resume-writing
January 1, 2019
What are my rights to post-secondary education as a person with a disability?

All educational institutions have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, up to the point of ‘undue hardship,’ in order to ensure equity for students with disabilities. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the various provincial charters prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, and post-secondary institutions have been mindful of the obligation to create an accessible environment dictated by these charters. Canadian colleges and universities are now beginning to articulate the rights of disabled students as they develop educational equity policy statements. It is recommended that disabled students contact their disability services office for more information: http://www.neads.ca/en/norc/edlink/

Other organizations that can help clarify the legal aspects of disability accommodations include: ARCH Disability Law Centre, Council of Canadians With Disabilities and Reach Canada. ARCH is “a non-profit community legal clinic which defends and promotes the equality rights of people with disabilities through litigation, law and policy reform, and legal education.” You can contact ARCH at its Toronto office:

Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped (ARCH)
425 Bloor Street East, Suite 110
Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3R5
Telephone: (416) 482-8255
TTY: (416) 482-1254
E-mail: archlib@lao.on.ca
Web site: http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/

Reach Canada is “an Ottawa-based voluntary organization that empowers people with disabilities to remove barriers in education, work and the general community.” Contact Reach at:

Reach
400 Coventry Road
Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 2C7
Telephone: (613) 236-6636
TTY: (613) 236-9478
Fax: (613) 236-6605
Toll-free: (800) 465-8898
E-mail: reach@reach.ca
Web site: http://www.reach.ca

December 30, 2018
January 2019 Scholarships: Apply Now!

CPAC Trailblazer Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $3,000

Awards Available: 1

Award Deadline: January 15, 2019

Address: https://www.cpac-canada.ca/2018-cpac-scholarships/

Sleeknote Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $1,000

Awards Available: 2

Award Deadline: January 20, 2019

Address: https://sleeknote.com/scholarship

ABPA Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $1,500

Awards Available: 1

Award Deadline: January 31, 2019

Address: https://abpa.site-ym.com/page/Scholarship

Dick Shaw Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $1,000

Awards Available: 1

Award Deadline: January 31, 2019 (Deadline Estimated)

Address: https://iseewest.org/Scholarships

10 Words or Less Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $500

Awards Available: 1

Award Deadline: January 31, 2019

Address: https://www.facebook.com/myscholarships

Autodesk Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $1,000

Awards Available: 1

Award Deadline: February 1, 2019

Address: https://www.smeef.org/scholarships/detail/2018-2019-autodesk-scholarship

Leanna Dorworth Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $1,000

Awards Available: 1

Award Deadline: February 1, 2019 (Deadline Estimated)

Address: https://www.smeef.org/scholarships/detail/2018-2019-leanna-dorworth-memorial-scholarship

SME Education Foundation Family Scholarship

Scholarship Value: $40,000

Awards Available: 4

Award Deadline: February 1, 2019

Address: https://www.smeef.org/scholarships/detail/2018-2019-sme-education-foundation-family-scholarship

$5,000 International Secondary School Merit Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provided by: Ryerson University

Deadline: February 01, 2019

Renewable: No

Number Available: 7

Type of Award: Scholarship

Automatic Consideration: No

Address: https://www.ryerson.ca/admissions/scholarships-awards/

$10,000 President’s Entrance Scholarship

Amount: $10,000

Provided by: Ryerson University

Deadline: February 01, 2019

Renewable: No

Number Available: 12

Type of Award: Scholarship

Automatic Consideration: No

Address: https://www.ryerson.ca/admissions/scholarships-awards/

December 30, 2018
Why the Trades Are Great for Entrepreneurship

Not everyone wants to graduate from school and go on to work in an office or company owned by someone else. Instead, these people would rather work for themselves. If you’re someone who wants to pursue entrepreneurship, then the trades might make for an excellent career path.

When you hear the word “entrepreneurship” it might bring to mind the idea of a “start-up” company, usually in software, gaming, or technology. While it’s true that these fields receive a lot of attention, entrepreneurship isn’t limited to these areas. There are many great entrepreneurship opportunities for people working in the skilled trades who want to own their own business.

What makes entrepreneurship so appealing to skilled tradespeople?

You Get to be Hands-On

Chances are if you’re interested in the skilled trades, it’s because you’re the type of person who like to be hands-on and deeply involved in their work. This is an essential quality of successful entrepreneurs, since (especially in the early days of a new company) you will likely be covering multiple roles and a wide variety of tasks–everything from performing the actual work, to bookkeeping and accounting, to marketing yourself.

You Have Independence and Control

Becoming an entrepreneur also means that you get to make the decisions, choosing how to run your business, what your schedule will be, and which jobs you accept. For many people, this independence if preferable to working for someone else where their control over their work is limited. You also have control over your career trajectory; rather than having to work your way up through an established company until you reach a point where you can make the decisions, as an independent business owner you’re already in charge.

Ongoing High Demand for Skilled Tradespeople

The job market can be tough, but there is an ongoing, increasing need for skilled trades workers, especially in areas like plumbing, electrical, metalworking, and construction. This is from a combination of increasing infrastructure and housing projects, as well as the trend of older workers retiring with fewer young workers to take their place. This is an ideal situation for a trades entrepreneur, because it means that there will be lots of work opportunities to choose from to keep you and your business thriving.

Room for Your Aspiration, Whatever That Might Be

While you may start out as a one-person operation, very few entrepreneurial businesses remain a solo employee for long. Growing your business to increase profits will necessarily require taking on more employees to help distribute the workload. However, entrepreneurship is great because you can grow your business at your own pace, and the sky is the limit. You want to stay small and local, with regular hours and a reliable schedule? Once you build a solid team of employees and a good roster of customers, you can maintain your business at that scale. Or do you want to one day own a huge company that operates on a national scale? Entrepreneurship is perfect for these ambitions, too.

Sources:

https://start-up-booster.com/skilled-trades-entrepreneurs-next-big-thing/

https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/how-to-get-from-journeyman-to-ceo-learning-a-trade-is-a-natural-for-setting-up-a-business

December 29, 2018

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