New Programs and Initiatives

New TV Show Devoted to Career and Work Info for Youth

Parched by the summer heat? Put your feet up and come to Career Café. You may have to provide your own refreshments, but a visit won’t cost any money and all you need is a TV set. Career Café is a new half-hour television program devoted to career and work information. Although it is targeted toward youth 18-30, many of the resources on this program will also be of interest to career-changers and career development professionals working with youth.

Each program features regular segments such as Job News, with all the latest information on employment and labour market trends, new youth programs, and recruitment, and The Toolbox, brimming with practical tips on getting a job. Hosts Derek Miller and Lauren McNabb interview several people per show, including young entrepreneurs, key hiring personnel, industry experts, and individuals working in just about every occupation imaginable — from acting to trucking, and public affairs management to funeral directing.

A review of recent shows turned up the following info:

• Heavy equipment technicians are in high demand in Canada. And we’re not talking grease monkeys — these jobs are more hi-tech than you’d think! Community college programs may lead to a $50K salary just one year out of school. Read more at www.caed.org
• Natural Resources Canada runs a volunteer program where youth with an interest in Earth Sciences can gain hands-on experience to complement their theoretical knowledge. Many of these interns go on to find full-time work in the field. http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
• In a recent survey by Statistics Canada, working college and university graduates said high pay was the first thing they looked for in a job, followed by location, and enjoyment of the work itself. Read the full report at www.hrsdc.gc.ca

Upcoming shows will feature advice on market research for new business ventures, information on Aboriginal Business Canada, an organization devoted to the needs of Aboriginal entrepreneurs, the scoop on jobs in Canada’s National Parks, and information on occupations in fundraising, fashion, and tourism. Move over Starbucks!

Career Café can be seen Monday through Friday on Rogers Community TV and Shaw TV; the French version, Café de l’emploi, is on Canal Savoir Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and CTV broadcasts Career Café across Canada on a weekly basis — check local listings at the show’s website: www.rogerstelevision.com

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E-mail us about it at admin@contactpoint.ca.