By Ali Bharwani

The 2003 Ontario Job Finding Club Forum

The 2003 Ontario Job Finding Club FORUM, hosted by Lynda Beavis of Beavis and Associates took place on October 2nd and 3rd in Sudbury and was a tremendous success. The annual, Ontario-wide conference for job search practitioners and Employment Counsellors consisted of over 50 delegates from various Job Finding Clubs and employment centres from across Ontario. For further details on the 2003 JFC Forum, please visit www.northernjobs.ca/jfc.

The variety of speakers and presenters included a host of employers who shared their insights on recruiting tools they use and tips on what they look for in job applicants. As a professional development conference, delegates had an opportunity to learn the latest techniques, update resources and refresh ideas while maximizing networking possibilities.

I participated in the conference as both a presenter and a participant. As a participant, I was looking forward to attending the Forum to gain new ideas and perspectives. The specialized workshops enabled delegates to learn new ideas and suggestions to further assist clients in obtaining gainful employment. The Forum included a variety of workshops: “Powerful Presentation Tools and Techniques”, “Off the Wall: Tips and Techniques to Think Outside the Box”, “Mind Enhancement: Expand Mental Capacity and Maximize Your Potential”. As a presenter, I was nervous at the thought of presenting to an audience that consisted of colleagues and fellow co-workers. I began and everything ran smoothly – the presentation worked out excellent.

The Scarborough JFC hosted the 2002 Forum in Toronto with attendance of over 150 delegates and the 2004 Forum is being planned by a JFC in Ottawa. Keep a lookout for dates and a venue.

 

As the sole exhibiter, Contact Point provided valuable resources, bulletins and site updates for everyone. Check the website and bulletins throughout the year to get an update on upcoming conferences, including the next Ontario JFC Forum. Ali Bharwani works for the Scarborough Job Finding Club and can be reached at alibharwani@scarboroughjfc.com. Please visit the Scarborough Job Finding Club online at www.scarboroughjfc.com.