2023

Updated for 2023! Toolkit showcases 10 ways that employers can partner with career professionals to address talent needs

CERIC has updated its popular toolkit that highlights 10 ways career development professionals (CDPs) can partner with employers to meet their recruitment, retention and training needs. The 2023 edition includes additional insights from more CDPs across the country who work with employers every day within their communities. At a time when job vacancies in Canada remain at an all-time high despite an ongoing threat of recession, the toolkit offers fresh and practical approaches to attract and maintain talent in what continues to be a tight labour market.

The toolkit is a compilation that now reflects input from almost 200 CDPs with advice for helping to mobilize local labour markets. This resource is the result of Virtual Community Roundtables with career development professionals held throughout the second half of 2022. Organized by CERIC, the roundtables were hosted in partnership with four provincial career development associations, Career Development Association of AlbertaOrdre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec (OCCOQ)ASPECT BC and the Ontario Association of Career Management.

Download the free toolkit and a one-page infographic summary:

During these roundtables, CDPs discussed with their peers the results of CERIC’s Environics National Business Survey of 500 Canadian employers released last year. Discussions focused on five themes: Challenges for Canadian Businesses, Recruitment, Skills Gap, Soft Skills and Professional / Career Development. The recurring message was that today new approaches as well as flexibility are required to find and grow talent given shifting jobseeker and employee expectations.

The toolkit that emerged from these roundtables is intended to be a concise resource that conveys the most impactful approaches for CDPs to work with employers. Some of the 10 ways to partner range from #4 Find Untapped Talent Through Non-Traditional Hiring to #9 Focus on Employee Retention, Engagement and Wellness. CDPs can use this document to identify new or enhanced ways to support employers or can share it directly with employers.

The goal is to provide ideas and a tool to raise employer awareness of the value of career development and the role and services of career development professionals. The National Business Survey showed that while 53% of employers are aware of CDPs, only 12% have worked with one in the past.

Recognizing that the role and services vary by type of CDP, organization and sector (e.g., post-secondary institution vs. community agency vs. private practice), this document aims to be as inclusive and flexible as possible. Anyone is welcome to use or modify the content as part of their communications materials.

Building on this work, CERIC partners will be presenting at a virtual HRPA micro-conference on April 13. This presentation to human resources professionals will feature the toolkit and will further the important conversation on employer engagement and the contribution of CDPs to workforce and workplace strategies.

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2023

Introducing ‘How to Get the Media to Feature Your Organization’: A CERIC Media Relations Training Program

CERIC will be launching a Media Relations Training Program later this spring to prepare and empower career development professionals to share their stories with the media and increase the visibility of the field. Offered in the form of an online course coupled with a peer-support community, the free program will be led by one of Canada’s foremost media authorities Keka DasGupta. 

This program is intended for any career development or related professional in Canada who wants to advance their career development messages and build profile in the media. This can include adding a career development perspective to employment and workforce issues in the headlines or gaining coverage for your program, project or organization. Additionally, the training will support the competency development of career professionals as they gain media relations skills. 

This program features two components: 

  1. Online “on-demand” training course: The custom course includes video lessons from DasGupta, email pitch templates and examples of real-life pitches that have landed people in the news, all with a focused lens on career development. This course takes approximately 3 hours to complete. 
  2. Live bi-monthly “Office Hours” Q&A sessions: To provide ongoing support, DasGupta will be hosting 1-hour Q&A sessions via Zoom every other month. In these value-added sessions, participants can ask questions and practice what they’ve learned as part of a peer community.  

DasGupta has worked in public relations for 24 years, with world-renowned brands such as IKEA, Nike and Disney as well as with numerous charities, not-for-profits, small businesses and independent experts. She takes the potential intimidation and overwhelm away from pitching the media to inspire and motivate participants to take immediate and sustaining action. 

This training is specifically designed to teach career development professionals how to: 

  • Identify newsworthy media opportunities – understanding when and how the media may be interested in interviewing you on conversations related to career development 
  • Successfully pitch the media with your career development story ideas and insights to “land” the news interview  
  • Follow up to help establish longer-lasting relationships with media, so they continue to call you back for insightful commentary 

CERIC is offering this program to facilitate and advance conversations on career development across Canada in the news and editorial spaces. With this training, more voices in the career community will be enabled to promote the value of career development – both for individual Canadians as well as for the economy and society more broadly. 

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2023

Announcing Spring Webinars in May 2023: Trauma-Informed Practice, Neurodiverse Clients and more

This spring, CERIC will offer three webinar series to help career professionals in their professional development. The first webinar series will give CDPs a roadmap to support neurodiverse clients effectively. The second series will guide them to establish a trauma-informed practice. Lastly, the third one will help career development practitioners to have an inclusive approach regarding antisemitism.

Recent statistics indicate that approximately one in seven people in North America are wired to think differently under the umbrella of neurodiversity. Unfortunately, because of the invisible nature of these differences, many of the characteristics inherent to a neurodiverse diagnosis may appear to be an attitude or behavioural problem. Developing competency serving people who are wired differently is a critical skill for employment professionals all over the world.

This series will provide participants the tools and systems to not only better understand the spectrum of neurodiversity but also to work effectively with people who think differently. For leaders experiencing workforce challenges, CDPs serving diverse clients and career counsellors needing a fresh perspective, this series is not to be missed.

This webinar series will be presented in English with the option of French subtitles (available in the recordings).

Career practitioners are working with various clients, including those who might come to career services with a history of trauma – from clients who have grown up with abuse, homelessness, war or experienced psychological or physical shocks to those who experienced a job restructuring experience. This 3-part webinar series will follow a continuum of trauma-informed foundations from theory to practice and help career practitioners create a trauma-informed practice in their service-delivering settings.

The webinar series will allow career practitioners to learn and reflect on their current and future practice. Together, through shared experience and knowledge, participants will learn strategies on how to develop safe spaces that support and empower their clients. In addition, as it is equally as important to turn the lens inward to consider how the trauma stories of others could impact CDPs, participants will also learn how to respond and recognize signs of secondary traumatic stress so that they can continue their work in a sustainable way.

Paid webinars will be recorded and individual certificates of attendance will be provided to all registered participants who attend the webinars live.

Reports from Statistics Canada demonstrate an increase in hate crimes in 2021 (27%), with more hate crimes targeting religion (+67%). Although the national Jewish community constitutes only 1% of the total population, hate crimes against the Jewish community remain the second most common hate crimes reported by police after the Black population. Tragically, this type of hate continues to thrive. Yet discussions about antisemitism are often left out of diversity, equity and inclusion training.

This free series will lead conversations about antisemitism to better equip career development practitioners to work toward countering this hate and build allyship between communities. By the end of the series, career development practitioners will better understand the historical roots of antisemitism and the forms in which it takes place in their day-to-day realities and will be able to apply inclusive approaches in their practice to better support their clients and students.

CERIC’s paid webinars are now hosted via the Zoom events platform to provide more interactive learning and networking opportunities. Participants will have access to a lobby where they can interact with other participants before, between and after the sessions, as well as many interaction options during the live webinars. An FAQ answers any technical questions.

CERIC partners with associations and organizations across Canada and beyond to present webinars that offer affordable professional development. Previously, CERIC has also worked with the Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training BCAssociation québécoise des professionnels du développement de carrièreBC Career Development Association, Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers, Career Development Association of Alberta, Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada, Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning OntarioFirst Work, Labour Market Information CouncilNew Brunswick Career Development AssociationNova Scotia Career Development AssociationOntario Association of Career Management, Ontario School Counsellors’ Association, Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du QuébecVocational Rehabilitation Association (Canada), and the US-based National Career Development Association.

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The CDP’s Roadmap to Effectively Supporting Neurodiverse Clients

PAST PAID WEBINAR SERIES

person   Presenter(s)

 Sarah Taylor, Principal Consultant of Next Level ASD

calendar icon   Original dates and time

  • Wednesday May 3, 2023
  • Wednesday May 10, 2023
  • Wednesday May 17, 2023

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET

Language

  • This webinar series was presented in English with the option of French subtitles available on the recorded sessions.

Cost

  • PAID Webinar Series

CERIC was pleased to partner with CASE on this webinar series. CASE is a national association for the supported employment sector. They work with employment service providers, employers, community allies, and stakeholders working toward employment inclusion of people experiencing disability. CASE strives to facilitate full participation in the labour force by offering resources, expertise, and support to service providers.

Overview

Recent statistics indicate that approximately one in seven people in North America are wired to think differently. Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Verbal learning disorder, and Asperger syndrome are all diagnoses that fall under the umbrella of neurodiversity. Unfortunately, because of the invisible nature of these differences, many of the characteristics inherent to a neurodiverse diagnosis may appear to be an attitude or behavioural problem. Is it possible that Sally, the client who never stays on topic is not just being “annoying”? or that Ralph the unemployed computer engineer who won’t consider a job outside of an 8 km radius is not just “difficult”? Developing competency serving people who are wired differently is a critical skill for employment professionals all over the world. This series will provide participants the tools and systems to not only better understand the spectrum of neurodiversity but also to work effectively with people who think differently. Participants will be encouraged to explore mindsets around diversity, inclusion and invisible differences. For leaders experiencing workforce challenges, CDPs serving diverse clients and career counsellors needing a fresh perspective this session is not to be missed.

Why Should You Attend

This webinar series will be focused around helping career practitioners to understand how neurodivergent jobseekers process information differently and the impact of these differences on traditional job coaching techniques and on employment. It will also empower neurodivergent CDPs to strengthen their practice by exploring tools for success that they can later share with their clients. By the end of the series, participants will have a strong understanding of the spectrum of neurodiverse diagnoses and how this translates with common challenges faced by their clients; more importantly, participants will be able to implement new strategies and tools to better support their clients who live on a neurodiverse spectrum.

CERIC is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental aspects of career development practice. As such, CERIC is working with diverse communities to develop learning opportunities supporting Inclusive Career Development.

Webinar #1: What Is Neurodiversity and Why Does it Matter?

Wednesday, May 3, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
  • Understanding the spectrum of neurodiverse diagnoses and their presentations
  • The impact of these differences on employment and on CDP
  • How neurodivergent thinkers process information
  • Employment strengths of neurodivergent thinkers

Webinar #2: Interviews, Resumes and Disclosure for Neurodivergent Jobseekers

Wednesday, May 10, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
  • Neurodivergent employment barriers overview
  • Resume writing challenges and how to navigate them
  • Challenges with job applications and how to navigate them
  • ASD-specific interview challenges and how to overcome them.
  • The great disclosure debate

Webinar #3: Tools for Neurodiverse CDPs and Their Clients

Wednesday, May 17, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
  • Tools for managing sensory sensitivities in the workplace
  • Tools for circumnavigating social blunders in the workplace
  • Executive function challenges and tools to help
  • Recognizing anxiety and techniques for managing problematic anxious behaviours in the workplace
  • The secret formula for determining “reasonable accommodations” you and your clients can ask for

CERIC PAID webinars are now hosted on the Zoom Event platform! Learn about the changes in our FAQ.

As a 21st century thought leader in the neurodiversity space, Principal Consultant of Next Level ASD, and Project Manager of Spectrum Advantage, Sarah Taylor has spoken at dozens of conferences for career Development professionals, post-secondary organizations, human resource professionals and companies in a variety of sectors across the country. Her education in psychology, communications and theology along with over 20 years of experience as a psychometrist and behavioural consultant have developed her skills in assessment, advocacy, organizational leadership and public speaking.

Sarah is passionate about building community, working with leaders and empowering people in all aspects of life. She is a frequent speaker and is uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between traditional career development tools and the neurodiverse population.

What people are saying about past webinars with Sarah Taylor:

Kara Stokes, Associate Vice-president, Buxton Consulting Ltd.

Thoroughly enjoyed the webinar series, thought it was relevant and current. Allowed myself and my team to take a step back and look at the behaviours of some of our clients, with new understanding.

Meghan Kelly, National Corporate Relations Manager, CCRW

It was fantastic, the information was very clear and easy to understand. Sarah shared great first-hand scenarios that added my learning and provided excellent resources. I was very impressed, my favourite webinar I have participated in so far this year!

Rita Kolpak, Employment Facilitator, Camosun College

Sarah was an excellent presenter. The organization was very well laid out. The take-home strategies to use with clients/employers were extremely valuable.

Zulay Leon, Manager, The Career Foundation

The webinar series was fantastic! The facilitator Sarah Taylor was amazing and very knowledgeable about the topic. The information presented was relevant to my field of work. I also did not find it too overwhelming. It was great that the presentations included different media such as videos, survey input and real-life examples.

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Antisemitism Uncovered: How to Support Career Development Practitioners to Have an Inclusive Practice

FREE WEBINAR SERIES

person   Presenters

Melissa Mikel, Director of Education at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC)

Zach Sadowski, Director of Antisemitism Programming and Outreach at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC)

calendar icon   Date and time

  • Monday May 1, 2023
  • Monday May 8, 2023
  • Monday May 15, 2023

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET (check your timezone)

Cost

  • FREE

FSWC works to build a more inclusive and respectful Canada by sharing the lessons of the Holocaust, advocating for human rights and combatting both antisemitism and hate in all its forms.

This series will not be recorded. Be sure to register & attend the live webinar sessions so you don’t miss out on this free learning opportunity.

Overview

Reports from Statistics Canada demonstrate an increase in hate crimes in 2021 (27%), with more hate crimes targeting religion (+67%). Although the national Jewish community constitutes only 1% of the total population, hate crimes against the Jewish community remain the second most common hate crimes reported by police after the Black population. Antisemitism did not begin with the Holocaust, nor did it die with the defeat of Nazism in 1945. Tragically, this type of hate continues to thrive and grow today, with many of the same myths and tropes continuing to be perpetuated. Yet discussions about antisemitism, and awareness of this form of hatred, are often left out of diversity, equity and inclusion training. This three-part series will look at patterns of antisemitism leading to the present day, discussing how to identify this form of hate and suggest ways in which to address it and build allyship strategies in our contemporary world today.

Why Should You Attend

Antisemitism can occur everywhere in our practice, whether at schools or the workplace. As career development practitioners play an important role in empowering their clients in their education and career trajectories, it is crucial to understand and apply an inclusive approach. The purpose of this free webinar series is to educate and build awareness about the topic of antisemitism starting from a historical context to a contemporary reality. The program will lead conversations about naming and calling out antisemitism in an effort to better equip career development practitioners to work toward countering this hate and build allyship between communities.  By the end of the series, career development practitioners will better understand the historical roots of antisemitism and the forms in which it takes place in their day-to-day realities and will be able to apply inclusive approaches in their practice to better support their clients and students. All of this work is about valuing diversity and inclusion and using one’s power and privilege to contribute to diversity and inclusion.

CERIC is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental aspects of career development practice. As such, CERIC is working with diverse communities to develop learning opportunities supporting Inclusive Career Development.

Webinar #1: Part I: Antisemitism: Then

Monday, May 1, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
  • Vocabulary as it relates to antisemitism
  • Traditional forms of antisemitism, organized in myths and tropes, from a global perspective
  • Antisemitism as it relates to the Holocaust
  • Post-World-War-II continuation of traditional antisemitism
  • Antisemitism from a Canadian perspective

Webinar #2: Part II: Antisemitism: Now

Monday, May 8, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
  • Working definition of antisemitism and its origin with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
  • Manifestations of antisemitism from the left to the right of the political spectrum – with a focus on Canadian examples
  • Connecting the “new” antisemitism to the traditional myths and tropes introduced in Part I
  • Antisemitism in online spaces

Webinar #3: Part III: Antisemitism: Building Allyship in Career Development Practice

Monday, May 15, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
  • Review of key concepts discussed in Parts I & II
  • Discussion of allyship strategies that career development practitioners can apply in their work
  • Antisemitism case studies which will allow for discussion about applying allyship strategies

Individual certificates of attendance will be provided for each webinar of the series. Please note that individual certificates of attendance will ONLY be provided to registered participants who attend the webinar LIVE.

COST FREE

Melissa Mikel is the Director of Education at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC). Her professional training is in education. Melissa has been involved with FSWC in a variety of capacities for the past 13 years, creating and implementing programming for students from elementary school through to university, as well as law enforcement personnel and educators about the Holocaust, genocide, antisemitism and racism. She wrote Harper Collins’ Educator’s Guide for the Canada Reads 2019 winner, By Chance Alone, a memoir written by Holocaust survivor Max Eisen. Melissa’s first MA in the field of education was from the University of Toronto; her second MA, in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, was completed through Gratz College where she is currently pursuing her PhD.

Zach Sadowski is the Director of Antisemitism Programming and Outreach at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC). He is responsible for workshops that fulfill the mandates of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs at businesses of all sizes. Zach’s work also focuses on fostering conversations that challenge participants to think about how they can be an ally to their Jewish colleagues, friends, and to the broader community. Zach also supports FSWC’s broader goal of building a more inclusive and respectful society through workshops and other outreach initiatives.

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2023

Trauma-Informed Career Development: How to Establish Trauma-Wise Spaces in Your Practice

PAST PAID WEBINAR SERIES

person   Presenter(s)

Kari McCluskey, Co-ordinator of the Vicarious Trauma and Resilience Initiative, Aurora Family Therapy Centre

calendar icon   Original dates and time of the series:

  • Thursday, May 11, 2023
  • Thursday, May 18, 2023
  • Thursday, May 25, 2023

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET

Cost

  • PAID Webinar Series

CERIC was pleased to partner with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) on this webinar series. CCPA is a national bilingual association providing professional counsellors and psychotherapists with access to exclusive educational programs, certification, professional development and direct contact with professional peers and specialty groups.

Overview

Career practitioners are working with various clients, including those who might come to career services with a history of trauma – from clients who have grown up with abuse, homelessness, war or experienced psychological or physical shocks to those who experienced a job restructuring experience. This 3-part webinar series will follow a continuum of trauma-informed foundations from theory to practice and help career practitioners create a trauma-informed practice in their service-delivering settings. The series will first focus on understanding the foundations of trauma – how it affects the nervous system, impacting behaviour, memory and learning, what activators can cause dysregulation, and how to apply a variety of regulation strategies. Then, participants will go through the principles of trauma-informed practice and the importance of relationships, cultural understanding and responsiveness in establishing (felt) safety to offer their clients growth through risk and vulnerability. Finally, the series will wrap up with a focus on vicarious trauma, discussing the risk and resilience factors in our workplaces and individual practices and what strategies we can implement to foster workplace wellness.

Why Should You Attend

Encouraging trauma-informed practices is not a new concept, but it is one that continues to evolve and requires ongoing learning, practice and reflection. This webinar series will allow career practitioners to learn and reflect on their current and future practice. Together, through shared experience and knowledge, participants will learn strategies on how to develop safe spaces that support and empower their clients. In addition, as it is equally as important to turn the lens inward to consider how the trauma stories of others could impact CDPs, participants will also learn how to respond and recognize signs of secondary traumatic stress so that they can continue their work in a sustainable way.

The webinars are intended to support career practitioners in their practice. They are not meant to make career practitioners competent to diagnose trauma in their clients.

Webinar #1: Trauma and the Nervous System

Thursday, May 11, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
  • What is trauma?
  • Trauma and the nervous system
  • Trauma and memory, learning and behaviour
  • Activators and dysregulation
  • (Co)regulation strategies

Webinar #2: Establishing Trauma-wise Practice

Thursday, May 18, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
  • Cultural humility & responsiveness
  • Establishing (felt) safety
  • Redirecting the trauma story
  • Supporting resilience
  • Risk and vulnerability for growth and empowerment

Webinar #3: Vicarious Trauma & Resilience

Thursday, May 25, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
  • Stress, burnout, empathic strain and vicarious trauma
  • Workplace & practitioner risk and resilience
  • Emotional labour
  • Boundaries and transitions
  • Assessing control
  • Holistic wellness

Individual certificates of attendance will be provided for each webinar of the series. Please note that individual certificates of attendance will ONLY be provided to registered participants who attend the webinar LIVE.

COST for the full series Non-CCPA Members

CCPA Members

Individual Rate

$159

$119

Group Rate* (Includes access for 5 attendees)

$596.25 ($119.25 per person)

$446.25 ($89.25 per person)

* If you register 5 or more participants from the same organization at the same time, you qualify for the group rate of 25% off registration fees. The group ticket is valid for a group of 5 people. If you wish to register more than 5 people at the group rate, you must have a group of 10 people. If this is not the case, you will need to register the additional people at the individual rate.

CERIC PAID webinars are now hosted on the Zoom Event platform! Learn about the changes in our FAQ.

Kari McCluskey is the Co-ordinator of the Vicarious Trauma and Resilience Initiative at Aurora Family Therapy Centre in Winnipeg, MB. In this role, she provides training, consultation and support to those who witness the stories of Canadian newcomers. Since the program’s inception in April 2018, she has facilitated hundreds of workshops for participants across the country. Kari holds several certificates in trauma response, including Harvard Medical School’s Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery, and an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies. Kari was also a contributor to the CERIC guide Bridging Two Worlds: Supporting Newcomer and Refugee Youth written by Dr. Jan Stewart and Dr. Lorna Martin.

Vicarious Trauma & Resilience Initiative | Aurora Family Therapy Centre

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2023

Etta St. John Wileman Award evolves with focus on Outstanding Achievement

CERIC’s flagship award is evolving to celebrate those who have made a significant impact in enhancing the field of career development, regardless of role or position within an organization. Now called the Etta St. John Wileman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Career Development, the changes seek to build on the award’s proud history while evolving it to become more inclusive and accessible.

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2023

Curious, hopeful, empowered: Recapping Cannexus23, Canada’s Career Development Conference

More than 2,000 career development professionals from across Canada and around the world joined together for the first hybrid Cannexus conference from Jan. 23-25, 2023. Whether attending in-person in Ottawa or virtually, delegates expanded their knowledge, built strong networks and felt proud of the meaningful work they do. They learned about emerging trends and issues from transitioning to a net zero economy to trauma-informed counselling and left curious, hopeful and empowered.

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