Job scene remains healthy
Work available for motivated and reliable adults and students, Goodwill staff say
According to the folks at the Goodwill Career Centre on Upper Gage, the full-time job scene in Hamilton is pretty good.
“It’s actually been probably the busiest February and part of March we’ve seen in quite a few years,” said Tracy Baxter, regional director of client services.
“Employers are reaching out to us this time.”
Baxter said jobs are available in a variety of areas and occupations that pay anywhere from minimum wage ($11.40 an hour) to six figures.
Jeff Martin, a senior career specialist at the employment centre, noted the key to finding work is a good attitude.
The main thing employers want is reliability, dedication and motivation, said Martin, “because they can teach (employees) what they want them to be but they have to be ready to learn and they have to be there.”
Baxter noted Maple Leaf Foods has been hiring recently, and last fall the centre placed 60 people in full- and part-time jobs at the new Canadian Tire Store on Rymal Road East in Hannon.
Martin said that companies such as Canadian Tire are using the centre because they can look after all aspects of employee recruitment from advertising to screening to referral to the employer.
“It allowed (Canadian Tire) to walk in, interview and walk out with the staff they needed,” Martin said.
Goodwill also offers subsidies for training and equipment such as work boots to qualified individuals.
The local job scene is also healthy for high school, college and university students who are seeking summer employment.
“We’ve had a lot of calls from employers wanting to know when our next batch of recruits are available,” Baxter said.
She suggests that high school students looking for summer work should enrol in the 20-hour Youth Job Connection Summer program immediately.
The pre-employment program, which pays the students minimum wage for attending, helps young people with a variety of topics such as resumé and cover letters, interview techniques and workplace cultures and expectations before they are matched with a potential employer. These sessions are held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and on Saturdays.
“We also look at their interests and aptitudes,” Baxter said.
College and university students will be referred to the Youth Job Link program that does not have the prerequisite 20 hours of training.
Baxter said there are summer jobs for students in construction, retail, landscaping, hospitality and cleaning, along with some factory work to fill in for people on vacation.
See goodwilljobs.ca for more information on its job programs for students and adults.