Discover Your Future

Credential:: Certificate
Program Code:: 0405
School:: Career and Academic Access
Academic Year:: 2013 / 2014
Accelerated Delivery?: No

About the Program

The "Discover Your Future " program provides an opportunity for students to participate in academic and self assessment and career /employment planning. Based on the results, students will research careers/employment that best suit their needs. Through information interviews, job shadows and labour market research students will develop realistic goals and create an action plan to achieve those goals. Individually and in groups students will build effective communication skills, practice assertiveness, and develop problem solving abilities. The program also includes participation in a work/training shadow and development of a learning plan to prepare for the GED, entry into further training programs or to gain employment. The program includes upgrading in communications, math and computer skills.

Program Facts

Length: 8-10 week Certificate program
Location: Cambridge (Downtown), Waterloo, Guelph and Stratford
Start: Varies
Tuition: You may be eligible for waiver of tuition and for financial assistance with childcare and transportation. Please contact the campus of your choice for more detailed information.

Program Outcomes

Apply effective and appropriate communication skills.
Build self esteem by identifying personal strengths, feelings, beliefs, values, attitudes and recognize how they affect self and others.
Articulate and evaluate various problem solving processes and develop strategies to respond to life and work situations.
Apply the skill of goal setting.
Become knowledgeable of available community resources and how to access them.
Identify the characteristics of a team.
Develop a personal inventory of accomplishments, skills, values and preferences..
Explore the changing nature of life and work roles including labour market information.
Develop a training plan for academic and or career goals.
Develop effective resumes and employment letters and forms.
Employ effective interview techniques.
Practice effective work search strategies.
Practice strategies essential to maintaining employment.
Participate in a variety of activities which reflect individual occupational and employment goals.
Achieve an elementary understanding of and skill in using personal computers.
Assess and determine current skill levels in communications and mathematics.
Complete a training plan to reflect occupational and/or training goals and all related requirements.

Admission Requirements

19 years of age or older (age exceptions may apply).

Note re: Admission Requirements

Applicants will be admitted to this program based on program eligibility requirements and the applicant's assessment results.

Admission Procedures

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements may be considered on an individual basis.
Applicants are assessed for program suitability through an interview with program personnel.
Applicants are required to attend a Program Information session.
Applicants are required to complete an information questionnaire.

Program Requirements

Agencies may refer clients who meet their conditions of sponsorship to this program.
Applicants for this program must be able to receive instruction and respond in the English language and may be required to complete the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment and achieve Benchmark 7 in the Listening/Speaking, Reading, and Writing Descriptors.
Applicants for this program must reflect the desire and interest to participate in a work or training entry/re-entry program.
Applicants for this program must be able and willing to participate in interactive group learning processes.

For program information call the Information Centre for details at 519-748-5220 ext. 3656.

Course Information
Course #	Courses
Level One
COMM1260	Preparatory Communications for Assessment Description: This course enables students to establish their starting point in Preparatory Communications and to begin work on chosen topics. Topics will be selected for each student based on academic background and educational/vocational goal. Objectives may include reading and writing skills. Hours: Credits: Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
ETR1010	Personal Management Description: This course provides students with the opportunity for managing their personal development. Students will develop their own personal profile which will include an exploration of temperament type and skill identification with an introduction to Essential Skills. Students will gain experience utilizing various problem-solving skills to increase the effectiveness in interpersonal relationships, goal setting, stress and time management. Students will select outcomes according to personal background and educational/vocational goals. Hours: Credits: Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
ETR1020	Career Building Description: This course provides students with the opportunity to examine, understand, manage and engage in their own career building process. Students will research labour market information and the trends affecting the current work world. Students will be introduced to the Essential Skills framework in relation to employer expectations. Students develop a portfolio by assessing their personal profiles and creating an employment/training plan. Research and the decision making process will include participation in work/training shadow experiences. Students will use computers for research and word processing purposes. Students will select outcomes according to personal background and educational/vocational goals. Hours: Credits: Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
ETR1030	Employment Strategies Description: This course provides students with the opportunity to examine strategies for gaining and maintaining employment, including the Essential Skills required in today's work place. The course will prepare students to conduct an effective work search. It will include exploring employment opportunities, completing portfolios, writing resumes and employment letters, practicing interviews and discussing employer/employee expectations. Students will select outcomes according to personal background and educational/vocational goals. Hours: Credits: Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
MATH1370	Preparatory Mathematics for Assessment Description: This course enables students to establish their starting point in Preparatory Mathematics and to begin work on selected topics in basic arithmetic. Topics will be selected for each student based on academic background and educational/vocational goal. Hours: Credits: Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:

Graduate Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for continuing academic upgrading, further career exploration, skills training, employment or to write the GED.

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities see the Government of Canada web site: http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca

Program Contacts

For more information please contact:

Cambridge - Dianne Murphy, (519) 623-4890, email: dmurphy@conestogac.on.ca
Guelph - Margaret Heard, (519) 824-9390 ext 6192, email:mheard@conestogac.on.ca
Stratford and Waterloo - Kerry Till, (519) 885-0300 ext 5248, email:ktill@conestogac.on.ca

How to Apply to the Program

Please contact the program directly at the campus of your choice:

Cambridge
Dianne Murphy
Tel: 519-623-4890
Email: dmurphy@conestogac.on.ca

Guelph
Margaret Heard
Tel: 519-824-9390 ext 6192
Email: mheard@conestogac.on.ca

Waterloo and Stratford
Kerry Till
Tel: 519-885-0300 ext 5248
Email: ktill@conestogac.on.ca

Disclaimer The College reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a program, course, or program major or option; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations, over-acceptance of offers of admission, budgetary constraints, or for other such reasons. In the event the College exercises such a right, the College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to the College.