Finding the right fit: Maria's story

Champions focuses on matching the right person to the right job. 

Today, Maria has the right fit for her at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Student Association (SAITSA), but when we first met her, she had been laid off from a busy, downtown office job and she was depressed. 

"It was a really painful experience for me, I feel like I lost my job because of my disability.  They said I was too slow; but I didn't know how to talk about my situation and how it was affecting my job.  If I had known, maybe I'd still be there.  Champions showed me how."

With one-on-one support from her Case Manager Mat, Maria progressed through each stage of Champions’ services.  She attended numerous workshops and began to feel more empowered.  In hindsight, she notes that the self-awareness and self-motivation she gained was equally important as brushing up on hard skills, such as resume and cover letter development and interview techniques.  With our support, Maria discovered that her learning disability and challenges relating to anxiety and stress were common. 

In fact, learning disabilities are very common with over 59,000 Albertans over the age of 15 reporting a learning disability in 2012.  Learning disabilities impact each individual differently and vary in severity, so it is possible that this number could be even higher.  There are positives and negatives surrounding our perception of learning disabilities today.  On one hand, learning disabilities are now well-documented and there is a heightened awareness of disabilities like Dyslexia.  On the other hand, this awareness has resulted in some unintended effects.  It’s not uncommon to hear people without a learning disability say, “I’m having an ADD moment” or “Oh I’m so Dyslexic today” when they make a mistake. Comments like these can worsen stigmas and make disclosure more difficult for a person who genuinely has the disability.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), now commonly considered as a learning disability, is further stigmatized by the fact it is often treated with stimulant medications such as Ritalin and there have been documented cases  of "academic doping" where Ritalin has been misused as a study aid by people who don’t have ADHD. 

Stigmas surrounding those with real learning disabilities, as Maria experienced, are that they are simply, ‘too slow’, lazy or not trying hard enough.  However, learning about disclosure, developing more self-awareness and self-confidence can help those with learning disabilities to speak up.  This helps to set the record straight and find the right workplace strategies and supports to help them be successful. 

After spending some time thinking and talking about disclosure in our workshop, Maria was able to make an informed decision about talking about her disability with her boss. 

“In the end, my disclosure was very casual.  I just told her that I have a learning disability, and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.”

So how does Maria know that this is the right fit for her?

"How would people describe me? I’m crazy! I like having fun, the people I work with know that I like singing and dancing at work and they're OK with it.  I feel so comfortable there, even when it gets busy. It’s really a low-stress job for me and somewhere I can be myself." Maria says.

Great news, since we spoke to Maria she has been promoted to Senior Staff and Events Coordinator at SAITSA.  

Congratulations Maria, your hard work has really paid off and we are so glad Champions was able to help you find the right job for you!

Diversity Champion - TD Canada Trust

This month we are pleased to recognize TD Canada Trust as our Diversity Champion, our monthly feature where we acknowledge forward-thinking businesses and leaders who embrace inclusion and diversity in our community.

In late October, Champions  Career Centre was pleased to host a ‘Meet and Greet’ session featuring TD Canada Trust. ‘Meet and Greets’ are informal and open forums where Champions clients and community partners are invited to meet and talk with HR and hiring managers from Calgary businesses at the Champions office downtown.

Attendees arrived promptly and were dressed to impress. All were armed with resumes and portfolios ready to meet Natasha, TD Canada Trust’s Recruitment Officer and the facilitator of this event.  The positive attitudes and confidence that exuded from the group was outstanding. Natasha began by presenting an overview of TD Canada Trust, the opportunities for employment and its hiring process. She also gave a personal view of her own career path.  She then gave attendees an opportunity to meet with her one-on-one in a 5 minute screening interview.

“I am really glad that I had the opportunity to participate at the Champions event.  It was a great experience as I had the opportunity to meet candidates from different walks of life.” Natasha commented.

Some attendees were invited for second interviews and were given career advice and constructive feedback. Attendees were also directed to complete the online application and assessment for future consideration.

Champions is striving to open doors for job seekers and welcomed attendees from other agencies and community partners. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with TD Canada Trust by putting the right candidates forward and working together to create opportunities and promote success for our clients. 

TD Canada Trust’s approach to diversity in the workplace sets an example to others, “We are working to create and sustain a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the people, cultures and languages of the communities we serve: a place where people can be their authentic selves and flourish without barriers. This is how we will ensure that the TD of tomorrow is even stronger than the TD of today.” Visit their website

I Was More Lost Than I Thought I Was: Mat's Story

Last month, at our Annual Client Celebration, we had several of our clients give testimonials about their experience of looking for work while living with a disability.

Mat details his journey - from losing 85% of his vision in high school, to university, to struggling to find work after graduation - and ultimately finding the right job with the right employer for him. Which just happens to be a Case Manager at Champions.

This is his story.

Diversity Champion: ATCO Structures & Logistics

Reflecting the Diversity in Our Community

“Alberta is not the same place it was 25 years ago.”

Several economic booms, and corresponding busts, and an influx of people from all over Canada and the world have dramatically changed the shape of our province over the last couple decades. Nobody knows this reality better than Alitta Tait, Recruitment Supervisor for ATCO Structures and Logistics (ASL), who is tasked daily with meeting the recruitment challenges of operating in Alberta’s ever-changing work environment.

“Calgary is a boom and bust town,” Alitta explains, “And there is not a lot of available talent with the skills sets and team dynamic we are looking for. Hiring in Alberta is difficult – there are a lot of good companies and a ton of opportunities out there.”

The nature of the economy in Alberta can be both a blessing and curse for ASL. A booming economy creates more business for the company, but also makes it difficult to fill much needed positions to meet the demands of their industry. The oil and gas industry takes up a lot of the workforce and their ability to offer high salaries creates challenges for non-oil and gas companies to find and retain talent.

To meet this challenge, ASL looks to mirror the diversity inherent in their company and in our community.

“The ATCO Group of Companies is very diverse as an organization. We operate on six different continents and have nine different operating companies making the opportunities in our company incredibly diverse.  At the same time, Alberta is a diverse community and reaching out to different groups of people and adapting new sourcing strategies helps us remain competitive,” says Alitta.

At ASL, individual members of the recruiting team have taken on the task of reaching out to various groups who may represent under-utilized talent pools. These groups include persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, immigrants, women and more. It allows each recruiter to focus on an area they are passionate about and to connect to possible gatekeepers and knowledge sources for each group.

Alitta explains this philosophy, “Being able to meet with organizations who are specialists, who can guide us and help us network in the right way with the right people is critical. For example, Champions understands our work environment quite well - our workplace culture – and they know how to send the right people who can succeed and enjoy it here.”

Andy Potton, one of our Employment and Retention Specialists at Champions, says it is refreshing to see the commitment from ASL. They have interviewed and hired numerous Champions clients, and are actively working with our team on building a diversity plan that can guide their workplace in the future.

“They really are a leader in the hiring and inclusions of persons with disabilities,” says Andy, “They look right past the disability. All they see are skills and talents and how a person might be the right fit.”

Even with a strong commitment, Alitta knows how difficult building a diverse workforce can be and that it isn’t done in a day. However, since putting a major focus on diversity the results have been more than encouraging.

“At first, it can be daunting,” says Alitta, “But getting involved with Champions, and other community agencies, helps us immensely. Giving us tips on best practices and showing us how to get involved really got the ball rolling and now it has taken on a life of its own.  We’ve always had a great workplace culture here but the amount of excitement, sharing and openness that has occurred since the organization really focused on diversity has been very encouraging.”

If mirroring and reflecting the many diverse communities in Alberta is the goal, then the dynamic and multi-faceted workplace they are building at ATCO Structures & Logistics is definitely moving in the right direction.

ATCO Structures & Logistics has more than 65 years experience providing complete infrastructure solutions to customers worldwide. They are your source for award-winning, innovative modular building solutions, remote workforce accommodations, lodging and site-wide services, noise abatement and air emissions control technologies. They have manufacturing facilities in North America, South America and Australia, operations on 6 continents and a global supply chain, allowing them to deliver a rapid, turn-key solution anywhere it’s needed.

This Girl is on Fire! Candice's Story

Last month, at our Annual Celebration, we had several of our clients give testimonials about their experience of looking for work while living with a disability.

Candice lost her arm to cancer when she was young and has been living with a disability her whole life, but only when she attempted to enter the Calgary workforce did she realize she might just need a little extra help.

This is her story.

My Experience with Champions Career Centre

*This month we have been spotlighting some clients who are currently making their way through our services at Champions. Earlier this month, we told Grace's story about a young woman looking for work after she graduated from University with a degree in Engineering. This time, one of our clients has written an anonymous testimonial discussing their own thoughts on coming to Champions and using our employment services.* 

I first came into contact with Champions Career Centre in February of this year.  Prior to February, I did not know there was a job network for people with disabilities.  I think having a job network specifically for people with disabilities is a great idea.

I attended the orientation session in February somewhat wary about others knowing that I had a disability.  Through meeting others with disabilities at Champions Career Centre workshops, work with my case manager, and my work with the employment and retention specialist I am much more willing than previously to disclose my disability to a prospective employer, when appropriate.  I never would have considered this before coming to Champions Career Centre. I believe I have come to accept my own disability, and ultimately myself, more as a result of my involvement with Champions Career Centre.  I have not totally come out of the closet, so to speak, about my disability, otherwise I would be reading this to you in person. :)  However, I have recently disclosed my disability to some people reasonably close to me who did not know about my disability – I just got tired of putting on a brave face all the time – and I think we are even closer now.

With regard to the specific components of Champions Career Centre, I think everything has been very valuable – the Disclosing your disability workshop, the very important, practical information in the job search techniques workshop, information about cover letters, job interview skills, and mock job interviews.  I realized through the workshops that I was not very good at “selling myself.” Furthermore, working with my case manager and the employment and retention specialist have given me some important leads for jobs and networking and important resources and other information for alternative, yet still very appealing career paths for me. 

I do not yet have a job, partially because my job target so far has been quite specialized, but I feel in a much stronger position in general to obtain employment because of what I have learned from being involved with Champions Career Centre. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT CCC!!

- Anonymous Champions Client

Our Executive Director on go! Calgary

Our Executive Director, Lisa Moon, was on go! Calgary with Phoenix last week discussing Champions and employment for persons with disabilities in our city. You can catch the video below:

To Disclose or Not To Disclose

In the past week I have read two very personal articles regarding the issue of disclosing one's disability to a potential employer.

The first article, Why I No Longer Mention My Disability in Job Interviews, details the challenges of a young woman trying to find work while living with a hearing impairment. After being brushed aside for an interview because of her impairment, she decided to no longer disclose her condition unless it became absolutely necessary for the job.

The second article, Why I Always Disclose My Disability in a Job Interview, was posted yesterday and takes a polar opposite view from the article above. Being a wheelchair user and using lessons learned from online dating, this young woman found that disclosing her disability up front lets her take control of the conversation and ease fears.

So who is right? What is the best course of action? This is a question we receive almost daily in our work here at Champions and the truth is simply that both are right.

Disclosing is a personal decision, there is no predefined formula on how to do it. What is important is to have a plan. Both women in these articles had thought about disclosure, on how to approach an employer, and how to best demonstrate their strengths and aptitudes during a job interview. Building a clear and comprehensive plan is the best way to help an employer see your abilities - rather than your disability.

At Champions, we host a disclosure workshop every month where participants explore different ways to disclose a disability to a potential employer, the advantages and disadvantages of disclosing at different stages of the job search process, and how to develop a disclosure plan. If you need help  with understanding how your disability may impact your job search then this workshop is definitely for you.

Remember, "fortune favors the prepared mind".

New Report: Disability in the Workplace

I was pleased to see a new publication, Disability in the Workplace from Racounteur media, come across my path this morning. The magazine features several articles and stories surrounding the issue of disability and employment in the United Kingdom. However, the stories are universally applicable and contain knowledge that certainly applies to Canadian businesses and persons with disabilities.

I highly recommend giving the magazine a download. Some of the highlights and articles:

• Disabled People Can Do a Good Job. Attitudes are changing, but there are still significant barriers in the workplace. "The key is not to recruit disabled people for the sake of recruiting them, but to recruit disabled people who can do the job." 
• Employing People with Disabilities Boosts Business. "The business case for embracing diversity means you have access to talent that others may overlook and you retain talent you might otherwise lose."
• Empowering Staff Improves Morale and Productivity. "Adapting existing systems or investing in specialist technology for those with disabilities can improve productivity across a whole organization."
• The Hidden Majority Must Not Be Ignored. "Accommodating disabled colleagues simply concerns the culture of an organisation rather than making physical changes".  

These were just the articles that jumped out at me. There is plenty more contained in this special edition and you can view the articles online or  download the entire magazine. 

Diffusing Difficult Conversations at Work

Fighting is okay in a select few work environments. 

During a recent team-building event at Champions, our facilitator - Herky Cutler - made an interesting point about how to diffuse or push through roadblocks in tough conversations. We were discussing how when dealing with each other in the office, or with clients, we can often run into walls when people have a difference of opinion on what to do in a given situation. For example, perhaps a co-worker wants to challenge the status quo on how we provide a certain service, or maybe a client wants to stick with their current resume rather than making the changes one of our Case Managers recommends.

Herky's suggestion to dealing with these delicate situations was both simple and elegant. Rather than butting heads, or agreeing to disagree and having tension build up, he suggested diffusing the conversation with a quick question:

"How is that working out for you?"

It's an easy question to ask, solicits the other person's opinion and opens the door for further evaluation of the topic being discussed. Brilliant.

This got me thinking, what are some other quick lines that can help release tension and build discussion in the workplace.

I have a tendency to be fairly obstinate when dealing with differences of opinion at work or in my personal life. I think I am being "matter of fact" or "rational", but others have told me many times that it comes off as being slightly condescending. I am always amazed at people who can navigate through difficult conversations, arguments and debates by posing the right questions at the right time. Similar to Herky's suggestion, these questions lead to constructive dialog and build positive relationships.

So I thought I might do some quick research and try to find other quick and easy ways to turn difficult conversations into meaningful encounters. Here is what I found:

Ask questions! It is the best way to understand where the other person is coming from.  Some ideas:

• Can you tell in more detail why this is important to you?
• What caused you to see this as a problem?
• Is there something I can do to help you with this then?
• Is the best you can do? (A Steve Jobs favourite)
• What do you suggest to stop this from happening again?
• What do you think?
• Why do you think this is a good idea?
• What do you need from me? 
• What do you want to happen? What do you need to make it happen?
• What else? Do you have any more thoughts on this? Can you think of anything else?
• What would you say if...?

Obviously, sincerity is key to any meaningful conversation. Asking a question in a degrading way, like is that the BEST that YOU can do, can have a totally different impact than asking in a way that encourages honest feedback.

Do you have any suggestions for quick questions or statements to navigate tough conversations? Let us know in the comments!

Meet and Greet, Allstate Insurance, May 9th

Are you articulate, have great customer service skills and enjoy multitasking?

We are hosting a Meet and Greet with Allstate Insurance on Thursday, May 9th from 1-3 pm. Allstate is always actively recruiting for great employees and people who want to contribute to a workplace that is challenging, collaborative and rich with opportunities.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information please contact us by calling 403.265.5374 or email info@championscareercentre.org.

Please arrive at least ten minutes before the session and remember to bring your resume with you.

Date: May 9th, 2013

Time: 1:00 pm



Location:

Champions Career Centre
Suite 650, 839 5th Ave SW
Calgary, Alberta

Debbie's Story: "I'm Happy"

When you first meet Debbie Henderson, it would be hard to believe she has ever had a bad day.  A natural optimist, her penchant to always look for the best comes shining through at all times. And when you ask her why she is so optimistic, she simply says “life is too short, you gotta have fun!”

However, even the most positively inclined hit speed bumps from time to time. For Debbie, her optimism was derailed last year when she lost her job at a company she had been working with for the last 6 years.  Living with a hearing impairment all of her life, Debbie had always known how to be successful in the workplace on her own. But when a new manager came on who struggled to understand her situation, things went south in her work environment very quickly and she was eventually dismissed.

Looking back, Debbie believes she got fired because of her hearing. “Some people simply have no compassion for people who are different.”

Finding herself unemployed for the first time in many years, Debbie faced the new reality of trying to re-enter the labour force as a middle aged woman.

“It’s not easy to start over when you’re older and I needed a career change,” she says.  Having always been able to find work without help, Debbie became very frustrated with not being able to do so this time around. “Not being able to find work on my own was difficult, and I was left feeling down, really mentally down.”

It was at this point that Debbie discovered Champions, where she was a little surprised to learn that there was work to be done to find a job that was right for her.

“At Champions, it isn't a free ride. I learned to treat job search like work, where I have to put in the time and effort to get the most out of it.  Champions isn't here to do the work for you, but they are there to encourage, help and give you all their time and resources along the way.  Coming into Champions several times a week was really uplifting and encouraging - they gave me the tools and motivation to make the most of my job search.”

Assessing her current needs and desires, Debbie learned that she needed to take a different career from where she had been previously. She had been working in accounting her whole life but decided a less demanding, more flexible role in data entry was the right choice for her at this time in her life.

When you ask Debbie how the adjustment has been to this new role, you quickly find out just how important finding the right role is.

“I’m happy, I have the best job I've ever had in my whole life,” Debbie states gleefully.  “And I know that the team at Champions is always there for me when I need them.”

Diversity Champion: Allied Printing and Promotions

Sometimes a perfect match is only a phone call away.

Such was the case when one of our Case Managers, Andy Potton, first contacted Greg Silver of Allied Printers and Promotions, even though both parties were unaware of what the other had to offer.

“I was simply following up on a lead for a client and hoping to open the door for him to a possible employment position,” says Andy.  Although the position had already been filled, Andy asked Greg to keep Champions in mind for any future openings.

So when that new hire didn't work out, Greg was happy to give Champions a call, even if he didn't really know what to expect.

“When I first heard of Champions, my first thought was people with disabilities might need more support and I was worried about if they would be able to do the job. I was a little bit shocked to hear that Tom’s disability was diabetes. I have never noticed a difference and really see no effect in the workplace. I am really proud of what Tom has been able to accomplish at Allied. He has stepped up to the plate in a big way and I couldn't be happier with how things have worked.”

Greg was so thrilled with Tom’s work that he has come back to Champions and brought on two other clients in part time roles. Greg and Allied have really seen business pick up over the last three months and building a reliable team is fundamental to the business being successful.

“I don’t complain about too much work,” Greg says, even as he puts in 14 hour days. “I am fortunate that we have been able to build the business up and the team is a huge part of that. If we can’t rely on each other and work as a team then things tend to not work out that great. I am big on teamwork and everyone deserves credit for our success, not just one person.”

“I have always been an underdog type of person. I know everyone needs a chance or break at some time and if I can help out, then I am all in. I am really happy with the way things have turned out. I feel really lucky to partner with Champions and to have been matched with several employees who have been able to work out.”

At Champions, we are always looking to create mutually beneficial employment placements where the right person is connected to the right job with the right employer. We are proud to partner with Allied and to recognize them as our Diversity Champion for this month. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Greg and the team at Allied Printing and Promotions long into the future.

Allied Printing and Promotions specialize in commercial printing and also offer a complete line of promotional items from A to Z. If you would like to promote your company name, are searching for novelty items for upcoming events, or need help with your commercial printing needs, Allied has what you are looking for.  Their philosophy is to keep service high and product quality even higher and do this with a maintainable company that focuses on this commitment to its customer. Call them today at 403.279.5980!

Champions Open House, April 30th

Struggling at work or with your job search?

As part of the inaugural Alberta Works Week, we are hosting an Open House on April 30th to allow you to meet our staff, view our business centre and computer lab, and learn about how Champions can help you find the right job or succeed in your current role.

Our doors are open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm, please feel free to come in at any time during our Open House.

We will be hosting a general information session and an interactive workshop for those people looking for a more in-depth look at the services Champions provides. The general information session will show how we emphasize your skills, ability, potential and self-worth while developing an employment plan which is right for you.

Our complementary workshop, "Help employers see your disability as an advantage", is an hour long interactive session which will help identify your strengths and show you how to communicate them to employers.

All of the services we provide at Champions are at no cost to you.

Date: Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Time: 10 am to 4 pm

Address: Suite 650, 839 5th Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Information Session: 1:00 pm

Workshop: 3:00 pm

Space is limited for the information session and workshop, reserve your spot by using the link below or calling 403.265.5374.

Register Now

Alberta Works Week: Employer Forum, May 2nd

We would like to extend an invitation to all of our employer partners and interested parties to a special event during the first annual Alberta Works Week.

The focus of Alberta Works Week is to increase public awareness of labour needs and employment resources for all Albertans. An important consideration is the engagement of under-represented groups in the labour market and how they contribute to Alberta’s Workforce.  A triathlon of employment events is being held in Calgary assisting mature workers, persons with disabilities and persons with developmental disabilities successfully find and secure jobs.

Wrapping up Calgary’s triathlon will be the Sprint to the Finish Line – Hiring Untapped Talent employer forum.  We know how important it is to find skilled, suitable and responsible employees.  This forum for employers will focus on talent pools found among persons with disabilities and mature workers.  Keynote speakers, opportunities to share stories about challenges and successes, and networking with fellow employers will make for a fast-paced and interesting event.

If you would like to attend, please see below for event details, including registration instructions.

Event:  Employer Forum - Hiring Untapped Talent
Date:  Thursday, May 2, 2013
Time:  8:30 a.m. to 12 Noon
Location: McDougall Centre, 4th Floor, 455 - 6 Street S.W., Calgary
Registration:  http://sprint2finish.eventbrite.ca
(Please register by Friday, April 26.  Space is limited)

For more information on activities being held during Alberta Works Week, please visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website at www.alis.ca/aww.

CFT7 Disability Employment Symposium, May 8th and 9th

Community Futures Treaty Seven (CFT7) will be hosting their 6th Annual Disability Employment Symposium this May 8th and 9th at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre in Calgary.

CFT7 advocates for inclusion in our community by collaborating with organizations and businesses that are actively hiring, training, retaining and supporting employment of First Nations People with disabilities.

The Symposium features several speakers, workshops, an interactive panel discussion and information fair.

For more information please visit www.cft7.ca or contact Johnathon Red Gun at Johnathonrg@t7edc.com.

When: May 8th and 9th
Time: 7:30am to 5pm
Where: Coast Plaza Hotel
1316 33 Street Northeast
Calgary, AB T2A 6B6
(403) 248-8888

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