The lifelong learner gets the job

Skills that come in handy during the job search recall many of the abilities emphasized at school

The skills you learned in school can serve you throughout your entire life. — Sanja Gjenero photo

Think back to university, college, even high school. Were you mastering Google searches, practising your networking and interviewing skills or simply brushing up on your writing abilities? Many of the skills mastered at school are the same abilities that come in handy during a job search.

"Education is a part of everyone’s life, whether you’re going to school or not," said Patricia Rawson, a services team co-ordinator at the Kootenay Career Development Society (KCDS). "We talk a lot about the idea of lifelong learning as a part of the job process. All the education things that we learn, such as research skills and the ability to assimilate new information, are skills you need when you’re looking for work."

KCDS, located in Nelson, began operating in 2004; Rawson has been involved with KCDS since its opening and for many years before that. As she said, she talks employment all the time, helping those who have a common aspect: they are in transition.

Among the primary aspects of KCDS's services are its workshops, training and skills programs. The workshops are popular and go far beyond the traditional resumé-writing lessons. They include programs like Beyond The Work Ads, which discusses the 80 per cent of jobs that will never make the want ads—and how to find them. Work That Fits is a four-day workshop that delves deeper into the participants' strengths and passions. The programs look at what employers are seeking in the modern workplace.

Rawson said that though there is a trend toward acquiring post-secondary degrees and certification, employers still emphasize finding people who are best suited to the job.

"There are so many components to being successful when it comes to the idea of work," said Rawson. "Yes, there’s a strong trend towards people getting certification and post-secondary education . . . But when we think about the idea of work, it’s a complex thing and (when) employers talk about it, they’re looking for the right fit. Employers (are looking) for the right person that they can train for skills."