Q: What happens the first time I walk through the doors?
A: The first time you walk through the doors of any WorkZone office, someone will be there to greet you and provide a short overview of our services and a tour of the resource area.  Next, you will be asked to complete a brief membership form and use that number to log in each time that you use the centre.  Other than a name, there is nothing on the form to identify a specific individual. 

Q: Why do I have to sign in?
A: This service is funded by the Province of British Columbia.  To demonstrate that this service is needed and used by the community, we need to keep track of the number of people using the resource centre.  By signing in to the registration computer, you are simply helping us to keep track of your visit,

Q: If I am thinking about enrolling in further training or education to improve my skills and improve my opportunities of employment can I use WorkZone's services?
A: Yes. Everyone is able to use the WorkZone resource area simply by registering as a member.  To qualify for our other employment services you need to: 1) be unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week; 2) be entitled to work in Canada; 3) reside in the areas serviced by WorkZone.  Persons who are working full-time may also access these services if they have received a written notice of layoff.

Q: Are there fees for these services?
A: There are no fees for any of our services. 

Q: Will I receive help with my work search?
A: WorkZone employs Employment and Job Search Specialists who are trained to help you determine what kind of work you want to do, and assist you through creating that top-notch resume, polish your interview skills, and learn the best way to create a favourable impression. In addition to that, our Facilitators in the resource area can provide quick help on the local labour market, resume and cover letter review, and help with finding opportunities on the Internet. 

Q: If I am looking into self employment am I still eligible to use WorkZone's services?
A: Yes. As long as you are in the research or exploring phase of your self employment project you are eligible to use WorkZone's services.

Q: Do I have a better chance of getting work if I meet with an Employment Specialist?
A: Actually we believe that you do.  There is so much more to getting a job than just passing out resumes.  If you are committed we believe that we can speed up the process for you.  Our results for 2009 show that you chances of getting employment are:

                13% - if you just walk in and become a member;
                39% - if you make one just one appointment to check out the other services;
                57% - if you start working with an Employment Specialist; or
                80% - if you create and follow an Action Plan developed with an Employment Specialist.

Q: Is there any obligation if I meet with an Employment Specialist?
A: There is no obligation when meeting with one of our professional counsellors. You are free to make any decision with regard to information received during your visit.  We are always glad to help you and support your search for the perfect training situation or job. You are under no obligation.
Our services are offered for free so you can make any decisions regarding your work future on your own.

Q: Do I have to be working with an Employment Specialist to attend the workshops?
A: Our workshops have been developed to assist individuals who have developed an action plan for returning to work.  We believe that with a plan and specific goals people are more successful.  Our workshops are part of that planned approach. For that reason, we limit access to our workshops to those who are working with our Employment Specialists.  The Computer Workshop series is the only exception, since these are to assist everyone to develop a basic understanding and skill level needed in today’s workplace.

Q: Does WorkZone provide services for clerical help with typing of resumes or business plans?
A: WorkZone would be pleased to assist you to the greatest extent possible; however we do not offer general clerical/administrative services.  If you are a working with one of our Job Search Specialists we may be able to provide more assistance in this area, particularly with the fine-tuning and formatting of your resume.  There are also other businesses in the community that can type out resumes or business plans for a fee - please ask one of our friendly staff for more information.

Q: Is my membership good at any of the WorkZone centres?
A: As a sign up client of WorkZone your membership is good at any of our six locations. Just enter your membership number in the sign in computer at any of our centres to access their resources.

Q: Why do you limit the number of faxes we can send in a day?
A: We try to limit the number of faxes for a couple of reasons.  First, we need to make sure that there is enough time available for everyone who wants to send faxes to do that, and time for us to receive the faxes trying to come in to the centre.  It creates a problem when someone has a large number of faxes to go out, and it ties up our staff members.  More importantly, when we see someone sending out a large number of faxes, it makes us question whether they are conducting an effective job search. More is not always better. Limiting the number of faxes allows us to talk to the individual who wants to send a lot of faxes and see if perhaps there is something we can do to help them be more effective and have better success.

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