Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend, our Centre will have extended hours on Thursday:

  • October 7 to 9 (Mon to Wed) - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • October 10 (Thu) - 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • October 11 (Fri) - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • October 12 to 14 (Sat to Mon) - CLOSED

Never let yourself down when you are jobless. Nothing is impossible if you have a positive attitude. - MIN

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Single Mother

When I registered at Work BC, I was unemployed and struggling to finish the hearing aid practitioner program internship practicum. At the beginning of the school program, I was working at Bayshore Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Assistant for two years and then I worked at Fraser Health Authority as an Audiometric Technician for two years. Unfortunately, on the day of my final exam, I had taken off from work and I broke my hand during my exam. Therefore, I could not return to work as I had expected. So, I applied for employment insurance, but I wasn’t eligible. Then, I applied for income assistance at the Ministry of Social Development because I could not get any job due to my hand and I had three young kids. After I recovered, I kept trying to get a job in the hearing aid industry. I attempted several times, with many companies within the lower mainland area and within BC but failed. Unfortunately, no one was interested in my resume, but there was one organization which was offering me a position that I was looking for. The drawback was the location of the company which was really far, and it was not convenient because I am a single mom. After five months of suffering from poverty and depression of being jobless, I decided to join the organization that offered me a job regardless of the inconvenience. I tried to finish my internship and got back to work to attain a stable life again. While I was struggling to get a job, WorkBC Centre Newton helped me a lot physically and mentally.

I had approached so many companies, but with inadequate knowledge of the job market and poor resume writing skills, I had to struggle for a long time period. Another issue was my need for childcare support.

Being an Income Assistance client, the Ministry of Social Development proposed to register for WorkBC Employment Services.

From the day I applied for WorkBC services, my case manager consistently assisted me on how to find a job and resume writing, my job coach was encouraging hearing aid companies to help me with a package wage subsidy, and once I got the job, WorkBC helped me with supports like gas card, clothing and not to mention a very strong mental support. My case manager’s follow up continued even after I was employed to know if everything was all right.

Presently, I am working as a Mobile Unit Coordinator as well as practicing as a Hearing Aid Practitioner conditional under the supervision of a full registrant hearing aid practitioner especially for helping elderly clients.

WorkBC has been such a strong pillar of support for me and I firmly believe that it is highly beneficial for all BC citizens who are struggling with job search and need help with the employment process. I experienced a fantastically successful job search process and feel delighted to get back on the right track. I would tell all my friends and society how WorkBC played a pivotal role in my life.

For me, employment is not about getting paid, it means life. Never let yourself down when you are jobless. Nothing is impossible if you have a positive attitude.

WorkBC

WorkBC is the provincial government's access point to the world of work in British Columbia. It was created with one key goal — to help all British Columbians to successfully navigate B.C.'s labour market.