The School Finder link below will allow you to research post-secondary schooling, scholarship information and other related resources.

Check it out!
www.schoolfinder.com/

Helping others and yourself

The following link will take you to the town of Drayton Valley's services and volunteer website:
http://www.draytonvalley.ca/services-and-volunteerism

http://www.counselor.org/be-understood-2.html
The link above will transfer you to the counseling website. If there is an issue you have a concern about it could be that this site may hold the answers.

Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help   someone else, and so on. Pay it forward.

You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected

Your relationship with that person will become stronger

It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person

You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help

Because there are more people in this world than just you

You can't direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails

The following links will take you to sites that measure your aptitude in certain occupational areas.  The accuracy of your results will require the utmost honest self-evaluation of your abilities and interests.  Ensure that you

http://www.livecareer.com/career-test

through this site you can:
Discover which careers match you best.
Make sure your resume is effective.
For those advanced individuals this site will examine if you have what it takes to start your own business.
The good and bad reasons for going back to school and earning a degree
What is really getting in the way of your career happiness and fulfillment.

 Remember that career aptitude tests are all about what you already possess. The trick is to shine a light on your strengths and show you a path in which they can become your best intellectual assets. People who succeed at their careers do so because they would have scored well on a career aptitude test for their job. In that respect, we all have it in us to be successful, so long as we have chosen our career well.

The information above originates form the link below.

http://voices.yahoo.com/5-best-career-aptitude-tests-help-find-the-5870110.html

 
5 Best Career Aptitude Tests to Help You Find the Perfect Job

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/careerguidance/Career_Guidance_for_Canadians.htm

Career Guidance for Canadians: The link above will grant you access to a variety of other online guidance counseling sites.

 

Building an Effective Resume

Writing a résumé

Your résumé is one of the most important tools you have when looking for a job. This page will help you choose the right type of résumé for your situation. It will also provide you with tips to help you tailor your résumé to the job you’re applying for, and to make sure it stands out in a crowd for all the right reasons.

What is a résumé?

A résumé is a short, point-form document that you give to employers to tell them about your work experience, education, and skills. Before you write your résumé, you may want to complete a skills inventory to know what skills you have to offer an employer.

Types of résumés

Depending on your work experience, the job you’re applying for, or your personal preference, you may want to use a particular type of résumé. Here are three types of résumés to choose from:

A functional résumé focuses on your skills

If you haven’t had a lot of work experience, a functional résumé that focuses on your skills is a good way to market yourself to potential employers.
Instead of focusing on your previous work experience, a skills-focused résumé highlights the transferable skills you gained from previous jobs, activities, experiences, or volunteer work.
It’s most commonly used when you’ve had a large gap in your employment history, or if you have never worked before.
Example of a functional résumé
Template of a functional résumé

A chronological résumé focuses on your experience

Focusing on your work history is one of the more popular ways to structure a résumé. It shows employers all your work experience, focusing on positions you’ve held and your past responsibilities and accomplishments.
The chronological résumé is organized with your most recent information first. The goal is to give a comprehensive work history, organized by each job you’ve held. You give your position title, place of employment, how long you worked there, and a breakdown of your responsibilities or accomplishments.
This is a great multi-purpose résumé that works for most job applications, including retail.
Example of a chronological résumé
Template of a chronological résumé

A hybrid résumé is a combination of the two

A hybrid résumé is also known as a combination résumé. It combines the elements of a functional and chronological résumé to create a résumé that focuses heavily on skills, but also includes dates, titles of previous jobs, along with essential information about the position.
This is a good résumé to use when you want to prioritize your skills but also demonstrate how your career has evolved.
Example of a hybrid résumé
Template of a hybrid résumé

Important information to include in your résumé

There are a variety of different headings you can use in your résumé, depending on what type of résumé you choose to write.
However, regardless of the type of résumé you choose, here are three of the most important things it should include:

Your personal information

The first thing your employer should see when looking at your résumé is your name. Make sure it is clear, stands out, and is easy to read.
Your résumé should include your full address, contact phone numbers, and an e-mail address that incorporates your first and last name.
Things
Writing a résumé

Your résumé is one of the most important tools you have when looking for a job. This page will help you choose the right type of résumé for your situation. It will also provide you with tips to help you tailor your résumé to the job you’re applying for, and to make sure it stands out in a crowd for all the right reasons.

What is a résumé?

A résumé is a short, point-form document that you give to employers to tell them about your work experience, education, and skills. Before you write your résumé, you may want to complete a skills inventory to know what skills you have to offer an employer.

Types of résumés

Depending on your work experience, the job you’re applying for, or your personal preference, you may want to use a particular type of résumé. Here are three types of résumés to choose from:

A functional résumé focuses on your skills

If you haven’t had a lot of work experience, a functional résumé that focuses on your skills is a good way to market yourself to potential employers.
Instead of focusing on your previous work experience, a skills-focused résumé highlights the transferable skills you gained from previous jobs, activities, experiences, or volunteer work.
It’s most commonly used when you’ve had a large gap in your employment history, or if you have never worked before.
Example of a functional résumé
Template of a functional résumé

A chronological résumé focuses on your experience

Focusing on your work history is one of the more popular ways to structure a résumé. It shows employers all your work experience, focusing on positions you’ve held and your past responsibilities and accomplishments.
The chronological résumé is organized with your most recent information first. The goal is to give a comprehensive work history, organized by each job you’ve held. You give your position title, place of employment, how long you worked there, and a breakdown of your responsibilities or accomplishments.
This is a great multi-purpose résumé that works for most job applications, including retail.
Example of a chronological résumé
Template of a chronological résumé

A hybrid résumé is a combination of the two

A hybrid résumé is also known as a combination résumé. It combines the elements of a functional and chronological résumé to create a résumé that focuses heavily on skills, but also includes dates, titles of previous jobs, along with essential information about the position.
This is a good résumé to use when you want to prioritize your skills but also demonstrate how your career has evolved.
Example of a hybrid résumé
Template of a hybrid résumé

Important information to include in your résumé

There are a variety of different headings you can use in your résumé, depending on what type of résumé you choose to write.

you should not include on your résumé:

• your height, age, weight
• a photo of yourself
• your Social Insurance Number

Education

List your education, starting with the most recent, and work backwards from there. Include the name of the school, the city or town where each school you attended is located (secondary and beyond), and the years you completed.
Be sure to list any certificates or diplomas you received, including those for mini-courses like computer or software courses, first aid, or any other training that might be useful in the job you are applying for.

Skills and experience

Use your résumé to show where you worked, what you learned, and how your skills and experience apply to the job you’re applying for. Highlight abilities, skills, and experience that relate to the job you're applying for. These can come from paid or unpaid work, volunteer experience, and even hobbies.
If all of your experience is in an unrelated field to the job you’re applying for, focus on the transferable skills you learned that can be applied to the new job you’re applying for.
When listing your work experience, include the location (city, province) and the dates you worked (month, year) for each job or volunteer position. Use action words to describe what you did in the positions you held. Focus on the top-five duties for each job.

Other relevant information

You may also want to include your job goals, the languages you speak, or any relevant achievements or awards. You can also include interests or activities that say something positive about you. Don’t forget, however, that the point of your résumé is to show why you are the right person for the job.
There are no official rules for what headings you should include on your résumé. Just remember to keep it concise, with the most important information at the top.
For example:

• Let’s say you are applying for a job in software development and, although you have never worked in that field, you have a diploma in software engineering. In this case, be sure to put your education section at the top.
• If you are applying to work in the food services industry and you have a lot of experience working in restaurants, be sure to list that information before your education details.

Top-10 résumé tips

1. Think ahead. If you wait until the last minute to hand in your résumé, you could miss the deadline and risk not being considered for the job.
2. Tailor your résumé. Include information on your résumé associated with the job you are applying for.
3. Chunk it out. If there is a lot of information, break it into separate sections with specific headings.
4. Use action words. Focus on things you have accomplished, and avoid starting every sentence with “I”.
5. Proofread. Never rely on spell check.
6. Repeat Tip 5. Seriously, even one misspelled word could put you in the “do not consider” pile.
7. Make it presentable. Make sure your résumé looks clean and organized. Use white, letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11-inch) and a font that’s easy to read, like Times New Roman or Arial.
8. Keep it concise. Try to keep your résumé as short as possible—ideally one page, two pages maximum.
9. Be honest. Lying on your résumé is never a good idea. Many people who lie on their applications end up losing their jobs when their employers find out the truth.
10. Be professional. Remember, this is a business document, so don’t include unnecessary embellishments like flashy paper or a picture of yourself.

                                                                                                          Adapted from

                                                                                                          Youth Canada

                                                                                                        www.youth.gc.ca

How to Win at the Scholarship Game

 HOLY TRINITY ACADEMY COUNSELLING SERVICES

FROM THE COUNSELOR’S CUPBOARD

 (SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION)

There are thousands of scholarships, awards and grants available to help finance your education! Many scholarships are awarded on academic achievement. However, other awards are awarded for athletic involvement, leadership, community service, area of interest and the institution you plan on attending.

5 Steps to Winning Scholarships

Search

·         Visit the ALIS Scholarships website to find various scholarships and awards as well check out the post-secondary institution you plan to attend for possible scholarships and entrance awards.

• Talk to your parents and/or relatives – they may be members of a club or organization or their employer may offer awards to family members.

Apply

• Complete the appropriate scholarship application form. Keep a copy.
• Do you meet the requirements as outlined on the application?
• Apply well before the application deadline.
• Mail your application before the deadline (a late application may not be accepted).
• Photocopy and keep extra letters of recommendation and transcripts on hand
• Follow-up with award sponsor before the deadline to make sure your application was received.

Write the Essay

• Write that essay; if an essay is a requirement, it may be the deciding factor.
• Give yourself plenty of time.
• Read the instructions carefully, and seek advice from a knowledgeable person
• Go for quality, rather than quantity.
• Use clear and concise language and avoid the use of slang.
• Review your essay. Read it aloud. Refine it; proofread, or have someone proofread your essay.
• Keep a copy on file - with a few changes you may be able to use it for another scholarship.

Get the Money

• Make sure you meet all the conditions to receive the money: full-time enrollment, maintaining residency, institution you are attending, etc.
• If you move, advise the scholarship donor of your new address.
• If you are required to attend an awards ceremony, luncheon, etc., be there
• Thank the donor, when appropriate.

Maintain Your Scholarship Potential

• Keep your marks, athletics, leadership and volunteer work at an outstanding level and continue to look for scholarships as you progress through your studies.

Scholarship links

http://www.pwsd76.ab.ca/scholarships/Pages/default.aspx