Looking for Work?

Overview of our Programs and Services

VCCS Employment Services has over 30 years of expertise in helping individuals find employment in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Whether you are a youth or adult, VCCS delivers a variety of programs and services that meet your individual needs to help you achieve your employment goal.

Employment Counselling Services

Work one-on-one with an Employment Counsellor to:

  • Develop an individualized step-by-step employment plan that helps you to achieve your employment goals
  • Assist you to develop a professional resume, cover letter and references that get results
  • Career research to explore your interests, personality, skills and abilities to match you with the career that is right for you
  • Prepare you for employer interviews to help you stand out from the competition
  • Provide you with successful job search strategies that result in connecting with employers
  • Learn about the labour market, in demand skills, tools and resources for finding a job
  • Access to funding for training and certifications
  • Financial support to provide on the job training
  • Connection to additional community programs and services
  • Coaching for confidence
  • Support and guidance for being successful on the job

Better Jobs Ontario

The Better Jobs Ontario program is an application-based grant program that provides unemployed individuals with financial assistance for skills training up to 52 weeks in duration to transition them into high-skill, in-demand occupations. This program is available to unemployed individuals, who have been laid-off, or are from a low-income household experiencing challenges attaching to the labour market.

Meet with a counsellor at VCCS to learn about the program, determine your eligibility and guide you through the application process.

D4 (Dream, Discover, Dare, Do)

The D4 program envies you to participate in a 5 week program that opens the door to opportunities for employment.

  • 5 weeks of workshops | Monday to Friday from 10 – 3
  • 3 weeks employment experience
  • Continuous intake and registration is ongoing
  • Career exploration and direction
  • Certifications and training
  • Team building and networking
  • Build skills and confidence
  • create a professional resume and practice for interviews
  • Support for transitioning into the workplace
  • Paid on the job employment experience

D4 is held in three locations across the Kawartha Lakes. Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, and Lindsay. If you are interested in knowing where D4 will be hosted next please check out the VCCS Home Page, or give us a call (705) 328-0180.

Youth Success Through Employment Practices (YSTEP)

The YSTEP Program is ideal for youth between the ages of 15 – 30 years old, out of school and out of work needing extra help to find employment.

The YSTEP Program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and is a Youth Employment Strategy. The 12 youth accepted into the program will receive:

  • 5 weeks of workshops and skills training for 30 hours per week where they will explore careers of interest, resumes, interview preparation, team building, certifications for the workplace in First Aid, Smart Serve, Customer Service Excellence, and much more.
  • 17 weeks of hands-on work experience with local employers for 35 hours per week where they will build their skills in the workplace.
  • One-on-one supports and counselling during the program.
  • You are paid minimum wages for attending.

Many of the youth over the past few years are still working with their placement employers in many apprenticeships such as cooks, carpenters, electricians, lock smiths, child development practitioners, hairdressers, plumbers and other occupations in retail, manufacturing and service sectors.

Resource and Information

VCCS has a resource room equipped with computers, a photocopier, fax machine and professional staff to assist with your job search. Our Resource Employment Counsellors can also help you with resumes, cover letters, job search strategies and connect you with workshops to help build your skills. Our Resource Team works closely with employers creating job postings and are on the pulse of the local labour market.