YouthConnect

CivicAction set out with LinkedIn Canada and others to uncover new research and create a roadmap for the skills young people need to succeed. Our work showed that sectors like tech, retail, health care, finance and skilled trades continue to be the industries with greatest number of entry‑level roles and opportunities for youth.

Want to know more about what it’s like to work in these sectors?

Exploring Careers

Finance: Manulife

Fatema takes a tour of Manulife’s offices in Toronto & Kitchener where she gets a chance to meet with employees Rob, Emma, and Monique. She learns about their career journeys, and the skills and experience needed to work at a big corporate office such as Manulife. Check out career opportunities at Manulife here.

Construction: Job Talks

Michael explains the main job functions of a tile setter and talks about the three things he enjoys most: working with his HANDS, a new job site every-day, and seeing the work he’s accomplished at the end of the day. Watch is his talk to learn more. To learn more, visit https://www.jobtalks.org/.

Tech: IBM

Fatema makes a trip to Markham where Jean-Marc gives her a tour of the IBM head office. She gets to speak with Michelle, Carmen, and Faham about their careers at IBM. Take a look at employment opportunities at IBM’s new collar initiative.

In-demand Skills

We also found that across sectors, foundational skills are the most in‑demand and most cited skills in job postings. They include communication, growth mindset, collaboration, empathy and creativity, alongside digital literacy (e.g. having knowledge of MS Office suite, typing proficiency and computer literacy).

Want a platform to build these skills where and when you want? Have your local employment service provider or youth worker contact us at info@civicaction.ca to get a free LinkedIn Learning license and access to over 14,500 online courses and a curated curriculum built just for you.

Now in its fifth year, YouthConnect is a year-long, award-winning program that equips youth that face barriers to employment and employment service providers with the digital know-how to better access employment opportunities. With a new focus on the future of work, future-looking skills and online learning, new curriculum on financial literacy, building resiliency, gaining human-centered and digital literacy skills and continuous learning launched in October of 2019.

Are you a youth looking to build skills? Check out our resources below!

With nine interactive events since November 2014, YouthConnect has trained 840 youth workers have been trained who have the potential to reach 35,500 youth.

Showcase Your Skills

Have you had a great experience through your first job, playing sports or volunteering in your community? You can add it to your profile! Learn how to showcase all the skills you’ve gained from your different experiences to employers both online and in-person through an interview or a meeting. You can even add events where you learn specific skills like YouthConnect to your profile.

Looking for the presentation from YouthConnect2019? Access the slides here.

Get the low down on creating an online and in-person presence that screams “I’m the right hire!” with these resources from YouthConnect.

LinkedIn Profile Best Practices

Use this guide to build a profile that quickly tells an impactful, professional story. Be strategic and choose one or two themes that strengthen your value and make you easy to remember.

Build a Great LinkedIn Profile

Want to give viewers a glimpse into who you are and get them excited to learn more? Learn all about how to rock your LinkedIn profile with this guide.

LinkedIn Profile FAQs

Not all your questions were answered in the LinkedIn profile guides? Curious about what to do when you have an experience gap, or how to adjust privacy settings? This FAQ has you covered!

Transferable Skills List

No work experience? No problem! This document has some examples of activities you may have participated in and the transferable skills you may have gained.

Mastering the Mock Interview

Have you landed a meeting or an interview for an opportunity? Check out this nifty guide on how to prepare through mock interviews.

A Mock Interview Excercise

Looking to practice your interview skills and not just read about them? Grab a friend, parent, or family member and use this guide to practice!

Elevator Pitch Guide

Learn how to best represent yourself in less time than it takes to ride an elevator.

Budget Worksheet

Need some help with your financial literacy? Following a budget can help you better plan your money. Check out the budget worksheet here.

Are you an ESP looking for resources?

Find the presentations and worksheets from previous YouthConnect events to help you and your youth learn more about career and skills exploration and using LinkedIn to find jobs and to connect with people and opportunities.

If you are interested in registering your youth clients between the ages of 18-29, for a FREE one-year licence to LinkedIn Learning share your information with us here.