http://www.jeunesse-youth.gc.ca/cgi-bin/jeunesse-youth/index_eng.asp2012-03-12T09:57:57ZWelcome! I’m Derek, and this is my blog Voice. I’m a recent grad who landed this pretty awesome job helping youth across Canada find work, continue their education, and learn about fairness and safety in the workplace. My blog will answer your questions and help you find the tools you need to reach your goals.Youth - RHDCCYouth.2012-03-21T09:57:57Z2012-03-21T15:07:57Z

Falling victim to identity theft can happen to anyone. March is international Fraud Awareness Month, so I’d like to share a few tips on what to do if you think your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is at risk. I’ve already provided some insight on how to protect your SIN and whom you should and shouldn’t provide your number to, but here’s a to-do list if you’re worried that someone may be using your SIN for criminal activity.

DerekYouth.2012-01-27T09:57:57Z2012-01-27T15:07:57Z

If you are graduating from a post-secondary program this year, you may be thinking of continuing your studies in a graduate program, a certification, or even a new discipline. Application deadlines for many programs are approaching fast, so if you’re thinking of going back to school, you should get the ball rolling with some of these useful tools: Working in Canada’s Career Exploration and CanLearn’s Program Search.

DerekYouth.2012-01-27T09:57:57Z2012-01-27T15:07:57Z

I’ve got some news to share with everyone! Over the next couple of months, new features including social media tools such as Twitter and YouTube will be added to youth.gc.ca!

DerekYouth.2012-01-13T09:57:57Z2012-01-13T15:07:57Z

It’s a new year and those of you in post-secondary programs are getting back into the routine of the winter semester. You may not want to, but now is a good time to start thinking about and preparing for what you are going to do after exams in April. Believe me, from past experience, waiting until the end of semester to find a job is not the best idea. The reality is that many companies have already started looking for new talent.

DerekYouth.2011-10-31T09:57:57Z2011-10-31T15:07:57Z

We have so many career options to choose from these days, but some professions in high demand, such as skilled trades, are often overlooked.

DerekYouth.2011-10-31T09:57:57Z2011-10-31T15:07:57Z

A few months ago, I shared how I was asked for my Social Insurance Number (SIN) when filling out a rental application. Well, this week is International Fraud Awareness Week, which gives me an opportunity to highlight once again why protecting yourself against identity theft is so important.

DerekYouth.2011-10-31T09:57:57Z2011-10-31T15:07:57Z

Jonathan Sinke from Jordan Station, Ontario, didn’t know what was in store for him when he attended the Skills Canada - Ontario competition in Kitchener, Ontario. He eventually came out on top and won a gold medal at the Skills Canada national competition. Recently, he took home a bronze medal at the 41st WorldSkills competition in London, England.

DerekYouth.2011-10-12T09:57:57Z2011-10-12T15:07:57Z

This Saskatchewanian apprentice has experienced what many hairstylists only dream of. Last week, Kaylyn competed on the international stage at the WorldSkills competition in London, England.

DerekYouth.2011-10-04T09:57:57Z2011-10-04T15:07:57Z

In light of two big events this month, I’ve decided to dedicate October to the trades!

DerekYouth.2011-09-28T09:57:57Z2011-09-28T15:07:57Z

I’ve already given you some tips on how to prepare for tough interviews, but there is a group of questions that can be particularly difficult to answer when you’re put on the spot. There are a slew of questions that employers just aren’t allowed to ask, unless relevant to the job, since the answers could be used to discriminate against you or other applicants.

DerekYouth.2011-08-30T09:57:57Z2011-08-30T15:07:57Z

Have you been wondering how to land an awesome job or internship with the Government of Canada?

DerekYouth.2011-08-30T09:57:57Z2011-08-30T15:07:57Z

Hunting for an apartment can be stressful. After looking at countless places and finally finding one that suits your needs, you may feel the need to rush through that rental application, but hold your horses! As a new resident of the nation’s capital, I recently went through the process of looking for a new place to live. The last application I filled out had a blank spot for something I didn’t even think anyone could ask for—the landlord was looking for my Social Insurance Number (SIN).

DerekYouth.2011-08-18T09:57:57Z2011-08-18T15:07:57Z

Sure, you might not care that your best friend’s brother’s roommate can see your Facebook profile, but what about the president of that company who is looking to hire you for that really cool summer internship? Do you care if he sees it? Well, you should!

DerekYouth.2011-08-04T09:57:57Z2011-08-04T15:07:57Z

There’s a lot more to learn about post-secondary education than what’s in your textbook or what your professor shares in a lecture. For example, you can check out this really cool guide to moving out.

DerekYouth.2011-07-27T09:57:57Z2011-07-27T15:07:57Z

So you decided to get a post-secondary education. You’ve put in a lot of hard work, probably had a few sleepless nights and perhaps wrote some really long papers you thought you’d never get through. All of this pays off when graduation day finally rolls around… but then what? Some of you may be currently experiencing or starting to think about this situation.

DerekYouth.2011-07-22T09:57:57Z2011-07-22T15:07:57Z

When it comes to helping others, we tend to conjure up images of helping elderly ladies cross the street or helping a little boy get his kite out of a tree. The elderly and children are groups we often think about when it comes to helping others, but everyone needs a helping hand, even youth who are young, able, ambitious, and feel invincible.

Aaron BellYouth.2011-07-20T09:57:57Z2011-07-20T15:07:57Z

Hi there! My name is Lynne and I’m a Youth Services Officer in Victoria. Although I was born and raised in the nation’s capital, all I wanted to do after I graduated from high school was get as far away as possible. You might be wondering, “Why? I hear Ottawa is a sweet place to live.” Yes, it’s a great place to grow up in with endless opportunities, but when you’ve lived somewhere for a long time ― and I’m sure many share my sentiments ― all you want to do is leave everything behind to start with a clean slate and define yourself in a completely new environment.

Lynne MatthewsYouth.2011-07-12T09:57:57Z2011-07-12T15:07:57Z

We live in a high tech world: cars can parallel park themselves, coffee machines brew automatically, and you can even see your dog playing in the yard on Google Maps. With all of this fascinating technology at our fingertips, we often get the idea that all of life’s problems can be solved with a click or a download. However, some basic challenges remain best solved by tried-and-true methods; landing a summer job is one of them.

Aaron BellYouth.2011-07-05T09:57:57Z2011-07-05T15:07:57Z

What do you want to be when you grow up? When I was younger, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be. At one point, I wanted to be either a whale trainer or a professional sprinter, but it wasn’t long before I realized there aren’t many whales to train in Canada and that I wasn’t going to hold my title of “fastest kid at recess” for very long.

DerekYouth.2011-06-21T09:57:57Z2011-06-21T15:07:57Z

We’ve all heard the “When I was your age…” stories from our folks. Stories about having to hand write letters or playing music on Compact Discs, or “CDs” for short.

DerekYouth.2011-06-21T09:57:57Z2011-06-21T15:07:57Z

So you’ve decided it’s time to find a job, but don’t know where to start?

DerekYouth.2011-06-21T09:57:57Z2011-06-21T15:07:57Z

Employers can receive many applications for one job opening. With so many applicants, the one thing that can set you apart from the rest is preparing the perfect cover letter.

DerekYouth.2011-06-15T09:57:57Z2011-06-15T15:07:57Z

So after my last post, I started thinking about a particular girl last summer whose story might calm your nerves and give you an extra boost of confidence!

DerekYouth.2011-06-14T09:57:57Z2011-06-14T15:07:57Z

Probably one of the more nerve-racking steps in your job application process is going to be the infamous interview. Many shudder at the mere thought of the word, but don’t be one of them! There are plenty of ways to prepare for an interview, and believe me, if you show up to the interview with your homework done, the employer will notice! The interviewer has probably taken time out of their busy schedule to read your resume and to get to know who you are, so why not do the same in return! Check out their website, talk to people you may know that work or have worked there, just do whatever you can to get to know your potential employer. Once you’ve done your homework, try and relate what you have to offer to some of their key attributes.

DerekYouth.2011-05-25T09:57:57Z2011-05-25T15:07:57Z

You’ve stumbled upon a new blog ― written by youth for youth. A space where real life experiences will be shared to help you find the tools you need to get out there, find a job and gain insight into the world of work and post-secondary education. This is a space where we can actually relate to one another and take-away more than just information.

DerekYouth.2011-05-25T09:57:57Z2011-05-25T15:07:57Z

For many of you, this summer may be your first venture into the working world. The end of the school year is fast approaching, so it’s time to start putting a resume and cover letter together, researching some possible interview questions, and ultimately looking for employers that are hiring. Don’t get overwhelmed though, it’s not as much work as you think. All you need is to be prepared!

Derek