Creating Opportunities through Professional Development
“I feel like I can walk up to businesses more confidently than I did before.”
Amanda Purdy, Manager of Social Enterprises at Sunset Community and recent graduate of the CASE Job Development Program
Career development professionals understand the value of professional development better than most. They recognize that professional development plays a pivotal role in career advancement and in staying current with labour market trends and emerging best practices.
While most professionals are open to new learning, there may be challenges in finding relevant information, consuming it within a reasonable amount of time, and putting it into practice.
Convenience and Relevance of Micro-Credentials
This is where micro-credentialing comes in. Micro-credentials demonstrate professionals’ high-currency skills obtained through focused courses or programs.
The verifiable micro-credentials offered by the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) are aligned with the Career Development Professionals’ Competency Framework with a focus on fostering disability inclusion in our workforce. Many programs and courses also explore evidence-based strategies to develop an intersectional approach to supporting clients who experience disability and who may also hold other identities.
CASE certificate programs and complimentary courses are designed to focus on current challenges that employment professionals face in their daily work.
Amanda Purdy, a recent graduate of the CASE Job Development certificate program, shared some of these challenges that her organization faces. “We’re very rural here in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Supported employment is not yet something that is well-received by community businesses. They aren’t sure what it is and there’s a bit of fear attached to the term. So, I feel like we have some work to do.”
Understanding the Business Perspective
It was exactly that “work” that prompted Amanda to choose the Job Development certificate program, which focuses on enhancing marketing and networking skills. When asked about her biggest takeaway from this program, Amanda mentioned that it helped her approach her work from a business lens.
“Lots, actually. I have been in this field for 19 years. I’ve always wanted the people we support to have a choice in decision-making and autonomy in what they do. I’ve always come at it from the lens of the job seeker. I never looked at it from a business perspective.
“Through the course, I learned a whole different model of how to approach it: getting to know the business needs and areas where employers may need support and go at it from that lens to find a good match.”
Actionable Learning Enhances Work
Amanda noted how the program not only provided relevant information but strategies that translated into concrete actions.
“Since taking the course, we’ve partnered with our local Chamber of Commerce. Now, we’re hosting a significant event in the Spring called Empowering Cumberland. The Chamber partnered with us to get other local businesses on board, and we’ve been advertising it so we can have that conversation within our community.”
Learning with Other Professionals across Canada
Amanda recommends the Job Development program for all career development professionals looking to enhance their skills and to share and learn insights from other professionals across the country.
“The resources, links, examples, and training exercises—they all perfectly aligned. You start to develop a bit of comfort, then you practice your cold call and learn ways to track communications with employers.
“I really implemented all of that information into what we’re doing—information from experts and other peers from different parts of Canada.”
Credit: Chris Montgomery via Unsplash
If you, like Amanda, are looking to embark on a transformative journey of learning, practice, and networking, browse our program catalogue to learn more.