by Jace Boyd, Client Contributor
Finding work in Halifax at the moment is no easy task. Employers put up job postings for urgent vacancies, only to seemingly never reply to applications. On the off chance that a reply is forthcoming? They’ve decided to move forward with a more qualified candidate, but wish you luck with your continued search. A constant stream of unanswered and rejected applications can prove utterly demoralizing, and may leave an applicant wondering why they even bother.
It was in this state that I found reachAbility; a recent graduate, elbow-deep in my job search with a bachelor’s degree, an award for academic excellence, and zero confidence in my ability to work anywhere but the service industry. As someone who had decided to pursue a degree in Fine Art, pivoting toward looking for roles in administration was a daunting task, so when I learned that reachAbility’s job developers may be able to help me, there was nothing I could do but march myself down to their offices for an intake appointment.
As someone who has dealt with a high degree of anxiety for more or less my entire life, walking through that door was a truly nerve-wracking experience, but only briefly. The job developer I met with, Emma, put me at ease almost instantly. She walked me through the kinds of support I was eligible to receive, and resolved to help me in my search.
I wasn’t expecting much, just some help with getting my resume reformatted and up-to-date, perhaps for a few job listings to be sent my way here and there. Not long after my initial intake, however, I received an email regarding a program that would help me gain valuable experience in an administrative role. The program was a simple one; a four week paid work placement consisting of two four-hour shifts per week manning reachAbility’s front desk. Naturally, I leapt at the chance, and began the placement the very next week.
I cannot overstate just how much my time behind the reception desk has improved my outlook. My first day on the job, I was incredibly nervous to answer the phones. What if a client had a question that I didn’t know how to answer? What if they could tell that I was new? I didn’t have to wonder for very long. Soon enough, the phone began to ring. Each time I answered “thank you for calling reachAbility Association, how may I help you today?” my trepidation lessened. No one cared that I was still learning; what mattered was that I learned. If I didn’t have all the answers, someone else did, and all I needed to do was ask.
Swiftly, the job that once felt so intimidating became just another part of my routine, something that came to me all but automatically. As the placement went on, I was tasked with new responsibilities. I did a bit of filing here and there, reorganized a few things in the resource library and kitchen, and honed my interview skills. I learned to assemble job postings and onboarding materials, gave a video testimonial about my experience, and wrote this article. I stopped fearing the unknowns that come with the day-to-day responsibilities of administrative work, and started looking forward to each new challenge and learning opportunity.
As of writing this, I am still working on securing a permanent position, however I have gained the skills and self-confidence that I need in order to do so. I no longer have to wonder if this work is something that I would enjoy and do well at — I know it for a fact. Working with reachAbility has proven to be an overwhelmingly positive experience for me, and I cannot recommend their services enough.
If you’d like to learn more about reachAbility’s work experience project and our other employment support resources, reach out to us at info@reachability.org, 902-429-5878, or visit reachability.org/employment-support-services
