Shane's story

When Shane joined CanAssist's Job Journey program, he was looking for more than just employment support, he was seeking connection, confidence, and a sense of belonging. After relocating from Toronto to Victoria with his family, Shane faced the challenge of leaving behind his established community, friendships, and familiar surroundings to build a new life in a new province.

From the outset, Shane demonstrated commitment and determination. He attended all eight weekly Job Journey workshops, where he developed employment readiness skills and explored strategies to support his overall well-being. Through weekly one-on-one coaching sessions with his participant facilitator, Shane actively engaged in learning and practicing essential employment skills, including resume and cover letter development, job searching, interviewing, and workplace communication.

Throughout the program, Shane showed remarkable personal growth. Early in his coaching journey, he shared that he felt nervous and uncertain about participating in job coaching. However, by the end of his very first session, he reported feeling more comfortable and expressed excitement about continuing the process. Week after week, Shane's confidence grew as he developed stronger self-advocacy skills, gained clarity around his career interests, and became increasingly comfortable communicating with others.

One of Shane's most significant accomplishments was overcoming his fear of interviews. Having not participated in a job interview for three years, he worked closely with his facilitator to prepare, practice, and build confidence. When interview day arrived, Shane approached the opportunity with courage and determination. Regardless of the outcome, he left feeling proud of himself for facing a challenge that had once felt overwhelming.

His hard work paid off. Shane secured a 12-week subsidized work placement as an Office Assistant with Avalon Mechanical, where he gained valuable hands-on experience in administrative tasks, office operations, and professional networking. During his placement, Shane quickly became a valued member of the team. His positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn earned him exceptional feedback from his manager and colleagues, who embraced him as part of the Avalon Mechanical family.

By the end of the Job Journey program, Shane had not only gained meaningful work experience but had also built lasting confidence in his abilities and future career potential. Reflecting on his experience, Shane described the program as "very helpful" and shared that he "couldn't do it without CanAssist."