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Employment Services

Career Planning and Development Services

Increasing your awareness of your unique profile and strengths

Career Counselling and Assessments

The YMCA has pioneered career counselling and personal development in Canada for over 75 years. We use a unique combination of assessment tools and counselling to help you better understand yourself and guide you in making changes in your life, or in choosing a meaningful career. Recognized self-report assessments and other tools are administered to explore your aptitudes, personality, strengths, values and interests. 

We follow up with interpretation meetings, and provide you with reports and counselling sessions to explore patterns identified and to increase your self-awareness as you set your professional and life goals. Whether you are looking to develop personally or excel in your career, we have a program or package that's right for you.

Everyone can benefit. Especially if you are:

  • A high school student, post-secondary school student, or recent graduate
  • A professional in need of career coaching
  • Looking for a career change
  • Seeking more meaning and satisfaction in your life, or to better understand yourself, your strengths, and areas for development
  • Facing a major life transition, including succession planning, returning to the workforce, or retirement

Career Planning and Development

Get the direction you need to reach your personal and professional goals through assessments and counselling.

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Signature Career Planning and Development Package

Our Signature program is our most popular and comprehensive career planning and development program. With a full review of your career goals and interests, strengths, skills and personality, this program offers all the information you need to make important personal and career decisions in your life.
Includes:

  • An introductory meeting to review your personal and career goals
  • Comprehensive aptitudes and abilities assessments to uncover your strengths and developmental areas
  • An in-depth exploration of your career interests, values and preferences, and personality
  • 7.5 hours of one-to-one career counselling and developmental planning
  • A copy of your interpretation reports
  • Job interview preparation, coaching, and follow-ups

*This package can also be completed without the “aptitudes and abilities” assessments. Please contact us for more information.

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Career Exploration Package

This expedited but inclusive package is great for you if you need clarity to make timely planning decisions about your education or career. You may have a good sense of your strengths, aptitudes and abilities, but would like to focus on obtaining career guidance and direction to set you on track for success.
Includes:

  • Comprehensive exploration of your career interests
  • Completion of various assessment tools
  • A review of your preferences and personality
  • 2.5 hours of one-to-one counselling and coaching
  • A copy of your interpretation reports

Personal Growth and Development

Personal growth and development is all about understanding yourself, developing your strengths, and realizing your potential. By focusing on your personal development, you are setting your path to improving the overall quality of your life and your work.

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Self-Exploration and Interpersonal Development Package

In this package, you will explore all aspects of your personality and preferences in order to attain greater self-awareness and have the knowledge and tools to leverage your strengths in personal and professional situations.
Includes:

  • A detailed exploration of multiple-personality dimensions and strengths
  • A review of your personal goals and guidance on how to reach them
  • An exploration of your preferences in communication and interaction with others; identification of barriers and challenges and how to overcome them
  • 3 hours of one-to-one counselling
  • A copy of your interpretation reports

*We also offer individual assessment packages, focusing on specific developmental areas. Please contact us for more information.

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Be your Best at Work Package

This package is particularly designed for you if you are looking to explore how you can bring out your strengths and find meaning and engagement in your work. Workplace engagement is linked to many positive factors such as job satisfaction, work effectiveness and career success. This program will help you identify your current level of work engagement and highlight opportunities to increase your engagement and find meaningful purpose. In addition, you will gain insight into your Emotional Intelligence and how to develop in key areas which are linked to well-being and workplace success.
Includes:

  • An exploration of your work engagement profile
  • An in-depth review of your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) profile
  • An exploration of your values and character strengths
  • A review of various personality dimensions and preferences
  • 3 hours of one-to-one counselling and coaching
  • A copy of your Interpretation Reports, including developmental strategies and action tools

Leadership Development

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Classic Leadership Development Package

Learn how to use your leadership strengths and identify opportunities and careers where you can demonstrate your leadership potential.
Includes:

  • Preliminary review of your goals related to leadership
  • An in-depth exploration of your Emotional Intelligence, focusing on your strengths and developmental areas related to leadership
  • Review of your preferred “change style” and how it aligns with your leadership style and goals
  • Review of personality and preferences
  • Creation of your “Leadership Development Action Plan
  • 3 hours of one-to-one counselling and leadership coaching
  • A copy of your interpretation reports

*We offer leadership development for teams and facilitate customized workshops for organizational development. Please contact us for more information.

Lead with Emotional Intelligence Package

The field of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) provides the most helpful indication of what makes a great leader. An individual’s EQ is the strongest predictor of his/her leadership success, consistently outranking IQ and on-the-job experience. Your EQ Leadership report examines your results through four key dimensions of leadership: authenticity, coaching, insight and innovation. These features provide you with a snapshot of how your EQ compares to leadership with high EQ scores and provides insight into your leadership strengths and potential ares for development.

*All sessions must be used within six months from the date of registration.
Includes:

  • Emotional Intelligence (EQ 2.0 ® Leadership Report)
  • 1 hour Interpretation of Results Meeting

Get started today!

Telephone: 437-331-0416 Address: 2200 Yonge St. Suite 219, Toronto, ON, M4S 2C6

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"I have two boys and I’m raising them by myself. Families like mine count on the Y’s generosity and services to help us. The Y is more than just a place to go; it’s like a family."

—Jeremy, YMCA program participant

When you give to the Y, you help single parents like Jeremy find a network of support, no matter their income.