Festival Ottawa Update
I went for my interview yesterday. It was very informative. I was explained how the how process works. Ottawa Festivals is a non profit organization and the various festivals that go on in Ottawa belong to them. They provide alot of media etc for the festivals as well as the job creation program which "hires" people on EI or welfare to get them back into the workforce somewhat.
My offer or what I was told is this. I pick from a list of jobs open I am qualified for and then my information is sent off to the festival and they contact me for an interview. If I'm "hired" by them, I contact various people to let them know. How I get paid is: I stay on my EI benefits until they are done. I work 44/wk but now my EI benefits will have all deductions taken off them, which works out to about $7/hr. After my benefits end I am put on the program and will make about $9/hr. It is a 6 mth contract and I would be working at the festival site which the majority of them are downtown. I can only work at one Festival and there is no extension and I cannot work again on any other festival after this (unless they hire me on their own) term is completed. The good thing is I would have an income for 3 months after my benefits have ended and I would hope to make some good contacts and network while working.
The jobs they showed me were for full administration and volunteer co-ordinator. Also, and this I found odd and will explain after, they require you to have University or College degree/diploma. From my experience and knowing people getting social assistance, they usually don't have a post secondary education or experience in the capacity required for these jobs and this program is aimed at getting these folks out in the workforce to gain skills they don't have. My question is how can they get these skills to get a job if the positions call for experienced post secondary school educated people? And by experienced I mean they want anywhere from 2-5 yrs. Didn't make much sense to me but who am I, and what do I know, right?
They told me I should be getting a call within the next day or two. I will go from there. Oh and since I am on EI and am on "the list" if offered a job, I have to take it or my EI benefits will be cut off immediately, if not offered a job then I stay on them until the end or they call again for another position with job creation.
My neighbour I am helping out cleaning once a week for her, saw an outfit I made for a little girl and asked how much. She asked if I could make one for her 8 year old grand-daughter in a size 14 and in purple. I had some material in my cubbyhole and made this:
She hasn't seen it yet and am not sure she will like it due to the orange. Her grand-daughter likes pink and purple but this is all I had. If she doesn't like the colour scheme I will suggest she go to Fabric Land and get something more appealing to her. I don't charge her much for my time as she is on a limted income just a couple bucks over cost. I just have so much satisfaction from creating, that is all the payment I need and it keeps me busy! She also asked me to make a tutu in purple which I did but havn't taken any pictures of it yet.
My offer or what I was told is this. I pick from a list of jobs open I am qualified for and then my information is sent off to the festival and they contact me for an interview. If I'm "hired" by them, I contact various people to let them know. How I get paid is: I stay on my EI benefits until they are done. I work 44/wk but now my EI benefits will have all deductions taken off them, which works out to about $7/hr. After my benefits end I am put on the program and will make about $9/hr. It is a 6 mth contract and I would be working at the festival site which the majority of them are downtown. I can only work at one Festival and there is no extension and I cannot work again on any other festival after this (unless they hire me on their own) term is completed. The good thing is I would have an income for 3 months after my benefits have ended and I would hope to make some good contacts and network while working.
The jobs they showed me were for full administration and volunteer co-ordinator. Also, and this I found odd and will explain after, they require you to have University or College degree/diploma. From my experience and knowing people getting social assistance, they usually don't have a post secondary education or experience in the capacity required for these jobs and this program is aimed at getting these folks out in the workforce to gain skills they don't have. My question is how can they get these skills to get a job if the positions call for experienced post secondary school educated people? And by experienced I mean they want anywhere from 2-5 yrs. Didn't make much sense to me but who am I, and what do I know, right?
They told me I should be getting a call within the next day or two. I will go from there. Oh and since I am on EI and am on "the list" if offered a job, I have to take it or my EI benefits will be cut off immediately, if not offered a job then I stay on them until the end or they call again for another position with job creation.
My neighbour I am helping out cleaning once a week for her, saw an outfit I made for a little girl and asked how much. She asked if I could make one for her 8 year old grand-daughter in a size 14 and in purple. I had some material in my cubbyhole and made this:
She hasn't seen it yet and am not sure she will like it due to the orange. Her grand-daughter likes pink and purple but this is all I had. If she doesn't like the colour scheme I will suggest she go to Fabric Land and get something more appealing to her. I don't charge her much for my time as she is on a limted income just a couple bucks over cost. I just have so much satisfaction from creating, that is all the payment I need and it keeps me busy! She also asked me to make a tutu in purple which I did but havn't taken any pictures of it yet.