Jacob was looking for a summer job. His methods and resources teacher at his high school in Elmsdale, PEI referred him to Neil Squire鈥檚 Working Together program.
Jacob has significant hearing loss and wears hearing aids. 聽He says that his hearing loss has affected his participation in social and sporting activities.
He worked with his Job Developer to increase his employability skills, including working on his resume, cover letter, and interview skills.
They decided to draw on Jacob鈥檚 previous experience to find work. Over the previous summer, Jacob had the opportunity to get involved in a program that does volunteer work in his community, allowing him to develop skills and become familiar with businesses in the area.
Jacob鈥檚 Job Developer reached out to one of those employers and after a few phone calls, he was placed with a non-profit organization in Tignish called the Bargain Basement. The Bargain Basement sells used clothing and home d茅cor items and the money raised goes back into the community through the Tignish Health Centre.
His supervisor, Bessie, provided Jacob with training and encouragement throughout his nine-week placement. Some of his responsibilities included cleaning, painting, and sorting clothing for display.
Along with Bessie, the manager also praised Jacob for all of his hard work, and they are hoping he will return again next summer. They both said he was a joy to work with!
Jacob says the Working Together program was a confidence builder for him. He was able to make new friends with staff and he really enjoyed the social aspect of this job. Earlier this month Jacob started Grade 12, and while he is not sure of his plan after high school, he would like to continue to receive assistance from Neil Squire for career exploration.