Traditionally and, not surprisingly, many of our First Nation candidates have not been involved in rigorous testing and interview processes and can sometimes be screened out of potential job opportunities because of a mere lack of readiness. BC AMTA has taken a proactive approach to finding solutions to address this issue, and has assisted industry and education partners to create a pool of pre-screened candidates that are quickly becoming “the best and most qualified people for the job”.
Through these activities, we’ve identified a clear employment barrier: the minimum requirement of a Grade 12 education for many occupations in the exploration and mining sector. Many BC AMTA clients do not have a Dogwood Certificate or Grade 12 equivalency and often have poor essential skills. Because many of our industry partners utilize assessment tools such as the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES), and judge applicants on scores for numeracy, literacy and document use , many of our candidates are essentially ruled out, before they even fill out a job application.
With a clear understanding of these and other formal assessment processes, BC AMTA has been able to prepare candidates by administering assessments upfront, and providing tutoring, essential skills upgrading and interview preparation to increase their familiarity with hiring processes and create an understanding of expectations. In short, with our support and guidance, our candidates become ready for the intake process at the mines.
James came to BC AMTA looking for opportunities, but was unsure about his qualifications. He submitted his BC AMTA application on June 18, 2010 and, with support and funding provided by BC AMTA, has now completed the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) Assessment, Essential Skills Upgrading, Class Three Learners Licence, Air Brakes course, Adult Dogwood (Grade 12 equivalency), WHIMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), Transportation of Dangerous Goods, and Level One First Aid. And he's worked at the BC AMTA office in his spare time!