Second Career

What is Second Career?

Second Career is an Ontario government program that enables laid-off Ontarians to train for a new job in high-demand careers.

Second Career helps people get the training or education they need to get a good job. It is a cost-sharing grant provided on the basis of need, so you may be asked to contribute what you can to your training or education. It may provide financial support up to $28,000 and consider costs for:

• Tuition
• Books
• Living expenses
• Help caring for dependents
• Travel
• Transportation
• Disability supports
• Basic living allowance (during skill training)

Additional costs may be considered for disability accommodation, dependent care, living away from home and academic upgrading.

Skills training for up to two years in duration will be considered. If academic upgrading or English as a Second Language training is required as a prerequisite to skills training, the total training period can be up to three years.

To be eligible, you must:

• Have been laid off on or after January 1, 2005; and
• Be unemployed or working an interim job: and
• Demonstrate occupational demand for the training request with evidence of good employment prospects locally or within Ontario

How can Community Employment Services help?

Sheridan Community Employment Services can help you with your Second Career funding application. We offer one-on-one support with an individual Employment Consultant who will assist you from start to finish! 

Second Career resources

Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities (MTCU) resources

• MTCU
• Second Career
• Labour Market Information
• Career Planning & Exploration Tools
• OSAP
• MTCU Publications
• Employment Ontario
• Ministry of Community & Social Services
• Ministry of Economic Development & Trade
• Ontario Employment Assistance Programs

Self-Service websites

• CanLearn
• Employability Skills 2000+
• Services for Persons with Disabilities
• Make Learning Work for Me
• Starting Your Own Business
• Ontario Employment Resource Centres

Academic Upgrading

• Bridge Training: http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/keyinitiatives/bridgetraining.shtml
• Literacy & Basic Skills: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/apprentices/lbs.html
• Pre-Apprenticeship: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/apprentices/pre_apprent.html

Career Exploration, Planning & Development

• Career/Education Quick Tips (Sheridan College): http://careerquicktips.sheridancollege.ca
• Career Cruising: http://www.careercruising.com/
• CareerStorm Navigator – Web-Based Career and Life Development Tools: http://www.careerstorm.com
• National Occupation Classification
• O*NET Online (US-based Career/Industry Exploration): www.onetonline.org
• Service Canada Training, Career & Worker Info: http://www.jobsetc.gc.ca/eng/
• Sheridan College Career Centre Tools: https://www.sheridancollege.ca/life-at-sheridan/student-services/career-centre/plan-your-career/research.aspx

Application for School/Training

• Ontario College Application Service: www.ontariocolleges.ca
• Ontario Colleges Program Search: http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/FindProgram
• MTCU Private Career College Search: http://www.ontario.ca/education-and-training/search-private-career-college-ontario

Labour Market Information

• Ontario Government Labour Market Info: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/labourmarket
• Ontario Ministry of Labour: www.labour.gov.on.ca
• Ontario Ministry of Labour - Employment Standards: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/
• Working In Canada: http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca
• Working in Peel Halton: http://workinginpeelhalton.com/
• Ontario Job Futures: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/labourmarket/ojf/index.html

Resources for Internationally-Trained Individuals/Professionals

• Bridge Training Program Directory for Immigrants: http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/working/OI_BRIDGE.html
• Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials: www.cicic.ca
• Canadian Technical Employment Network: http://www.cten.ca
• Global Experience Ontario:  http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/geo/index.htm
• Halton Mentorship Program: https://www.sheridancollege.ca/about/community-employment/mentoring-partnership.aspx
• Halton Multicultural Council: http://hmcconnections.com/
• Hire Immigrants: www.hireimmigrants.ca
• Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals: http://www.onip.ca/
• Skills for Change: http://www.skillsforchange.org

Credential Evaluation

• ICAS: http://www.icascanada.ca (Note: recommended if looking for course-by-course evaluation)
• WES: http://www.wes.org (Note: no course by course evaluation for high-school)

Apprenticeship & Skilled Trades Information

• Apprenticesearch.com: www.apprenticesearch.com
• Ontario College of Trades: http://www.collegeoftrades.ca/about
• Trades in Ontario: http://www.collegeoftrades.ca/about/trades-in-ontario
• Red Seal Program: http://www.red-seal.ca/w.2lc.4m.2@-eng.jsp
• Skilled Workers: http://www.skilledworkers.com
• Skills Canada - Ontario: http://www.skillsontario.com

Entrepreneurial & Self-Employment Sites

• Canada Business – Government Services for Entrepreneurs: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng
• Entrepreneur-Business & Small Business Magazine: www.entrepreneur.com
• Halinet: http:/halinetbotw.pbworks.com/w/page/16000182/Business
• Halton Region Business Development Centre: www.halton.ca/business
• MEDEI: http://www.ontario.ca/ministry-economic-development-employment-and-infrastructure
• Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE): http://www.onebusiness.ca/

Other Sites of Interest

• Halton Community Service Database: http://search.hipinfo.info/
• Peel Community Service Database: http://peel.cioc.ca/
• Job Scan (Resume Optimization): https://www.jobscan.co/