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TC Energy – Scholarships U.S. Are Now Open for Students

Our scholarships are a convenient way to get financial support for school. Now with 750+ scholarships available across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, you could receive a scholarship valued at up to $5,000.

Applications are open until May 5, 2023!

See if you pre-qualify now!

TC Energy is proud to help build strong communities, develop the next generation of community leaders and provide a skilled workforce for our industry.

Find more information here: https://www.tcenergy.com/community-giving/scholarships/US/

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Washington Business Week – Be a Judge!

Now you can make a difference for the next generation with only a few hours. At Washington Business Week, high school students learn crucial life skills as they role-play as industry professionals, launch a company, and solve real-world challenges. Who will be the winning team? You be the judge!

Washington Business Week is a unique opportunity like no other. We place business professionals with high school students in a dynamic workplace simulation for a week during the summer where students role-play as industry professionals, launch a company, and solve real-world challenges.  You can be involved by volunteering as a judge!  The time committee is 2 hours virtually and a half day in person.  At our end-of-week competition, the fresh faces and questions of the judges are what make our events both challenging and unforgettable. You’ll return to work on Monday refreshed and inspired by the innovation and teamwork of the next generation.

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State Work Study – Financial Aid

Overview

State Work Study is financial aid for low- and middle-income students. Qualifying students get an approved job, on- or off-campus, to support their education. Work study builds students’ skills, increases their earnings, and reduces reliance on student loans. Many employers hire work study employees on a permanent basis after graduation. 

Eligibility

Recipients must meet the following criteria:

  • Meet Washington state residency requirements for state financial aid.
  • Complete a federal or state financial aid application.
  • Enroll at least half-time in an eligible program at a participating college.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
  • Be able to work legally in the United States.
  • Not be pursuing a degree in theology.
  • Not be in default or owe a refund or repayment on another financial aid program.

Award Amounts

Awards are based on the availability of funds and the student’s determined financial need. While awards vary, students generally earn between $2,000 and $5,000 per year. Students may not work more than an average of 19 hours per week while enrolled, or more than 40 hours per week during breaks, depending on their award.

How to Apply

There is no separate application for State Work Study. Students will automatically be considered for State Work Study after filing a federal (FAFSA) or state (WASFA) financial aid application. For more information, contact the student employment or financial aid office at the college attended.

Information for Employers

The state contributes to the wages of work study employees, so participating employers benefit from educated, motivated workers at a lower cost. Learn more about employing work study students.

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CDL Driver Training Demand

Register Today!

Construction Center of Excellence | 3000 NE Fourth St, Renton, WA 98056

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Join us at the Virtual Internship Fair!

Employers may now sign-up for a booth for the Virtual Internship Fair. Columbia Basin College has partnered with WSU Tri-Cities and the Washington Workforce Portal to bring together an internship fair across both institutions with amazing candidates to support your hiring needs. The event will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.

The Internship fair aims to bring together a variety of agencies & qualified internship candidates. Participants can meet virtually with industry leaders pertaining to their degree or interests to learn about the different internship opportunities available. Participants can also ask questions, learn about local resources and get tips that may assist them in the application process.

Sign-up now to reserve a FREE virtual booth for the event through Handshake.Registration Deadline: January 21, 2022 at noon

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Celebrating Registered Apprenticeship Week in Washington State

With the number of people involved in registered apprenticeship programs statewide reaching an all time high, join us in celebrating this week as Registered Apprenticeship Week in Washington!

Gov. Jay Inslee signed a proclamation declaring Nov. 15-20 as Registered Apprenticeship Week in Washington State.

Between September 2020 and August 2021, there were 21,710 apprentices in Washington state. The total would make registered apprenticeship programs the third largest “school” in the state behind only the University of Washington and Washington State University.

“Apprenticeship programs are thriving across the state,” said Jody Robbins, Apprenticeship Program manager for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). “We’re encouraged to see a growing number of employers, educators, and other workforce partners get involved.”

“Employers need a reliable talent pipeline and workers need pathways into rewarding careers,” Robbins said. “Registered apprenticeship programs provide an opportunity for employers and workers, boosting our entire economy.”

This week — Nov. 15-21 — is recognized as Registered Apprenticeship Week in Washington. The latest numbers from L&I show there are more than 5,000 employers in the state participating in 182 apprenticeship programs across nearly 250 occupations. For a complete list of programs and occupations, go to www.Lni.wa.gov/Apprenticeship.

Moving into high-tech fields

While construction trades such as carpenter, ironworker, and electrician remain at the top of the list for active participants, L&I is also making grants to industries and associations that expand programs to include high-tech, aerospace, and the medical assistant fields.

L&I recently announced a $1.3 million Aerospace Workforce Development Expansion Grant to the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee. The funding will expand apprenticeships, increase veterans outreach, and update equipment. It’s expected some 250 participants will be served over the course of the grant.

In a separate grant issued earlier this year, a total of $10 million will go to the Machinists Institute, established by the International Association of Machinists District 751 in Seattle.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, representing engineers at The Boeing Company and other technical workers, will receive $5 million from the same grant. The programs will partner with community and technical colleges to expand training and help underserved populations enter the technical aerospace fields.

Apprenti, a program in partnership with L&I and the Washington Technology Industry Association, also diversifies participation in the high-tech industry through instruction in software development and other skills.

– Original article published by Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries

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How to Communicate Your Strengths in the Job Interview

By Erin Anacker 

Years ago, I walked out of a job interview for a role I knew I’d be good at feeling totally underestimated. They showed me to the door saying, “Well, it seems like you’re probably not a good fit for the job.” 

What did they even know about me? We’d barely spent an hour together and their questions did little to draw out what I am capable of. An open-ended conversation would have showed them more about me! 

If you think about it, the job interview is kind of ridiculous. It’s like trying to decide whether or not to get married after a first date. The candidate rarely gets the opportunity to really get to know the company, team, or manager. And the company spends an hour—maybe five at most, but only for the highest-level roles—to determine whether or not to place a bet worth thousands upon thousands of dollars (in hiring, training, salary, and benefits). 

Little did I know, back when I interviewed for that job, that most companies really struggle with hiring. They waste BILLIONS of dollars each year because they don’t know how to identify or assess people’s soft skills: character strengths, leadership traits, and people skills. 

In fact, 40% of new hires fail to succeed in their first 18 months due to a soft skills mismatch—they quit, get fired, have behavioral issues, or simply underperform. This is largely because most hiring managers are not trained on how to hire. Often times, they don’t know what information is most important, nor do they know how to get it. When you walk in to your interview, keep in mind that they may be doing this for the very first time. 

That means it’s up to you. You have to give them the information they need about your soft skills. Yes, technical skills and work history are valuable. But it’s soft skills that are the most predictive of job success. 

You must be the expert on YOU. And you’ve got to show them, rather than tell them. 

Hands down, the best way to communicate your most important strengths in the interview is to share how you came to be who you are today. How did you become adaptable? Hard working? Honest? Empathic? Share the origin story of your strengths. 

For instance, back in that interview I had, I could have shared about how I became a tenacious learner. Growing up, reading and writing was really difficult for me. I had trouble understanding what I read, I needed A LOT of help getting ideas from my head on to paper, and I really, really, really hated reading out loud in class. It wasn’t until I was 33 years old, while researching neurodiversity, that I read the definition of Dyslexia for the first time and it all clicked

Through my struggles with Dyslexia, I had to work harder than my peers at learning. I built up really strong muscles for persevering, following my curiosity, and being creative. Turns out, a Dyslexic brain thinks differently. With this superpower, I’m able to bring visions in my head to life and make connections that others may not see. Those are some pretty key skills for me, especially as a product designer! 

So tell me, what are your superpowers and how did you come to develop them? 

If you want to make sure that you’re prepared to share your most critical skills in the interview, we’ve built a platform to help you do just that. WholeStory helps you stand out from the crowd with a unique professional profile and interview prep course. 

In fact, job seekers who complete the course are far more likely to get a job offer. That’s because they’re significantly more confident and better able to convey their soft skills in the interview. 

This course is free to all job seekers. 

Learn more and register today Âť 

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