better jobs
Second Career
opportunities
Better Jobs Ontario (Formerly 'Second Career')
(Better Jobs Ontario) previously known as Second Career, is a provincially funded program, which helps individuals who are unemployed train for occupations in Ontario that are in high demand. It is a funding available for recently laid-off unemployed workers for which long-term skills training is the most appropriate intervention to transition them into high-skill, demand occupations in the local labour market. Recently laid-off unemployed workers can be active EI claimants, EI Reachback or non-EI eligible.
At ABC Access Business College, we offer many programs that may meet the eligibility criteria for Better Jobs Ontario
Eligibility Criteria :
- Train for a new career
- Find out what is needed in the job market
- Learn about careers that build on your skills
- Get financial support
Second Career helps people get the training or education they need to get a good career. It provides financial assistance to pay for tuition and supporting expenses such as:
- Books
- Living expenses
- Help caring for
- dependents
- Travel & transportation
- Disability supports
- Other living and training costs
Second Career starts with a visit to an employment assessment center. An employment counsellor will talk to you about your goals, and the kind of help you need. If Second Career is the right choice, the counsellor will help you prepare a training plan and apply for Second Career.
What we need to know?
- Your work history
- Your education and training
- Your skills
- Your interests
This will help you and your counsellor think about the kinds of careers you would enjoy and be successful at.
To download Ontario Government Guidelines on Second Career, Please Click below link:
If you think Second Career might be right for you, please contact us and speak to one of our advisors.
Phone: +1416.510.2739
Fax: +1416.510.2709
Email: info@abccollege.ca
Website: https://www.abccollege.ca
Address:5 Nipigon Avenue, 2nd Floor,
Toronto, Ontario M2M 2V7 Canada
Get skills-training and financial support when you qualify for Second Career.
People laid off because of COVID-19 in 2020
The Ontario government is making it easier and faster for laid-off workers to access the Second Career program. If you were laid off in one of the sectors most impacted by COVID-19 since March 1, 2020, you may benefit from these changes. To learn more about Second Career, read the information on this web page and/or contact ABC College and speak to an advisor.
Career Transition Opportunities
What Second Career gives you
You can get new skills – those needed for jobs in demand now – and financial support if you qualify for Second Career.
Apply for up to $28,000 for costs including:
- tuition
- books
- manuals, workbooks or other instructional costs
- transportation
- basic living allowance (maximum $410 per week)
- child care
Accelerated Application Processing
Which applications are being fast tracked
While the Second Career program is open to all laid-off workers and jobseekers, priority is given to applications for people who were laid off because of COVID-19 and want to retrain for jobs in sectors that have good potential for future employment.
Applications that meet all the following criteria will go through a faster approval process, helping people get access to training sooner:
- The applicant was laid off on or after March 1, 2020.
- The applicant has high school education or less, or was laid off from an occupation requiring no more than a high school education and job specific training, such as food and beverage servers, flight attendants, and retail salespersons.
- The applicant was laid off from an industry hit hard by the pandemic, such as hospitality and food services, transportation and warehousing or wholesale and retail trade.
- The applicant wants to train for a career in demand in local communities or provincial priority areas.
Funding Contributions
What you pay into Second Career
When you apply to Second Career, you have to show the costs to be covered during training. You may have to pay part of these costs yourself. The amount you’ll have to pay is based on several things, starting with your gross (before tax) household income. To get more insight into the fee structure and to find out your eligibility for the $28000 govt grant, speak to one of our advisors today.
Consultation Services
Speak with a counsellor
Presently, all appointments are virtual. You may call our college and speak to an advisor, who can help you find more information, assess your grant eligibility and find you an employment services agency in your community and can answer any other questions you may have about Second Career.
Eligibility Criteria
How you qualify for Second Career
As a start, you qualify for Second Career if:
you have been laid off and have not been working
you have been laid off and are working a temporary job just to cover costs
If you’re receiving Employment Insurance (EI), or have in the past, you can still apply
When preparing your application, you also have to show:
- how long you have been unemployed, or working your temporary job, and looking for work
- places you have applied and positions you have applied for (for example cover letters, CV and responses from potential employers)
- level of education obtained
- previous employment, how long you worked there, and skills that were required
- what skills you want to obtain and where you can get trained in them
Program Duration
How long training programs can be
The Second Career program aims to help people rejoin the workforce quickly. That’s why the program is focusing on supporting training programs that take 52 weeks or less, including micro-credential programs.
There is a grace period until January 8, 2021 where Second Career applications for longer training programs will be accepted if the training program starts before February 1, 2021. Second Career clients who have already been approved for funding will not be affected.
After January 8, 2021 people who want to attend training longer than one year can apply to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for a mix of grants and loans to help them pay for their postsecondary education.
Financial Details
Financial information
You must provide information about:
- your income
- your household income (e.g. spouse)
- current expenses