The BTEST department offers a number of services daily to accommodate your employment needs including:

Career Counselling

The BTEST Career Counsellors provide assistance with building realistic and achievable career plans through an assessment process. In addition, we help clients by directing them to various training opportunities. Our Career Counsellors are available at any time to help you with your career needs. Feel free to call our office and request an appointment for a one on one session to help you:

• Explore potential Career options by completing on-line and written exercises in identifying your skills, aptitudes and interests related to future Careers;
• Explore possible Career options including assistance in researching job conditions, pay rates, working conditions and other related topics;
• Identifying various training and education options including short-term training, post secondary education and other forms of learning including potential funding options.
• Plan your career path.

Each Career Counsellor works with separate programs but will work together to provide you with the tools and skills you need to move forward in your future career.

Employment Office

The Employment Office focuses on delivery of programs for Blood Tribe members searching for job opportunities and assists Blood Tribe members with:

• Cover Letter and Resume development.
• Job searching skills including job boards and employer referrals.
• Interview skills development, and employment maintenance.
• Computers, Printing and Faxing are available to assist with job search activities.

The Employment Officer also works with employers’ on-Reserve and in surrounding communities to find employment opportunities and provides workshops on various job search and job readiness topics.

BTEST may host workshops, job fairs and other activities to assist employers and clients in arranging opportunities to network and find employment.  Employers can include medium-larger organizations that recruit workers for short-long term positions.  Workshops assist clients in preparing for job opportunities.

Jaime Blood is the Employment Officer and is available for appointments. Please contact the office for an appointment.

In addition to our regular services, BTEST offers programs to assist you in your employment goals. The following programs may be accessed for funding including:

Individual Funding

Training is that form of instruction training, other than post secondary education that is conducted in a classroom or other facilities approved for this purpose.  Generally, the training is short term (one year or less), must be accredited or industry recognized and provides specific job related skills for specific job requirements and can take the form of on the job, off-site or institutional training coordinated on a task-by-task or subject basis.  University courses leading to baccalaureate requirements do not qualify for BTEST funding.  Further, diploma programs are not eligible unless they are less than one year in duration.  Industry related training that is up to two weeks is eligible. 

Short term training options include:

• Any training program up to one year in length;
• Short-term tickets and other safety certification;
• Apprenticeship training programs; and
• Technical training programs. 

The Individual Funding program operates annually in a first come-first serve basis. Funding is available for items such as tuition, books and supplies; basic training allowance; travel allowance (some restrictions apply); and child care costs. Please contact the Alison Frank for more information and details on how to apply for this program

Work Gear

The Work Gear program is available for clients who have found permanent employment and who require assistance to begin a new job with work related gear and items. The program applies to new jobs only and can be accessed once in a three year period. Interested clients must complete an application form including supporting documentation. The client, upon approval will be supplied with a Purchase Order at one of our participating Vendors for the purchase of work related clothing and tools. Please contact Alison Frank for more information.

In-House Programs

BTEST offers a variety of in-house training programs each year. Programs vary from training that is brought in from other institutions and delivered on-site to industry specific programs. All training initiatives are improved to meet the unique needs of the community. Individuals completing these programs leave with industry recognized certification.   Programs are designed to meet the needs of employers and can be announced year round. Please refer to the News and Events Page for any upcoming Programs announced. For more information, please contact Darryl Day Chief; In-House Programs Officer.

Youth Programs

The Youth Programs Office offers several programs annually for individuals ages 15-30. Each summer, students attending high school and post-secondary institutions have the opportunity to secure summer employment.  In addition, employers have access to any individual who applies, with the Youth Programs Officer facilitating fit between employer and student. BTEST also offers a Youth Work Experience Program for those individuals who have been out of school and unemployed.

• Summer Student Program

The Summer Student program operates from May – August each year. The program releases employer applications beginning in February of each year. Department, Entities and other agencies can apply for a funded student position. Once the jobs are selected, the job list will be released to the students applying through the program. Positions can range from 16 weeks to 8 weeks in length and may be in any community on-reserve or in the surrounding communities. Post-secondary Students can apply beginning in April for the current year. Applications can be picked up at the BTEST office.

BTEST also offers a number of programs for High School students. Beginning in May, the BTEST team will recruit for High School students at schools both on-reserve and in surrounding Communities. BTEST offers the high School program, teams of five students will take training at the BTEST office for one week, then be placed at a participating Department for a period of five weeks for work experience. We also offer specialty programs including the Business Entrepreneur program, a partnership with Blood Tribe Economic Development. Programs for the current year are announced in May of each year. Applications are taken until June, please refer to the news and events page for more information.

• Youth Work Experience Program

For those Youth aged 18-30 who are currently out of school and unemployed, BTEST offers an annual Work Experience Program. Participants apply to the program at various dates throughout the year. Once accepted, participants will have the opportunity to cover many aspects of employment in a class environment for a term of 6-8 weeks including:

• Career Exploration;
• Career planning
• Job Search;
• Employment Maintenance.

Participants are then placed in a work experience with a partnering department, preferably in a field they may enter in the future. Work Experience lasts for a period of 18-20 weeks.

BTEST will host other Youth Programs based on Opportunities available. Please refer to the News and Events page for more information. Information on all the Youth Programs can be provided by contacting Kailey Mistaken Chief, Acting Youth Programs Officer at the BTEST office.