March 2025

Dakota’s Career Switches Gears with an Opportunity at Print Pros Plus

At YES Employment Services, we take pride in helping individuals of all ages and skill levels find meaningful employment through Employment Ontario’s Employment Service program. Dakota’s success illustrates the impact of personalized employment assistance to help clients reach their career goals.

Dakota came to YES after realizing that his current position was not the right fit for him. While he had been employed, his role did not fully utilize his skills, and the work environment was not ideal. When his hours were reduced, he became eligible for personalized support from one of our Employment Coordinators.

A friend recommended that Dakota visit YES, and in January, he took that advice. Having accessed our Resource Area in the past, he was already familiar with the welcoming environment and the helpful assistance provided by staff members, Shelley and Jason. Dakota was particularly impressed with their support, which made him feel comfortable and confident in his job search.

Once Dakota became eligible for one-on-one services, he met with Employment Coordinator Emmanuel Ogbu. Right away, Ogbu helped him refine his job search strategy, starting with revising his resume to improve its success with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI-driven hiring platforms. Dakota appreciated this advice, stating, “He was with me step by step all the way through the job search process, staying in touch and providing guidance.”

Ogbu diligently searched job boards for opportunities suited to Dakota’s skills and career goals. Through YES, Dakota also had access to the hidden job market—positions that are not publicly advertised but are shared directly with us by employers looking for strong candidates.  Many of these opportunities are uncovered by our Employer Relations Coordinators (ERC’s).  ERC Derland Otu had been speaking with Print Pros Plus and they had a position open for a “Binder”.   He thought it might be a good opportunity to share with Ogbu with Dakota in mind.  This role turned out to be an excellent match for Dakota’s transferable skills, particularly his ability to adapt quickly, handle a variety of tasks, and communicate effectively.

Ogbu and Derland connected with Print Pros Plus to discuss Dakota’s qualifications, and the company was eager to meet him. Following his interview, Dakota was offered a job trial, which soon led to a Job Placement. Now, he is thriving in his new role, enjoying a respectful and supportive workplace where he feels valued.

“I absolutely recommend YES to anyone looking for meaningful work,” Dakota shared.

We are thrilled to see Dakota succeed and grateful to Print Pros Plus for recognizing his potential and providing him with the opportunity to enter a new field.  Congratulations, Dakota!

If you would like assistance with your job search, call, visit or e-mail YES.  You can also request an appointment here. 

Recruitment and Retention Conference

YES is hosting a Recruitment and Retention Conference at the Italian Cultural Centre on March 21st to help local businesses up their HR game in 2025. The speakers will focus on local and provincial resources, tools, and programs and provide insight into the local labour market and what we can expect in the year to come. If you have not registered your business yet, you can register here: YES Employment Services Recruitment and Retention Conference – Register

Community Engagement

Members of our leadership team attended PDAC the week of March 3rd in Toronto. PDAC has become the world’s premier mineral exploration & mining convention. Lorna Hunda and Kristine Silvaggio joined our Northern partners and over 27,000 attendees to learn and share the latest mining developments in our region and around the world. 

Friday February 28th was one of the snowiest days we have had this winter, but that didn’t stop businesses from setting up at the Heritage Building at the CLE for the Dennis Franklin Cromarty Job Fair. Despite the weather, the turn out was amazing. Students travelled by van from the school to the event to engage with local employers. We had a great time sharing info with the students.

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce presented its 60th Annual General Meeting and Member Appreciation at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites on the evening of February 26th. We took the opportunity to connect with local businesses to promote our Recruitment and Retention Fair. Thanks so much to the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce for a great event. A big shout out to all of the businesses who connected with us.