Certifications and Training
Why training and certifications are important:
Training and certifications on resumes and in the workplace are very important and helpful. For starters, many employers require training and certifications as they are very important in ensuring everyone is educated on safety procedures and other skills crucial in different areas of employment. By obtaining a certification and correctly following the skills and procedures you learned in training, you are helping to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Often, required certifications have to do with the nature of the work and they would help develop necessary skills and knowledge for the job. In entry-level positions, often employers look for basic safety protocol training as well as material handling. Prior training can benefit the employer as they will not have to train in these areas. Certifications can give you a competitive advantage on your resume against other applicants and also show that you are proactive and have put in time to become prepared and better qualified. Training and certification can greatly benefit your resume and your role as an employee.
How to display certifications on your resume:
-Create a section on your resume titled Certifications and Training
-List the certification name on the left hand side of the document
-List the year certification was gained on the right hand side of the document on the same line
Common certifications in NS that you can get and employers look for:
-CPR/First Aid: In a first aid/CPR course you will learn and develop lifesaving skills and knowledge such as how to perform CPR and use an AED. This course will educate people on how to respond in emergency situations and allow them to acquire first aid skills and techniques. This is beneficial to all forms of work and is often required in the workplace. This training is very important in all areas of life, not just at work.
-WHMIS: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. WHMIS is a communication system in Canada that provides information on hazardous materials that can be found in Canadian workplaces. This training educates on the system and classifications that WHMIS uses and provides information on the risks associated with hazardous materials. It also provides instruction on how to safely handle these materials. Workers that have the potential to be exposed to hazardous products should be trained in WHMIS as it is important in keeping them and others safe. WHMIS is often required for many jobs as hazardous materials are relatively common.
-Food Handlers: Food handler courses are designed for those working with and handling food regularly in the workplace. These courses are to educate workers on safe food handling practices. This includes things such as: hazards, sanitization, waste, pest control, safe prep, safe serving practices, hygiene, and Canadian food safety laws, regulations, and inspection. This is an important training to help prevent food-born illness and maintain safe practices in food service. This is important for those looking to work in the food industry or those already practicing within it.
-High Five: High Five is the quality standard in Canada for children's programs. Their training is based on five principles of healthy development, which are: a caring leader, play, friends, mastery, and participation. By completing High Five Training, you will have learned how to design and facilitate programs that adequately address the needs of children and benefit their development. Many organizations, especially those working with children require or recommend High Five Training.
-Traffic Control: A traffic control person can be trained through a one day course offered by local companies approved by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. In this training program, workers will learn how to perform their duties as a traffic control person which include: regulating traffic safely past temporary workplaces on roads using a stop/slow paddle and hand signals. If one is successful in their training, they can become accredited by the province to work. This is the training required for being a traffic control person.
-Ava Burrows