John
Former Defensive End with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and former off-season Employee with Employment Network
I have known Linda Langelier and the Employment Network team since the beginning of the 2007 Riders season, when Linda provided career assistance to the Rider players and their spouses. I attended career planning sessions and gained insight into what areas might interest me regarding a career during and after football. Employment Network had a position open at the time and I was hired. A factor in my decision to work with Employment Network was their understanding of my irregular off-season schedule. While working at the firm, I saw firsthand the amount of resources they had, the relationships built throughout the community, and how good they were at filling a position with the best possible candidate.
I learned a lot in my time working with Employment Network about myself, as well as what it takes to be a good recruiter. In my time there, I saw many members of the Roughriders hired at positions because of the efforts of Employment Network. I know as well as anybody how difficult it can be financially for a player outside of the football season; I also know we don’t have months to search and get hired. In most cases we need work and we need it fast. Linda and her staff are very efficient and effective at what they do. I know my family is ever thankful to the support we had from them.
In my training with Employment Network I observed the recruitment process for the Director of Retail Sales position with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. There were many qualified candidates for the position, and it was very challenging to determine the most qualified candidates based on their experience and character. I am 100% confident their recruitment process resulted in the Riders hiring the best candidate, as Mark has been a tremendous addition to the Roughriders organization.
Linda and the Employment Network team have a passion for what they do, and they are great at it. The recruiters are top notch professional at all times, have great morals and work well with people of all backgrounds. That same year, Employment Network received the Paragon Award for Diversity in the work place. They are great at finding peoples’ strengths and matching them to positions where they succeed. I would highly recommend them.
Sheldon &Trudy
Sheldon – Shift Supervisor, CanMar Grain Products Ltd.
After the completion of my studies at Niagara College in 2011, I was struggling to make ends meet while living in the fully industrialized city of Toronto. At this time, I was experiencing many challenges due to a lack of financial security and stability. I came to the conclusion that most employers in Toronto were looking to hire people on a part-time basis. This bred unease and anxiety within me as I was actively seeking a way to financial liberation.
In April 2011, without expectations, my wife and I went to an annual Job Fair held in downtown Toronto. This Job Fair has employers attending from many different provinces outside of Ontario and thus gave us an opportunity to liaise with several employers both locally and Canada-wide.
Luckily, we met Kristen and David, two of Employment Network’s most diligent and enthusiastic representatives. They greeted us warmly while taking the time to share with us some useful information about the province of Saskatchewan while offering guidance regarding job expectations and settlement. There was something unique about the way Kristen and David approached us. If I could adequately surmise the encounter I would say that it was very ‘professional yet personal.’ My wife and I felt like we already knew them.
After the Job Fair we were contacted via email in real time to let us know that our resumes were being processed. I thought about the possibility of leaving Ontario to better avail myself with job opportunities, however, the fear of venturing into the unknown with no close relatives or friends seemed troubling. In July of 2012, my wife and I realized that our financial conditions had not improved and the prospects for betterment seemed farfetched. We decided we would move to Saskatchewan despite our fears. It was one of the most life-changing decisions we have made thus far.
Prior to our move to Saskatchewan, Employment Network provided us with sufficient information relating to housing, car insurance, and transportation. Additionally, Kristen guided my wife as to how to go about finding daycare and pre-school information for our son.
Upon arriving in Regina, we were welcomed by the team at Employment Network with kindness and warm hearts. We were interviewed which resulted in an ‘on the spot’ job offer for my wife. A week later I was awarded a permanent full-time position in a growing company; this seemed quite miraculous since this was my first full-time job offer since migrating to Canada in 2009. After successfully completing the probationary period, I was placed on the company’s matching RRSP and insurance programs. For the first time, my family felt financially relieved.
In one year we have experienced so much growth. When we reflect on where we came from we cannot help but express our most sincere gratitude to Employment Network who is responsible for allowing us to have a success story. In addition, I would like to add that Regina, being mildly populated, provided us the advantage to grow at a more comfortable pace rather than struggling to keep up in the densely- populated city.
Trudy – Financial Planning Assistant, Brothers and Company Financial
I came to Canada as an International Student who studied at Niagara College. After my studies were completed I moved to Toronto to pursue my career objectives. However, this was very difficult to achieve in such a fast paced environment. The city was too crowded and too many people were chasing the same goals with limited resources. I attended a Job fair held yearly in Toronto and that’s where I met Kristen and David of Employment Network. Kristen had a bright and cheerful personality and being in her presence was just a positive experience. She began telling me about Regina and the employment opportunities that were there.
Moving to Regina was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Kristen helped make my transition to Regina easy, as they provided me with housing information, recreational ideas and much more. They even took my husband and I to dinner one evening and I thought that was a very kind gesture.
My husband and I moved to Regina on July 8, 2012 and Employment Network hired me as a Receptionist/Administrative Assistant by July 16, 2012. For me Toronto never offered jobs so quickly. I worked with them for a short period and I must say the experience was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was professional yet warm and friendly. I was always treated with respect and I felt like a valuable part of the team. They have recently helped me to be gainfully employed at a wonderful company that I’m sure I will learn and grow in.
I feel like I owe a debt of gratitude to them because they have really helped me to realize my dreams. I feel independent and empowered as a young woman and at the same time I am enhancing my professional development, thanks to a caring company like Employment Network. They strive to ensure that they were not just finding jobs for people. They go above and beyond to help find a career that was right for me. Talk about personality job fit.
I will forever be grateful to Employment Network and I have a special place in my heart for them because they reminded me that kindness still exists among humankind.
Elan
Chief Executive Officer, O & T Farms Ltd. and Oleet Processing Ltd.
O&T Farms manufactures highly digestible, plant based, palatable ingredients for animals at 2 plants in Regina Saskatchewan. Their products are designed for all species and include specialty products such as EquinePower™, ExtraPro™ and DairyPro™. LinPro™ is a patented product that delivers Omega-3’s naturally through the animal resulting in healthier animals and Omega-3 functional food items such as Omega-3 Eggs, Omega-3 Milk and other dairy products, Omega-3 Beef and Omega-3 Chicken. Good things do come in Omega-3’s!
Over the past four years, Employment Network has filled many positions for O&T Farms, from hourly through to executive level. There are three very important reasons why I will continue to use their professional service:
• As executives, our time is best spent working to grow our company, not advertising, reviewing resumes, and conducting initial interviews. Once we have identified a position to be filled, we can concentrate on our regular duties until the final interviews from the short list are arranged.
• The professional staff at Employment Network is trained to be the best in the recruitment field, so it just makes sense that they can do a better job than I at all tasks in the recruitment cycle.
• Employment Network staff understand our culture, values, and vision and only recommend employees that fit our family. Linda continually takes the time to understand what I am thinking and readily provides professional advice.
Jeff
Director of Operations, Can Mar Grain Products Ltd.
Can Mar Grains is a leading flax processor utilizing both a patented roasting process and a robust food safety program to produce unique and high quality flax food products.
“The situation at Can Mar was unique in that we needed to triple our production staff in a very short period of time. We contacted Employment Network to assist us and we had virtually all the new staff, in a variety of positions, in place within two months. We went through position by position and Employment Network made it an easy process. They handled all of the background checks and every candidate they put forward was a quality candidate. Choosing the new staff was based on best fit with our company because the qualifications were not an issue.
Our experience with Employment Network was very positive and we would use them again in a heartbeat.”
Gail
Business Manager, Communications and Marketing
I have maintained a relationship with Employment Network for almost 10 years. It began when Employment Network approached me about a career opportunity. Throughout the process, I could see how meticulous Linda and her team were about ensuring that they made an appropriate match for both the employment candidate and the employer. They were involved until the ink dried on my new job offer, answering questions, providing guidance, and maintaining a friendly support system.
Since that time, I have referred numerous friends and colleagues to Employment Network and have even dropped by for coffee just to catch up. That’s the kind of warm and welcoming experience Employment Network offers. I highly recommend their services to all those looking for a career, and not just a job, and to all employers looking to quickly and efficiently connect with a candidate who will fulfill the needs of your organization.
Desmond
Manager
I found a positive atmosphere at Employment Network from the moment I arrived at the door. The staff was very accommodating, friendly, and supportive. They treated me very well and talked to me about what I wanted which gave me a sense of relief. They started counseling and preparing me almost immediately after I arrived at their office. Following my job placement they followed up with me to make sure I was happy in my job and that it was a good fit.
I would 100 per cent recommend them to others looking for work. I have never felt so welcome and have never had that kind of service from other agencies.
Trent & Julie
Trent, Registered Architect and his wife Julie
Trent: We had a great experience with Employment Network. It is difficult to cross international borders and they were able to do it and provided a great service. The staff was very approachable and always ready at a moment’s notice to answer questions and offer assistance.
We highly recommend Employment Network and would definitely use them again in the future. We were very impressed with the service we received.
Julie: I first met everyone from Employment Network when my husband was considering a position here in Regina. Naturally, I had a lot of questions. They were all an incredible source of information! Once we had moved and were settled, they embraced us like we were family! (Which is so comforting when you are so far away from anything familiar). Our transition would have been monumentally harder without their help and care. There are no words to express how grateful I am for the friendship we have since developed and for all of the help they were able to provide us!