Toronto Catholic District School Board Co-op and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Welcome to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) for the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a unique program that enables high school students to get a head start on their career as a skilled professional while still in high school. Students earn credits toward their apprenticeship and high school diploma - at the same time with no delay in graduation! EARN WHILE YOU LEARN!

Introducing the NEW OYAP Trivia Game!

CLICK HERE to Launch the Game (Flash required)

OYAP Accelerated Program Interviews
It's Time to Shine!!!

After months of serious career contemplation, hundreds of students across the Toronto Catholic District School Board have chosen to make a skilled profession the career of their choice. With eleven (11) OYAP Accelerated programs to choose from, students have officially submitted their applications and now prepare themselves for the final step in the process of selection: the interview! Although many students boast bundles of confidence when conversing in familiar social circles such as a high school surrounding, many students become overtly nervous and anxious during an interview. Instead of focusing on the abundance of talent that they possess, they enter the interview only concerned about whether or not the interviewers will discover their shortcomings or weaknesses. As an amateur (and poor one at that!) golfer, I can only tell you that when hitting a golf ball, if your thoughts wander to the water on the left or right of the fairway, your ball will almost assuredly land right where you don't want it; in the water! Being confident and positive can only be achieved by being prepared. Here are some helpful tips:

Dress appropriately (that means NO jeans!). This may be the first time that the interviewers will meet you. Make an impression that will last a lifetime!
Be on time! Enough said!
Have your resume, credit counselling summary form, letters of reference, and any other documents you may like to bring to the interview, neatly prepared in an envelope or folder. There is nothing worse than a candidate arriving to an interview with their required documents all crumpled up. Very, very, unprofessional!
Do your homework! In other words, if you are interviewing for a carpentry position, then it's a good idea to know what it is exactly that a carpenter does. Do some research either by speaking to your teacher, surfing the internet, or better yet, actually speaking to a professional tradesperson. What is it that they do, where do they do it, what are the hours involved, how much money do they make, and finally, why is it that I have chosen this career over all other careers, are information items that you should be prepared to answer when you come to an interview.
Do a little research on the training delivery agent that will be delivering the program that you are applying for. For example, if you are being interviewed for a cook position, it would be helpful to know a little bit about Humber College and the incredible Cook program that they offer. Interviewers are very impressed by this!
Sit up straight! Don't mumble! Don't fidget! Look at the person who is interviewing you!
Be prepared to answer those questions that you know the interviewers will ask, such as "I've noticed here on your credit counselling summary form that you've been late twelve (12) times so far this semester. Why is that?" You know it's coming, be ready!
And finally, SMILE!

This is your moment! Your time to shine! Do your homework! Be prepared!
And above all, be confident!!!