Canine Career Kit helps Douglas College Graduate Collar Jobs

November 3, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

John Saremba was having a tough time breaking into the career counselling field until his dog Samson gave him a new "leash" on life.

Saremba, a graduate of Douglas College's Career Development Practitioner program, had trouble getting noticed at meetings of the professional association of career counselors (NETWERCC, a college partner since the beginning of the program). But Saremba's resume would sit on a table at the back of the room, unnoticed. Then, his best friend came to the rescue.

Saremba developed a package for Samson the Schnauzer, detailing his dog's career change from "Cat Chaser and Household Security Specialist" to "a position in the animal hospitality field." He put Samson's Career Kit on 30 discs and took them to the next NETWERCC meeting. Instead of talking about himself, Saremba offered up the discs in exchange for business cards.

"By the end of that meeting I had given away all those discs and had 30 business cards and contacts," said Saremba. "And the interesting thing is, people instantly began to recognize it."

The very next day at an agency in New Westminster, Saremba met with a counselor to discuss his career kit.

"She walked out of the meeting and said: 'You're Samson's dad! Come on in!' She gave me an hour of her time," said Saremba. "It was a way of breaking into the industry and making myself known in a humourous, creative way."

Saremba received his Career Development Practitioner Certificate from Douglas College in 2002 and teaches a course at the college. The Samson Career Kit has been adopted by Douglas College and is taught in career classes.

"John's success mirrors the success of the Career Development Practitioner program," said Cheryl Jeffs, Program Manager, Continuing Education, Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies at Douglas College. "It's excellent and is seen as a leader in this field by professionals."

The Career Development Practitioner program has provided training for career, employment and rehabilitation practitioners since 1993. It's offered on a part-time basis and must be completed in three years or less, although most students take about a year to finish.

The program helped Saremba through his own career transition. Having completed his MA in Resource Management at Simon Fraser University, he worked as a consultant with government and business. In 1991 he went overseas to Laos to do an environmental survey of the Mekong River. There, he realized how much he enjoyed teaching.

In 2001, Saremba enrolled in the Career Development Practitioner Program. He started teaching at Douglas College shortly after graduating. He's also a Career Development Specialist and Instructor at Kwantlen University College. He enjoys his new career immensely.

"It's extremely rewarding when you have a chance to have a positive influence on someone's life," he said.

For more information on Douglas College's Career Development Practitioner program, please contact Lynne Wilson in Child, Family and Community Studies, Continuing Education, at 604-527-5479.

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