Dylan: From Discouraged Job Seeker to Engineering Co-op
Job Seeker Case Study – Dylan
Dylan is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student with a passion for automotive and robotics. Born with hearing loss in both ears, he often felt overlooked in a competitive job market, even though he was highly motivated and eager to pursue hands-on engineering work.
Introduction
Dylan is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student with a passion for automotive and robotics. Born with hearing loss in both ears, he often felt overlooked in a competitive job market, even though he was highly motivated and eager to pursue hands-on engineering work. He found it challenging to break into paid engineering roles; being naturally shy and seeing few opportunities left him feeling stuck. After months of applying to engineering roles in a multi-province job search spanning Victoria, BC and Alberta, Dylan was unable to secure a paid position in his field.
Despite his dedication, Dylan worried that his interests and passion projects weren’t enough to stand out, and the silence from employers left him discouraged and unsure how to move forward.
Background
After participating in a volunteer event, Dylan became aware of CCRW. As part of his onboarding with CCRW, Dylan began participating in weekly one-on-one check-ins that provided consistent accountability, structured job-search guidance, and access to CCRW’s employment resources.
Dylan felt that it made a huge difference to have someone show empathy for his experience job searching. It allowed him to hold his head up high, even when faced with the possibility of rejection.
This marked a turning point in Dylan’s job search, from navigating challenges alone to being supported by a team invested in his success.
The Role of CCRW
CCRW played a pivotal role in transforming Dylan’s job search from discouraging and uncertain to structured, supported, and strategic. Through CCRW’s robust employment resources, personalized coaching, and funding navigation, our team helped Dylan strengthen his applications, expand his opportunities, and feel empowered throughout the process.
Throughout his time at CCRW, Dylan received the following assistance:
- Weekly one-on-one job-search coaching and check-ins to support accountability and employment readiness.
- Access to Jobscan to strengthen his resume and cover letter and align with industry expectations.
- Hands-on support in securing government wage subsidy funding, which directly addressed employer financial constraints and made the hire possible.
Dylan expressed that CCRW’s support may have prevented him from stepping away from his program during a time of academic, financial, and emotional strain.
Success Story
Dylan found a position that matched his skills and interests through his school’s job board. Dylan was initially shortlisted but not interviewed due to employer budget constraints. After CCRW connected with the employer to share available wage subsidy funding, the employer proceeded with an interview and extended an offer. They were impressed with Dylan’s relevant skills and experience and hired him shortly after.
Dylan secured a paid engineering co-op as a Hardware Assembly and Software QA Technician. The opportunity became a pivotal moment: his first professional role, meaningful experience in his field, and a path forward that he once worried may not exist.
“I felt ecstatic, finally having a chance at proving my worth in the workplace.”— Dylan, Engineering Co-op Student
Impact
Gaining real-world experience in his chosen field has left him feeling hopeful and motivated for the future. Dylan felt genuine compassion, care, and encouragement from CCRW. Their support helped him approach his job search with much greater confidence and effectiveness.
He shared that being coached and supported by CCRW meant the world to him. He felt that CCRW’s support likely saved him from dropping out of school by easing the initial frustration and discouragement he experienced during his job search.
Conclusion
Dylan’s journey reflects the powerful impact that compassionate, consistent support can have on a job seeker’s life. With CCRW’s support and the dedicated coaching he received, he gained the confidence, access, and encouragement he needed at a time when he felt overwhelmed by academic, financial, and personal stress.
He secured his first paid professional role in engineering while gaining renewed confidence, career direction, and motivation to continue his studies. As he puts it:
“CCRW changed my path from having to take a break from school, to having the courage to keep going.”