Looking for Help Finding a Job in Kitchener-Waterloo? Start Here
Looking for a job can be challenging, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Maybe you need help creating a resume. Maybe interviews make you nervous. You might want to improve your skills before applying for jobs, or you may be looking for someone who can provide more individualized support as you work toward your employment goals.
If you’re an adult in Waterloo Region looking for some extra support finding a job, LEG Up! to Work can help you take that next step.
Get help preparing for your job search
LEG Up! to Work is an in-person job readiness course offered by KW Career Compass at KW Habilitation for adults 18+ who experience a barrier to employment. The course isn’t about finding just any job as quickly as possible. It’s an opportunity to build the skills and confidence that can help you prepare for employment and figure out what your next steps should be.
Over eight weeks, you’ll spend 32 hours learning and practicing skills that can help you prepare for the realities of employment.
You’ll explore topics like:
- How to present yourself with confidence
- Time management
- Rights and responsibilities
- Professionalism
- Communication and self-advocacy
- What to expect when starting a new job
- Managing your personal life and employment
- Setting realistic goals
- Job searching
- Interview skills
- Giving and receiving feedback
You’ll have opportunities to learn, ask questions and practice before putting those skills to use in a job.
Get one-to-one help with your resume
If you’ve ever sat in front of a blank document wondering what you’re supposed to put on a resume, you’re not alone. As part of LEG Up! to Work, you’ll receive one-to-one support with your resume and cover letter. You’ll look at the skills and experience you already have and learn how to communicate them to an employer. You don’t need to arrive with the perfect resume, helping you build one is part of the course.
Practice job interviews before the real thing
Knowing what you want to say in an interview and actually sitting across from someone answering questions can feel very different. LEG Up! to Work gives you a chance to practice. You’ll participate in practice interviews with community partners, giving you an opportunity to answer interview questions, talk about your experience and become more comfortable with the interview process.
Find out what you’re good at
What are your strengths? What kinds of tasks do you enjoy? Where could you use some more practice? You don’t always discover those things sitting in a classroom. That’s why LEG Up! to Work includes hands-on skills evaluations at two to three local businesses. You’ll have opportunities to try different tasks in real community settings and learn more about your skills, interests and areas where you may want additional support.
What is a “barrier to employment”?
You may have seen employment programs described as being for people with a “barrier to employment” and wondered whether that includes you. A barrier to employment is something that makes it harder for you to prepare for, find or keep a job. That can mean many different things.
Maybe you don’t have much job experience yet. You may need help with your resume or interviews. You might find certain parts of looking for or starting a job difficult. You could have a disability or need accommodations. Or you may simply benefit from more support developing the skills and confidence you need to move forward. Having a barrier to employment doesn’t mean you can’t work. It means there may be something getting in the way of reaching your employment goals and some additional support could help.
LEG Up! to Work is open to adults 18+ with any barrier to employment.
Looking for more than a job readiness course?
For some people, learning the skills is only the beginning.
You might be looking for someone who can help you identify the right jobs, navigate the job search process or provide individualized support as you work toward finding and keeping employment. KW Career Compass offers fee-for-service job coaching and employment supports for people who want that additional help. If you’re interested in accessing these fee-for-service supports, LEG Up! to Work is your first step.
Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll meet with the KW Career Compass team to talk about your employment goals and what should come next. Depending on your goals and KW Career Compass’s capacity to work with new people, your next steps could include continued skill building, volunteering, job development or individualized support from a Job Coach or Job Developer.
Completing LEG Up! to Work does not guarantee that ongoing job coaching will be immediately available, but it gives you and the team an opportunity to understand your skills, goals and support needs and create a plan for moving forward.
Ready to take the next step toward finding a job?
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. If you know you’d like to find a job and could use some support getting there, LEG Up! to Work can help you build your skills, practice, explore your strengths and make a plan for what comes next.
Fall 2026 LEG Up! to Work Registration opens on September 1st
Dates: September 9 to November 16, 2026
Classes: Mondays, 1:30–3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Location: KW Habilitation, 99 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener
Cost: $360 per person
Funding: Passport funding eligible
There is no class on October 12, 2026.
Want to learn more?
Contact KW Career Compass at [email protected] or 519-744-6307 ext. 1252.