the LEAD Sheet CONTENTS USED.CA ON JOBS THE WIRED WORKER ASK A CASE MA NAGER JUNE 2, 2016 A LABOUR MARKET NEWSLETTER FOR GREATER VICTORIA EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CENTRES NEXT ISSUE: JUNE 16, 2016 2 5 3 By Kate Wiley S ecretaries in the 1960s fit a certain ste- reotype (as portrayed so expertly in Mad Men): female, easy on the eyes, and pri- marily responsible for relaying information and fetching coffee. Today, our office coffee comes from self-serve machines and our com- puters deliver our letters at the stroke of a key. These days, administrative assistants draft their supervisor’s communications, rather than simply take dictation. They still organize files (electronically) and schedule appoint- ments, but the support they provide to other staff is infinitely more varied than it used to be. The resourceful Admin Assistant has adapted to the times. The cornerstone of any organization’s daily operations, today’s Secretary has many names and responsibilities. One Victoria tech- nology company currently seeks an “Adminis- trative Support Representative ” to perform the following: “all administrative support tasks including telephone reception, shipping and receiving (including logistics communica- tions), internet research, data entry, filing and some entry level product testing.” This (Continued on page 4 )
Transcript
the LEAD Sheet
CONTENTS
U S E D . C A O NJ O B S
T H E W I R E DW O R K E R
A S K A C A S EM A N A G E R
JUNE 2, 2016
A L A B O U R M A R K E T N E W S L E T T E R F O R G R E AT E RV I C T O R I A E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V I C E C E N T R E S
NEXT ISSUE:JUNE 16, 2016
2
5
3
By Kate Wiley
Secretaries in the 1960s fit a certain ste-reotype (as portrayed so expertly in
Mad Men): female, easy on the eyes, and pri-marily responsible for relaying informationand fetching coffee. Today, our office coffeecomes from self-serve machines and our com-puters deliver our letters at the stroke of akey.
These days, administrative assistants drafttheir supervisor’s communications, ratherthan simply take dictation. They still organizefiles (electronically) and schedule appoint-ments, but the support they provide to other
staff is infinitely more varied than it used tobe. The resourceful Admin Assistant hasadapted to the times.
The cornerstone of any organization’s dailyoperations, today’s Secretary has manynames and responsibilities. One Victoria tech-nology company currently seeks an “Adminis-trative Support Representative” to performthe following: “all administrative supporttasks including telephone reception, shippingand receiving (including logistics communica-tions), internet research, data entry, filingand some entry level product testing.” This
While most renters know Used.ca (formerlyUsedVictoria.com) for its wealth of apartment list-
ings, the site’s Jobs portal deserves more cred. Greater Vic-toria employment listings are broken down into dozens ofcategories, and job seekers can set up alerts to be notified ofnew postings.
A decidedly local business, Used.ca makes an effort to con-nect its users with the wider community, stating that one ofits primary goals is to “bring people together and create realhuman interaction in a digital driven world”. The company’sheadquarters are in Victoria and its employees participate inover 150 local events annually, most of them charitable. Notsurprisingly, of the 84 websites Used.ca operates,UsedVictoria.com has the most traffic, followed byUsedCowichan.com and UsedNanaimo.com.
The LEAD Sheet had the privilege of chatting with Used.caActing President and Director of Marketing Lacey Sheardown.While not currently hiring, Lacey shared with us a few keycharacteristics that she looks for in applicants:
F L E X I B I L I T YBeing a small organization with 20 people at our headquar-
ters, we look for people who are flexible. No two days arethe same and you may be asked to go way outside your com-fort zone on occasion.
P O S I T I V E A T T I T U D EYou have to have the technical skills, of course, but more
than anything, we hire for culture. We usually look for a fitfor the culture first, and then we’re happy to train.
E X P E R I E N C EThe further I get into my career, the more I really value
experience. For the most part, I would rather hire someonewith a diploma and experience, over an MBA fresh out ofschool – there’s so much value and maturity that comes withthat experience.
A T T E N T I O N T O D E T A I LFind a job you’re interested in, then spend 15 minutes on-
line researching that company and tailor your resume with
specific examples of how you have demonstrated the skillsrequired.
If you cannot put in the effort to personalize your resume,I’m not going to take the effort to read it. Some people up-load their resume to sites like Indeed.ca and hit send when-ever they apply to an opening. This is a scatter approach andI don’t think that helps job seekers.
Have at least three people, if not more, proofread a re-sume, looking for typos and inconsistencies.
H O N E S T YAn interview is just as much for the candidate as it is for
the company. Don’t come in pretending to be somebody youare not. I love when people are prepared with genuine ques-tions, not the “three great questions to ask at an interview”.
C O U R T E S YI love when people find out who a cover letter should be
addressed to; it shows that you’ve taken a little bit of timeto do the research. Also, I tend to favour people who havesent a thank-you note on the same day as the interview. It’sa great time to say anything that you might have forgotten,and it’s so easy to set yourself apart that way. It’s a profes-sional courtesy that I don’t see enough of anymore.
Got a story to share? Your success could inspire others. [email protected].
“I love whenpeople are
prepared withgenuine
questions,not the
‘three great questions to askat an interview’.”
– Lacey Sheardown, Acting President andDirector of Marketing, Used.ca
When our economy was humming along (think pre-2008 financial crisis) it seemed that every other ar-
ticle I read about career management dealt with work-lifebalance. A strong economy meant that workers were in de-mand and had more power in negotiating working conditions.Employers were invested in hiring and keeping good talentand, because of this, were open to work arrangements thatgave employees more flexibility.
In 2008, everything changed. Articles about work-life bal-ance were relegated to the sidelines and replaced with ad-vice on how to get and keep a job.
Work-life balance is an important issue for people whohave many responsibilities beyond their job. It’s not justparents of small children who need time off to care for asick child now and then. In 2013, StatsCan reported that 28%of Canadians provide support to family members or friendswith long-term health conditions, disability needs or agingneeds. Given our demographics, it would not surprise me ifthe percentage now is already over 30%.
Since 2008, employers have shown an increasing interestin using social media and online team collaboration. Plat-forms with colourful names like Trello, Slack, Podio andAsana allow colleagues to use the web to communicate.Along with email and smartphones, these technology toolsblur the end of the workday. Workers who are in collabora-tive environments are encouraged, and often expected, tocheck in after work hours. We don’t need a computer handyto do this. Our smartphone will allow us to work on a pre-sentation on the train, comment on a co-worker’s ideawhile eating breakfast and check our work texts pool-sidewhile on vacation.
Much of this is mutually beneficial. There are employerswho respect and acknowledge the extra time put in andmany workers appreciate the convenience of being able towork on the go, but the distinction between work time and
By Tony Abbis
private time is getting fuzzier with each new productivityand collaboration tool that is released.
So, at the same time that we have Canadian workers whoneed more flexibility to take care of family members orfriends, we have employers who have an increasing ability(and expectation) to be able to communicate with workersbefore and after the end of the work day.
Given what is going on in the world of work, it is notshocking that the French government recently enacted legis-lation giving workers the right todisconnect outside ofbusiness hours.
I wouldn’texpectmany gov-ernmentsto followthe lead ofFrance onthis matter.There are manyaspects of employmentthat can be up for negotiation. Parkingspots, salary, benefits, job titles andother working conditions can oftenbe negotiated, but much of this boilsdown to the attitude of employers.
The best time to determine an employer’s flexibility isright when they have offered us a job. If we need Thursdayafternoons off to help care for a beloved Aunt, we need tocheck in with the employer at the outset. Ultimately it is thequality of the relationship we have with an employer thatdetermines our work-life balance and not the government.
In the meantime, I am going to stay vigilant in my searchfor work-life balance/career management articles. They sig-nal the sign of a healthy economy just as surely as the geeseflying north indicate the coming of summer.
For links to resources and an archive of this column checkout worklink.bc.ca.
person is expected to “assist Business Development Managerswith outbound sales efforts” and “develop clear and effec-tive written proposals/quotations for current and prospectivecustomers,” among other tasks. If you are looking to spendyour days monotonously shuffling files, you’re two decadestoo late.
“Most companies are looking for some post-secondary edu-cation,” says Louise Ward, Staffing Consultant at RandstadCanada, a recruitment agency. “The hope is that the personcan evolve and move up.” Randstad commonly fills positionsin reception, admin assistance and accounting.
As with any position, it is important to tailor your resumeto match the needs of the company to which you are apply-ing. Not all admin jobs are created equal. Louise encouragesher clients who are seeking work in an office to upgrade com-puter skills online using free tutorials. “Volunteering is agreat way to get that practical experience,” she adds.
Once you’ve got an invitation to interview, ensure you arepersonable and professional from the moment you walk
through the door. Smile, be yourself, provide a firm hand-shake, and make eye contact, recommends Louise. You’llalso want to consider if the company is a good fit for you.“Every position is going to be different — different cultures,industry, workload,” explains Louise. “Make sure to do yourresearch.”
But if you’re an accomplished Administrative Assistant,research is one of the many things you do best.
Kate Wiley is editor of The LEAD Sheet. Contact her [email protected].
(Continued from page 1) “Volunteering is a greatway to get that
practical experience.’”– Louise Ward, Staffing Consultant
Randstad
G4S requires part-time Screening Officers to work atthe Victoria International Airport in Sidney. Must be ableto obtain a Transport Canada Security Clearance and havean ability to mentally focus for prolonged periods of time.Learn more at g4s.com > Careers. Closes Jul. 30.
View Royal Casino has an opening for a full-time Secu-rity Supervisor (Relief). Serving It Right, Smart Serve orIGB Certificate preferred. Must have an ability to workflexible shifts, including evenings, weekends and grave-yard shifts. Visit gcgaming.com/careers. Closes Jun. 25.
Paladin Security is hiring a full-time Retail SecuritySite Supervisor. Must be at least 19 years of age and havea high school diploma. Experience in a supervisory capaci-ty and one year of security related experience required.An opening also exists for a Museum Security Officer. Goto paladinsecurity.com/careers.
Compass Group has an opening for a part-time ExteriorCleaner at Westshore Town Centre. Candidates must have
a high school diploma and a flexible schedule. An openingalso exists for a full-time Maintenance Person. More in-formation at compass-group.com > Careers.
The Fairmont Empress seeks a temporary Gardener'sHelper. The successful applicant must be physically capa-ble of performing repetitive work, as well as lifting andcarrying heavy loads. Recent experience in agardening/landscaping role in a hotel setting is an asset.Visit fairmont.com/careers. Closes Jun. 9.
Reliable Controls is hiring a full-time Inventory Clerk.A minimum of 1 year of warehouse experience and highschool diploma required; a college certificate would be anasset. Apply online at indeed.ca.
Sysco has an opening for a part-time Warehouse Work-er - Material Handling. Secondary (high) school gradua-tion certificate or equivalent experience required. Mustbe dependable and reliable. Learn more at jobbank.gc.ca.Closes Jun. 8.
Ms. Potential EmployerNirvana Research Ltd.555 Enlightenment LaneVictoria, BC V8N 7G9
Dear Ms. Potential Employer:
Please accept this letter of introduction as an expression of interest in a research/writing position for yourcompany. I feel passionate about using my extensive research and writing skills to assist yourorganization's mission to increase humanitarian aid to African countries in need.
My portfolio has included work in the following areas:
• Writer for provincial government• Communication with clients in both French and English• Extensive research in international humanitarian policy and laws• Coordinator of many projects with simultaneous priorities and strict deadlines• Dedicated team player with natural leadership skills
I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my skills and background for anycommunications positions that may become available. I will contact you within the next few weeks tofollow-up on this letter.
Additionally, should you wish to contact me, I may be reached by phone at 250-999-7788. Thank you forthis consideration.
Sincerely,
Smart Job Seeker
*Please note: Business etiquette dictates that introductory letters contain the sender’s address and the date, omittedhere due to lack of space.
Building Bridges Community Support is hiring two Com-munity Support Workers. Qualifications include a diplo-ma in community support or equivalent, plus 2 years’experience working with people of diverse abilities. De-tails on the Job Board at worklink.bc.ca. Closes Jun. 24.
The Sooke Family Resource Society seeks a full-timeFamily Support Worker to provide individual family sup-port and facilitation of parent/children programs in the
Sooke area. The successful candidate will have relevanteducation and experience (ECE, CYC, Education, SocialServices or related field). Learn more atsooke.pocketnews.ca > Jobs. Closes Jun. 17.
The Capital Regional District is recruiting an auxiliaryAquatic Worker 1. Qualifications include Current Nation-al Lifeguard Service Award and/or current Water SafetyInstructor Award. Find out more at crd.bc.ca > Careers.
TECHNOLOGY JOBS
Forest Technology Systems (FTS) seeks a TechnicalSales Professional. Qualifications include a related bach-elor's degree and at least three years’ experience sellingtechnology products (ideally in environmental monitor-ing) to large corporations and/or government. Learnmore at bctechnology.com > Job Search. Closes Jun. 17.
Quartech Systems is hiring JavaScript Application De-velopers with experience in modern front-end Frame-works and Agile development methods for upcomingcontract opportunities with Victoria-based clients. A
bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, hu-man-computer interaction, interaction design, or relatedfields desired. Details at quartech.com > Career Centre >Current Opportunities.
Atomic Crayon in Victoria has an opening for a WebDeveloper. Qualifications include a strong understandingof usability principles, experience with SASS, and experi-ence upgrading sites, including dependent modules andcustom themes. More information at atomiccrayon.com/career-opportunities.
Yushi Investment requires a full-time Cook to makeChinese food. Qualifications include completion of athree-year apprenticeship program for cooks or comple-tion of college or other program in cooking. Learn more atworkbc.ca.
SookePoint Ocean Cottage Resort has an opening for aLevel 3 First Aid Landscaper, Carpenter or Labourer.Qualifications include experience in landscaping with irri-gation and lighting, or carpentry or construction. Proximi-ty a plus. Find the complete listing at indeed.ca.
Department of National Defense is hiring a Roofer inVictoria. Qualifications include a Red Seal trades certifi-
cation in Roofing through an Inter-Provincial and/or Pro-vincial Trade Qualification. Find more information atjobs.gc.ca. Closes Jun. 27.
Canoe Brewpub seeks a Chef de Partie with Red Sealcertification. A post-secondary degree considered an as-set. Must have open availability (evenings, weekends, hol-idays). Details at go2hr.ca > Job Board. Closes Jun. 15.
Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions requires a Ten-ant Services Coordinator. Qualifications include generalknowledge of commercial building systems and/or con-struction. Proficiency with CAD will be considered an as-set. Go to brookfieldgis.com/our-careers.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
Carmanah Technologies is hiring a Human ResourcesAssistant for a three-month term. Qualifications include1+ years in HR; Diploma in HR or working towards thecompletion of a Human Resources Diploma. Find out moreat carmanah.com > Careers. Closes Jun. 17.
Money Mart is looking for a Release Manager in Victoriawith 3+ years of previous release and/or project manage-ment experience. Additional qualifications include 5+years of experience on system application projects usingMicrosoft .Net, Web Services, and SQL Server. More infor-mation at moneymart.ca/careers.
Retirement Concepts requires a Scheduler. This is apart-time, weekend position and coverage during stat hol-idays (15 hours/ week). Qualifications include Grade 12(or equivalent) plus three years’ recent related experi-ence. Go to retirementconcepts.com/careers.
Inlingua Victoria College of Languages seeks a StudentAssistance Coordinator to cover Chinese student busi-ness. Qualifications include completion of college and 1year or more experience in education administration sec-tor. Understanding of China international student marketdemands and trends is required. Go to workbc.ca.
Assiniboine Credit Union is hiring a part-time CreditManager to work from home. Search skills and informationgathering required. Opportunity for professional growth.Find the complete posting at indeed.ca.
Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue requires anAdministrative Assistant. Qualifications include 3 years’experience in administrative support. High school diplomaor equivalent required. Go to indeed.ca.
School District #61 (Greater Victoria) has an opening fora temporary, on-call Accounts Clerk – Schools. Qualifica-tions include completion of Financial Accounting 1 orequivalent, plus two (2) years specific financial account-ing experience in a large automated financial department.Visit makeafuture.com > Careers.
BC Public Service is recruiting a temporary ProvincialCommunity Engagement Specialist for the Ministry of En-vironment. Qualifications include experience in research,development, delivery and evaluation of community out-reach and education policy and programs. Learn more atwww2.gov.bc.ca > Careers & MyHR. Closes Jun. 12.
District of Saanich has a temporary position for a Stu-dent Survey Technician. This vacancy is only availablefor students; Enrolment in a full time post-secondary edu-cation program is mandatory. Preference will be given forthose enrolled in a Geomatics or Engineering Program. Goto civicjobs.ca. Closes Jun. 10.
Beanstream is hiring an Analyst, Credit RiskManagement/Fraud Monitoring. Qualifications includetransaction fraud monitoring experience in a financial set-ting. Openings in Business Development also exist. Detailsat beanstream.com > About Us > Career Opportunities.
Golder Associates in Victoria is currently recruiting for acivil engineering technologist student to join its firm as aLab Technician (contract) in Victoria. The preferred can-didate have their own transportation to travel for out oftown for work. Visit careers.golder.com.
Cygnus is looking for a Graphic Designer/Project Plan-ner in Victoria. Learn more at cygnusgroup.ca > Careers.
Save-On-Foods at Fort and Foul Bay requires a GroceryClerk. Positive, customer-focused individuals are invitedto apply online at saveonfoodsjobs.com. No experiencenecessary.
Hudson's Bay Company is hiring a full-time Gift RegistryConsultant. Applicants should be effective communicatorsand multi-task oriented. Associate's degree/college diplo-ma preferred. Learn more at hbc.ca > Careers.
View Royal Casino has an opening for a full-time GuestServices Representative. Customer service experiencerequired, as well as an ability to stand for long periods oftime. Visit gcgaming.com/careers. Closes Jun. 25.
Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery is looking fora Tasting Room and Market Salesperson to sell to cus-tomers at farmers’ markets and in the tasting room inSooke. Strong sales skills and cash management skillsrequired. Details on the Job Board at worklink.bc.ca.Closes Jun. 30.
Jensen Marine, a marine chandlery located at WestportMarina in Sidney, seeks a part-time Retail Sales Person.Qualifications include enthusiasm for helping customersand knowledge of boats. Go to jobs.localworkbc.ca.
Old Navy is hiring a Product and Marketing Specialistat Tillicum Mall. Qualifications include a college degree orequivalent work experience. Two to three years of softlines and visual merchandising experience preferred. Ap-ply online gapinctalent.com.
Momease Baby Boutique requires two part-time Cus-tomer Service & Sales Associates. Qualifications includea high school diploma and previous experience in a retailsales and/or customer service role. Find the completelisting at workbc.ca. Expires Jul. 7.
Sears seeks a part-time Beauty Advisor – Clinique. Thesuccessful candidate has a proven ability to exceed salestargets and an ability to work a flexible schedule. Detailsat sears.ca > Careers at Sears.
Blackapple Holdings has an opening for an AssistantManager. A secondary education and less than one yearexperience required. Find the complete job listing atworkbc.ca.
Coast Environmental is looking for a full-time Dispatch-er. Qualifications include experience in a customer ser-vice environment and core values complimentary to thoseof Coast Environmental. Apply online at indeed.ca.
The Uncommon Carrot, Sooke’s only juice, smoothieand 100% gluten-free cafe, is looking to hire part-timeStaff. Application details at sooke.pocketnews.ca > Jobs.
Glentel, a company that deals primarily as a retailer ofmobile phone services, seeks to fill two job openings: anexperienced Sales Associate with Tbooth wireless; and anAssistant Manager with WirelessWave. For a comprehen-sive list of qualifications, go to glentel.com/careers.
Salvation Army is hiring a Store Associate & Shift Su-pervisor in View Royal. The successful candidate will beservice oriented and will be available days, evenings andweekends, as needed. Learn more at salvationarmy.ca >About Us > Employment Opportunities. Closing dates areJun. 7 and 8 respectively.
Purdys at Mayfair Shopping Centre seeks a part-timeChocolate Sales Connoisseur. Qualificaitons include adedication to providing a great customer experience andavailability for all types of shifts (day, evening, weekday,and weekend). More information is available atpurdys.com/careers.
Wear 2 WorkFree clothing available for men in need of work or
interview ready attire.
Make agood first
impression
Outlooks Menswear and GT Hiring Solutionsinvite men to the Wear 2 Work Event.
Wednesday June 8th from 4:00pm to 8:00pmGT Hiring Solutions Office102 - 415 Gorge Road East
Stylists and volunteers will be on hand to help men choose suitable items. All clothing hasbeen donated by Outlooks Menswear customers and will be available at no charge to any male
who needs workplace or job seeking attire.
Fittings will be held on July 8 only.Questions? Call 250-818-4755 or 250-708-2462
facebook.com/worklinkemploymentsocietyThe Employment Program of British Columbiais funded by the Government of Canada andthe Province of British Columbia.
● Unemployed, non-EI BritishColumbians who are LandedImmigrants or CanadianCitizens and are not attendingschool
●A non-EI individual is one whohas not established a regularEmployment Insurance claim inthe last three years; and/or hasnot established a maternity orparental claim in the past fiveyears
Program Offers:● Up to 4 weeks of facilitated group work with follow up
support
● Preparation for employment including industry specificshort-term training to enhance labour market participation
● Opportunity to develop and/or improve your skills to findwork with the necessary structure, routine and up-to-datejob search information
● Chance to meet local employers, sharpen yourcommunication skills and reach your goals in an inspiring,positive environment
Contact: 250.474.2598 Location: #101-847 Goldstream Avenue, LangfordOpen to Westshore, Sooke and Greater Victoria Residents (exception ~ Saanich Peninsula)
