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November/DECEMBER 2011

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INSIDE Vision Vancouver’s jobcreation track record 5 Tapping into selfemployment success 6 Construction boom driving B.C. job gains 9

expert advice Deb W. asks: “How can I maximize time spent looking for work?” 4

Education & Career Fairs comes to B.C. 10

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Bank tellers needed as older workers retire 11

B.C. lands $8 billion shipbuilding deal 4,000 marine-industry jobs are expected to be created over the next eight to 30 years n October 19, the federal government named Vancouverbased Seaspan Marine Corp. as the prime contractor to build the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) program’s non-combat vessels.

The $8 billion program will initially see Seaspan construct seven non-combat ships, including joint support ships for the Royal Canadian Navy, offshore science vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and a new polar icebreaker.

The federal government also has plans for a further 17 vessels, which should fall under the noncombat package. The contract is expected to inject billions of dollars into the local economy and create more than 4,000 jobs in the West Coast shipbuilding industry over the next eight to 30 years.

New, direct marine jobs will likely include mechanics, machinists, pipefitters, electricians, steel fabricators, engine fitters, sheetmetal workers, joiners, welders and other skilled tradespeople to construct the ships.

“While we felt we were more than capable of building the combat ships, we are honoured to have been chosen to provide non-combat,” said Seaspan CEO Jonathan

Whitworth in a release.

“We have a long and established track record of working with the [navy and coast guard] in building ships on time and on budget.

Seaspan is committed to returning B.C.’s shipbuilding industry to its once-thriving roots. This award is a direct result of that commitment.

We will deliver world-class ships to Canada.

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“Seaspan is committed to returning B.C.’s

shipbuilding industry to its once-thriving roots” – Jonathan Whitworth, CEO, Seaspan Marine

Adding that Seaspan has been “in it to win it” from the first, Whitworth credits the awarding of the much-coveted contract to “the team who worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to compile the bid [and] the many supporters who stepped up to assist, including the Government of B.C., our three municipalities, local First Nations, shipyard unions see page 3

GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

O

Last July, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell announced a provincial investment of $40 million to support Seaspan’s bid for a portion of the federal government’s multibillion-dollar National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and to support the creation of marine-industry jobs in B.C.

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November/December 2011

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HR no phone Four reasons why no one is reading your resumé

BY OZZIE SAUNDS

Y

ou read an exciting job posting and apply, hoping to get a response from the company. Days later, you’re feeling frustrated, thinking, “How come they didn’t phone me about the position after I sent them my resumé?”

Here are some of the most likely reasons why no one is even looking at the resumé that you’re sending to potential employers.

No. 1: Your resumé is not optimized for computerscanning software. With the growth of the Internet, the way we find and apply for available positions has dramatically changed over the past decade. With just a few clicks of a button, a job seeker can upload or email his or her qualifications to an online job board or human resources personnel.

With the increased ability to apply for more jobs in a shorter amount of time, hiring managers and recruiters have to deal with a lot more applications per open

position. To cope, they have turned to recruiting software and applicant-tracking systems to help screen out resumés that don’t seem like a good fit.

An applicant-tracking system or recruiting software operates by linking keywords found in resumés to qualifications required to perform jobs. The computer software, after scanning resumés, recommends to hiring managers which ones have been deemed worthy to be viewed by human eyes, potentially saving them valuable time.

“How come they didn’t phone me about the position after I sent them my resumé?”

Job seekers who do not know how the job-hiring process works but are potentially qualified to perform the job, unfortunately, get the electronic boot.

No. 2: You don’t have a core competency or key qualifications section. Incorporate a section called “Core Competencies” or “Key Qualifications” near the top of your resumé. Keep this section to approximately 12 keywords, which will illustrate that you have the qualifications required to do the job.

This will also allow the recruiting software to find the keywords it is looking for early on in the resumé-scanning process.

No. 3: You’re not customizing your resumé for each position you’re applying for. Pay close attention to the key qualifications or mandatory skills section of job postings. Insert the required skills that are listed in the job posting that you are applying for inside your core competencies or key qualifications section and throughout the rest of your resumé.

No. 4: Your resumé does not incorporate a diverse set of industry terminology. Read numerous job postings for not only the positions that

Qualified job seekers who do not know how the job-hiring process works may get the electronic boot

you want to apply for but for also jobs that are similar to the roles you desire. By reading a lot of job postings within your career set, you’ll get a good understanding of the industry terms used to describe the skill sets of the candidates organizations are looking for.

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November/December 2011

learn more ➧ GET THE Job

Ocean of opportunity: Seaspan contract means marine industry job creation from page 1

and teaming partners from across Canada.

“We … also thank the federal government for the confidence they’ve shown in Seaspan and the B.C. shipbuilding industry to provide the best value,” he added.

Planning will begin immediately, but construction on the new vessels won’t likely start until late 2012.

Meantime, over $150 million worth of infrastructure will be built at Seaspan’s North Vancouver and Victoria shipyards while vessel design work is finalized.

In July, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell announced that the provincial government would help Seaspan submit “the strongest possible bid” and that “this in-

vestment focuses on job creation.”

“We are investing in our human capital by supporting the creation of marine-industry jobs for years to come,” Bell said, adding that, should Seaspan’s bid be successful, the province could offer “enhanced training or other labour tax credits for eligible marine industry employers in B.C.” •

Skirting the issue Why wearing a skirt can help a woman’s career

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new study says that in order for women to make a great first impression they need to ditch the pants and go for a skirt.

The same study shows that, for men, wearing a bespoke or made-to-measure suit instead of an off-therack equivalent positively affects the judgments people make at first meeting.

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Let’s talk skirts versus pants first, though. The research, done at the department of psychology at the University of Herfordshire, also found that opinions are formed within seconds of first meeting.

When 300 people were shown eight images of women in pants suits or skirts and asked to give their first impressions, they preferred the women in skirts.

The women were rated on the following five criteria: success, trustworthiness, confidence, flexibility and salary.

Looks were not part of the study, as the faces were blanked and everyone wore navy.

Professor Karen Pine, who led the study, says, “First impressions are formed

3

A new study says that in order for women to make a great first impression they need to ditch the pants and go for a skirt

rapidly and are often highly accurate. After seeing a face for just one second, people make judgments about another’s personal and occupational attributes. Women generally have a wider choice of dress style for work than men, but still have to maintain an identity that balances professionalism with attractiveness. The skirt suit may achieve that balance without appearing provocative.”

“I tend to think that a woman who wears a skirt suit is capitalizing on an opportunity to differentiate herself, to stand out among her male counterparts,” says HR expert Sarah Paul. “All men wear pants suits, most women opt for pants and the

ones that wear skirts seem to stand out. This is what successful leaders do: they stand out and make you take notice.

“The fact that she is in a suit – hopefully a stylish one, at that – speaks to her professionalism, ambition, power,” adds Paul. “But taking it one step further by wearing a skirt and dressing in an overtly feminine way elicits personality characteristics more often demonstrated by women … support, empathy, sensitivity … which are all desirable traits of a leader in today’s workplace.” • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www. blog.workopolis.com.

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November/December 2011

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ASK AN EMPLOYMENT EXPERT

COLLEEN CLARKE Deb W. asks: “I’m currently in-between jobs. What should I be doing to maximize my time spent looking for work?”

G

oing through transition is a learning experience for anyone who spends time away from gainful employment.

Just ask Leona Wilson, a senior human resources professional who has been “out” of the workforce for nine months, six of which have been of her own volition. Over the past three months she has been actively job seeking and monitoring her experiences, which she generously shares below.

1. Be careful where and with whom you spend your networking time. There are definitely quality meetings and there are meetings that are costly time-wasters. The meetings that work are the ones where you learn something, where the folks you are meeting with are in a positive space and give open feedback that will help you move forward with your search.

2. Keep your mind open to all possibilities. You may be committed only to full-

time positions, but who is to say that a part-time or a contract position couldn’t turn into full-time work? Additionally, a contract job may give you new skills that will aid you in getting that next applied for, cherished, FT position. You have the time to explore opportunities you might not otherwise have considered.

3. The resumé is a living, changing document. Tailoring each resumé you send to the job you’re applying to reminds you of accomplishments you might have forgotten.

4. Broaden your network with people outside of your own industry. Once you have decided who your target market is, start looking for people in that industry or demographic to meet.

Association meetings of likeminded folks are mandatory, but that should only be one of your networking categories.

5. Every interview is an exercise in discovery. Every

interviewer has his or her own style and his or her way of asking questions. You will learn something new about yourself with every interview, so be sure to figure out

There are definitely quality meetings and there are meetings that are costly time-wasters where you can use that information to your advantage.

6. Stress has to be managed and it comes from different sources. Take the time to eat properly, exercise more and meet with friends to establish good stress-busting habits for when you return to work.

7. Helping others makes you feel confident and valued. Getting out of yourself is crucial at this time. Look around: who else could use a friendly hand? Volunteer on a committee, do charit-

able work or help out a friend who doesn’t have a skill that you have.

8. I know what you’re feeling. When you walk in other peoples’ shoes it is easier to relate and be empathetic to their situation; we’re all going through the same stuff, just on different days and in different ways.

9. More education is not always necessary to get a foot up on the competition. You can start doubting your own ability when you consistently do not get the job offer after an interview. But going back to get a high-school diploma at age 53 might not be necessary; sometimes further education and another certificate is a good thing, and sometimes it isn’t.

10. Figuring out transferable skills can be tricky.

It is important to know your transferable skills and to be able to make them more generic so as to apply to more companies and still meet their requirements.

11. People are happy to help if their time and their expertise is not abused. If you do not ask you do not get. Most people genuinely like to be helpful so strategically ask friends, ex-colleagues and customers for the specific help you think they can assist you with. Be grateful.

12. Complete half-finished home projects and read books you always wanted to read. Crossing tasks or books off a list can be very rewarding for some people as it offers a sense of accomplishment that might be missing from not having a project at work to undertake.

13. Some people are afraid of people in transition. Figure out early in your transition who is comfortable with you talking about your work search and who is not. Some people will be threatened by your status and will transfer the fear factor onto their own inevitability.

14. This is the perfect time to figure out your work values and dream employer.

Transition is a time to feel, not just to think. Take the time to write down what you really love about the work you do, what environment you work best in, what your motivators are and how these things all make you feel.

15. Develop friendships, get out of the house and do things for yourself. This is your time, make the most of it. Expand your horizons, socialize, blaze new trails and make a mark on society, as you may never have the time to do so again.

Wilson is particularly touched by the thoughtfulness of people who have shared job postings with her and who have called to see how she is doing without even asking. What you give out comes back ten-fold – remember that. • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www. blog.workopolis.com.

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5

Business Vision quest Jobs have increased by under the current civic administration, but critics say Vision Vancouver hasn’t done much to make local job creation a priority

s the municipal election draws near, Vancouver residents are taking stock of how Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vision Vancouver slate have handled bike lanes, backyard chickens, the Stanley Cup riots and Occupy Vancouver.

For local businesses, however, the election is less about headlines than bottom lines – and specifically, whether Robertson’s administration has helped or hindered local companies since the 2008 election.

Vision Vancouver’s campaign platform is touting such businessoriented accomplishments over the past three years as: • three years of a continued 1% per year property tax shift to redistribute the tax burden away from businesses; • in 2010, KMPG ranking Vancouver the best tax jurisdiction of large international cities assessed, up from a fourth-place finish in 2008; and • helping Vancouver land new corporate offices for Pixar Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Canon Canada Inc. and Telus Corp.

“We’re definitely more competitive than three years ago,” Robertson told Business in Vancouver.

“We’ve seen new business growth, construction is booming again, we’ve got great global buzz from the Olympics and … the world’s most competitive combined corporate tax rate – so we’ve got the wind in our sails compared to most other cities

“Nowhere do I see a compelling drive on the part of City Hall and elected officials to make job creation … a priority” – Michael Goldberg, professor emeritus and former dean, Sauder School of Business

done anything innovative to make the city competitive.

“Nowhere do I see a compelling drive on the part of City Hall and elected officials to make job creation and a very competitive business environment a priority,” he said. “So the jobs we’ve gotten we’ve gotten through normal growth and happenstance, and we can’t claim success for them because nobody’s done anything in particular to lure those jobs.”

Vancouver jobs have increased by 5.6% under the current civic administration, according to Lee Malleau, CEO of the city-funded Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC).

“I would say, given the global

Through SIGGRAPH, the Vancouver Economic Development Commission said it secured commitments from Look FX and Games Café to set up in town. It also projects that Vancouver could land Lola FX, Atomic Fiction and Third Floor. The commission assesses that the companies could generate up to about 150 creative-sector jobs for the city

economic circumstances, that’s exceptional growth,” she said.

According to Malleau, a key civic-supported job driver in the last three years was Metro Vancouver Commerce’s Olympic Business Program, which she said produced or supported 2,500 jobs.

She added that the VEDC helped Vancouver land the SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference this past summer and attract some attendee companies to set up shop in Vancouver.

Through SIGGRAPH, the VEDC said it secured commitments from Look FX and Games Café to set up in town. It also projects that Vancouver could land Lola FX, Atomic

Fiction and Third Floor. The commission assesses that the companies could generate up to about 150 creative-sector jobs for the city.

Malleau said the VEDC isn’t trying to take full credit for the jobs.

“Who gets to take credit? Who cares? The bottom line is, we’ve got them here, we’re supporting them here, and they’re creating jobs and prosperity in our economy. And it’s really a tag-team approach to doing that; everybody plays their part.”

But while Goldberg said the VEDC has been doing some interesting work, he pointed out that Vancouver hasn’t distinguished itself as a city that attracts and retains talent as New York is doing through

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a clear focus on intellectual capital.

“We don’t ask, ‘What can we do to lower the cost of real estate, what can we do to lower the cost of living for people – housing in particular – and lower the cost of travel time?

What can we do to make this an even more livable, competitive, cooperative city?’” he said. “We tend to sit on our laurels and say, ‘We don’t have to do much; look at how successful we’ve been.’ And that’s not helpful.” • jwagler@biv.com

This article represents an excerpt from a Business in Vancouver story that ran November 1-7, 2011; issue 1149.

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in the world.”

But on the ground, local pundits and business groups are voicing more measured views.

Michael Goldberg, professor emeritus and former dean of the Sauder School of Business, said that, much like previous administrations, Robertson’s council hasn’t

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Tapping into entrepreneurial success hree years ago Judy Hamilton picked up her first smartphone and instinctively saw the mobile wave that was coming. She walked away from a 20-year career and a full-time job as a director of IT to start her own mobile development company.

With an idea for a barcode app that would link the offline and online worlds and help consumers find more information while shopping, Hamilton enrolled in Douglas College’s self-employment program (SEP) and emerged with a business plan for her company, TerraTap Technologies.

To get a product to market, she joined the ACETECH market entry program and followed the “lean startup” methodology, which requires getting real customer feedback from the start.

“In the competitive and fast-moving technology industry, only the agile survive” – Judy Hamilton, CEO, TerraTap Technologies

During early development, it became clear to the entrepreneur that the biggest “pain” wasn’t for consumers who needed help getting information “on the go,” but,

Judy Hamilton started her mobile development company, TerraTap Technologies, after receiving training from Douglas College’s self-employment program and, later, joining the ACETECH market entry program

rather, marketers who needed a way to get their message to mobile consumers. Traditional barcodes, controlled by manufacturers, weren’t useful, but a new barcode called a QR code was, because its content is controlled by the marketer.

With a solid foundation from SEP and the lean startup principles from ACETECH, Hamilton was able to easily pivot her business model and have her developers create a f lagship product called ToggleTo: a web-based QR code campaign management system that has everything mobile marketers need to create,

manage, measure, test and tweak their QR codes.

“In the competitive and fast-moving technology industry, only the agile survive,” she says. “TerraTap is not only surviving, but thriving and, now, receiving acclaim.”

Recently, ToggleTo was showcased to the World Future Society at Tech Cocktail 2011. Hamilton has also received an Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the SEP program.

TerraTap, ToggleTo and Hamilton are now poised to take on the next chapter, nimble, adaptable and ready for success. •

November/December 2011

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7

Home work The highest-paying work-from-home jobs

BY ELIZABETH BROMSTEIN

S

ometimes my husband hates me in the morning. He can’t help it, and I don’t really blame him.

While he has to shower, dress, maybe eat something, make sure he’s got the day’s necessities – like papers, keys and whatnot – and then navigate his way to his place of work in all kinds of ridiculous Canadian weather, I get to roll over, stumble downstairs and turn on my computer.

(OK, full disclosure: I don’t always stumble downstairs. Sometimes I just roll over and turn on the computer. I work from home as a web content producer and strategist.)

In a lot of respects, I got it good; in others, not so much. But we’ll get to that in a bit. For now, know that you, too, can have it good as many fields are relaxing the requirement to be in the office for 40 hours a week.

Last month, Forbes magazine listed the top-paying work-from-home jobs. The

sectors include health, tech and creative (see the table for more).

You’ll note that you might not become a millionaire: $31,000 (tax preparers) isn’t exactly a goldmine.

“Canadians tell us again and again that what they are looking for most in their work lives is increased flexibility” – Peter Harris, content manager, Workopolis

But for some people the tradeoff for not having to put on pants is worth it.

According to Forbes, the demand is growing for workfrom-home jobs. Aging baby boomers want to get out of the stress of office life and gen-Xers are looking for flexibility.

“Canadians tell us again and again that what they are looking for most in their work lives is increased flex-

The demand is growing for work-from-home jobs as aging baby boomers want to get out of the stress of office life and gen-Xers look for more flexibility

ibility,” says Workopolis content manager Peter Harris, who is spearheading the movement to make Nation-

al Work From Home Day a “thing.”

“The opportunity to work from home, either full time

or part of the time, empowers people to get their work done on their own schedule, to work around family obli-

gations and to use the time otherwise lost commuting for other aspects of their lives. It’s a powerful incentive that employers can offer to attract top talent.”

There’s a tradeoff, though, to working from home full time. I get lonely and feel disconnected from the world – even though I spend about 18 hours a day online. It’s harder to network and much more difficult to leave your work behind at the so-called “end of the day.” My day never ends. I usually work from the moment I get up (or roll over) until late in the evening. Forbes also points to little room for advancement … just a few things to think about.

No doubt further opportunities will continue to pop as cities expand and commutes get longer. Environmentalists should also be attracted to the non-commute, while bosses might appreciate the need to rent less workspace. • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www. blog.workopolis.com.

Meet our award winners!

The Douglas College Self Employment Program would like to thank the generous contributions of our sponsors who supported this event.

Main Event Sponsor

Start your own business today.

The Douglas College Self Employment Program 604 527 6012 or visit us online at douglascollege.ca/selfemployment (l – r) front row : Pamela Gervacio, Laramie Tan-Amit, Dr. Cobi Slater, Judy Hamilton, Terryl Plotnikoff. (l – r) back row : Fabio Milano, Chris Zhang, Charles Baverstock, Sanjana Khaira, David Wong. Photo credit: www.rosaportraitstudio.com

Entrepreneur of the Year, Dr. Cobi Slater

Funded through the CanadaBritish Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement

Essential Health Natural Wellness Clinic Inc., Maple Ridge Home Based Business Award Pamela Gervacio Design 2 Print, Richmond

Global Award David Wong DK Wong & Associates Inc., Vancouver

Retail Award Laramie Tan-Amit Jeepney Mart, Coquitlam

Consulting Award Chris Zhang Sager Education, Vancouver

Construction & Manufacturing Award Charles Baverstock Stonebridge Operations Inc., Coquitlam

Perseverance Award Judy Hamilton TerraTap Technologies Inc., New Westminster

High Tech Award Fabio Milano RDS Support Inc., Vancouver

Service Award Terryl Plotnikoff Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc., Delta

Youth Entrepreneur Award Sanjana Khaira Sanjana Khaira Law Corporation, Surrey

November/December 2011

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November/December 2011

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Construction boom driving B.C. job gains Major projects keeping local market buoyant, but skill shortages emerge for site supervisors, managers around the province

“Companies often look outside the province to recruit executives and other high-level managers”

Survey, average prices for detached homes in Vancouver rose to $1,022,375 – triple the national average – in 2011’s third quarter.

“The cost of housing is a serious challenge for recruiting individuals,” Peacock says.

“Companies often look outside the province to recruit executives and other high-level managers. Even at

the executive level, the cost of housing is an issue for people coming here from other parts of North America, particularly the U.S.” But that high cost of living could be on the wane.

According to Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV)-released statistics October 4, increases in property listings and fewer sales during the summer

CAREER SERVICES

$3.3 billion Highway 1/Port Mann Bridge project, for example, has created about 8,000 jobs.

Other large projects include Fraser Health’s new Jim Pattison Outpatient and Surgery Centre and the new RCMP E-division headquarters.

Four recently announced office tower projects in the downtown core are among those bolstering Sashaw’s belief that skill shortages will continue for at least the next few years.

Oxford Properties Group’s proposal to build a 37-storey tower on West Hastings Street is one of many construction projects helping to sustain positive outlooks for Metro Vancouver’s building sector

BY GLEN KORSTROM, BIV

R

ising housing starts have combined with major construction projects to create robust job growth and make British Columbia’s economy one of the hottest in North America.

That economy, however, shows early signs of skill shortages, especially for experienced managers.

Canada created a higherthan-expected 61,000 jobs in September. More than half of those openings (32,000) were in B.C. In contrast, the f lagging U.S. economy created 103,000 jobs nationwide in September.

Construction-related jobs from housing starts and major projects are a big part of B.C.’s success story.

The number of Metro Vancouver construction jobs has rebounded to prerecession levels. Approximately 130,000 people were employed in the Metro Vancouver construction sector in late 2008 before the global economic downturn took hold.

That fell to 100,000 in January 2010 but, according to Statistics Canada, has since jumped to 136,800 in September, down marginally from 137,200 in August.

“Our members are already experiencing skill shortages for mid-management levels,” says Keith Sashaw, president of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association.

“That’s site superintendents, project managers and estimators. Companies are already beginning to look

“Our members are already experiencing skills shortages for midmanagement levels” – Keith Sashaw, president, Vancouver Regional Construction Association

further afield for those positions.”

Major projects have fuelled construction industry employment. The region’s

gkorstrom@biv.com

PACT EMPLOYMENT Are you looking for a Job? Do you have Depression, Anxiety or other Mental Health Issues?

- Ken Peacock, chief economist, BC Business Council

So do housing start figures.

Metro Vancouver housing starts rose to 1,783 in September compared with 1,644 starts in the same month last year, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

In contrast, U.S. housing starts sank to a three-month low in August (571,000) and analysts at the U.S.-based Financial Forecast Center expect those starts to continue to fall to 480,000 by November.

Job creation in B.C. helped push the province’s unemployment rate down to 6.8% in September from 7.5% in August.

That rate is high enough that widespread skill shortages are unlikely, according to the BC Business Council’s (BCBC) October People, Skills and Prosperity: The BC Labour Market in a Post-Recession Context report.

Still, Ken Peacock, the BCBC’s chief economist and a co-author of the report, expects skill shortages in the short term in regions such as the North Coast-Nechako and Cariboo as well as in sectors such as construction and health care.

Peacock told Business in Vancouver that a major stumbling block in recruiting workers from other parts of the continent is Vancouver’s high cost of living.

According to an October Royal LePage House Price

months have created a buyer’s market.

Sales for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver (not including Delta, Surrey and Langley) rose 1.2% to 2,246 in September compared with September 2010.

Listings, in contrast, spiked 20.1% to 5,680 compared with September 2010. •

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November/December 2011

learn more ➧ GET THE Job

A world of opportunities to discover Education & Career Fairs comes to B.C. this winter

F

or 15 years Education & Career Fairs (ECF) has assisted secondary school students, job seekers, adult learners and career changers to examine education and career paths.

This winter, ECF’s events schedule for B.C. is: ■ Abbotsford (Tradex): Monday, November 28, 2011, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Vancouver (Vancouver Convention Centre, East): Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

■ Nanaimo (Vancouver Island Convention Centre): Friday, December 2, 2011, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Prince George (Prince George Civic Centre): Friday, February 10, 2012, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Kamloops (Thompson Rivers University, activity centre): Monday, February 13, 2012, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Kelowna (Delta Grand Hotel & Resort): Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ECF is composed of five feature areas: career train-

ing, colleges, universities, associations and employers.

Exhibitors come from across B.C., Canada, the U.S. and international locations.

A variety of representatives from sectors such as trades, health care, tourism,

For the past 15 years Education & Career Fairs has helped job seekers, adult learners and career changers with the opportunity to examine education and career paths arts and technology, esthetics, automotive, forestry, oil and policing will be on hand to provide information about their industry and what it takes to excel within it.

Attendees are encouraged to attend the seminar sessions presented by in-

For the past 15 years Education & Career Fairs has helped job seekers, adult learners and career changers with the opportunity to examine education and career paths

Seminars Scholarships/ Bursaries Contests

dustry professionals. These 30-minute seminars cover popular topics in the labour market and industry trends.

New this year: opportunities to win bursaries/scholarships and prizes. For example, LaSalle College is offering $2,000 bursaries at each of the six ECF events.

“Our events are unique because attendees are exposed to a variety of career options they may not have previously considered or knew existed,” explains Mathias Posch, president of ECF. “The events allow participants to speak with representatives from schools and organizations face-toface and receive answers to their questions in a convenient forum.”

Best of all, ECF offers free admission for community organizations and secondary schools. Regular admission is $5 at the door. Details on the events, exhibit space and school group/complimentary admission programs can be found at www.educationcareerfairs.com. •

November/December 2011

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11

Banking on a great career 2,400 bank teller jobs are expected to open in B.C. between 2010 and 2015 as older workers reach retirement

BY NOA GLOUBERMAN

B

anks, credit unions, trust companies and other financial institutions employ customer service representatives (often called bank tellers) to process customers’ financial transactions.

A bank teller’s daily tasks include cashing cheques, completing money transfers and opening and closing accounts.

According to BC Work Futures (www.workfutures.bc.ca), “They also record data, produce receipts, and provide information on related banking products and services.”

In an interview with BC Work Futures, one teller described what her typical day is like.

“In the morning I open and prepare cash for the day,” says Meaghan. “Throughout the rest of the day I process different transactions, achieve targeted sales objectives, which means I have to make a certain number of referrals to our personal bankers, and I interact with the clients. At the end

of the day I close and balance the till.”

In terms of training and education, Meaghan says that, along with customer service experience, her previous “familiarity with counting money” helped her to land the job.

The minimum education required to become a bank teller is a high-school diploma and/or occupation-specific training. The Bank Teller Training Program offered by Surrey-based DiverseCity Community Resources Society is an excellent place to start training for this career.

“The Bank Teller Training Program sets the foundation to start a career in the banking industry in Canada,” says DiverseCity’s business development manager Dean Lin. “By learning the basics of being a teller, you gain the skills and knowledge necessary to enter this exciting field.”

The course, which takes place over three Saturday sessions and costs $300, covers customer service, product sales, security and Canadian

banking procedures and policies. It is taught by an employee of a well-recognized bank, who has many years of experience in the banking industry.

“Students also learn banking terminology, cheque-cashing procedures, cash-handling and balancing procedures and how to identify frauds and counterfeit money,” Lin adds.

“They’ll learn about the application process and employment opportunities with different banks.”

According to BC Work Futures, most tellers are employed part time throughout the year, and women make up the majority of employees in this occupational group.

The website also shows employment prospects for customer services reps in upcoming years (based on 2009 data from BC Stats).

“While some new jobs [810 jobs between 2010 and 2015] will be created in the next few years, the majority of openings will arise as a result of the need to replace experienced workers who retire [2,400 openings be-

tween 2010 and 2015]. … It has also been reported that some banking institutions have begun creating different sectors within the bank, opening the possibility for individuals to specialize in a specific area in the future.”

If you’re thinking about becoming a bank teller, both BC Work Futures and Lin say getting trained first is the way to go. For more information or to register for DiverseCity’s Bank Teller Training Program, call 604-597-3448 or visit www. dcrs.ca. • nglouberman@biv.com

A bank teller’s daily tasks include cashing cheques, completing money transfers and opening and closing accounts. The minimum education required to become a bank teller is a high-school diploma and/or occupation-specific training

BANK TELLER TRAINING PROGRAM - Course fee $300. The Bank Teller Training Program sets the foundation to start acareer in the banking industry in Canada.

By learning the basics of being a Teller, you gain the skills and knowledge necessary to enter this exciting field. The course covers customer service, product sales, security, Canadian banking procedures and policies, and application process and employment opportunities with different banks.

Next class starts dates: November 19th, 26th and December 3rd for 3 Saturday sessions from 9am to 4pm.

For more information or to register for a course please call 604-597-3448.

202 – 7380 – 137th Street, Surrey, BC | www.dcrs.ca

GET ALL THE ANSWERS, BEFORE YOU GET ALL THE ANSWERS.

Discover Your Transfer Options

YOUR GUIDE THROUGH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

12

November/December 2011

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You want a better life. Job satisfaction. Financial security.

Respect. You want to help others.

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There is an urgent need for more Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN) in BC. The only program of its kind in BC, students can learn within their local communities via distance education, local and/or regional clinical placements, and some regional classroom delivery. Entry-level earnings start at $29/hr. This 23 month program is recognized by the CRPNBC.

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“The most important job in the world.” According to the 2008 ECE Registry Survey commissioned by the BC Ministry of Children & Family Development, the average wage for Early Childhood Educators in BC is $17.43/hr. Graduates may qualify for $3000 bursary though the BC Family Child Care Association.

Our program includes training and certification from the Provincial Outreach Program for Autism & Related Disorders (POPARD). Two POPARD courses are offered in this program: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders & Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis. Starting wage for Special Education Assistants is approx. $22/hr.

Starting wage for Special Education Assistants is approx. $22/hr.

Health Care Assistant (formerly Resident Care Attendant / Home Support) Make a difference in the lives of others! Graduates will be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry which will allow you to work in government funded health care facilities. The starting wage for Health Care Assistants is $17 - $21/hr.

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You may be eligible for government student loans and funding.

Medical Laboratory Assistant This program has been reviewed and approved by British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science and exceeds their requirements in many areas. The wage range of Stenberg MLA grads working in their field of study is $18.04 - $23.70 per hour.

Medical Office Assistant Consider a rewarding career in healthcare administration or expand your career options as a Hospital Support Specialist (see above).

Nursing Unit Clerk Nursing Unit Clerks, originally known as ward clerks and sometimes referred to as Nursing Unit Coordinators, act as the anchors of patient care departments. The average wage for Stenberg grads is $20.77/hr. plus 12.2% in lieu of benefits.

“The teachers and staff at Stenberg were very supportive throughout my entire program … Working towards completion of this program requires a lot of hard work but because everyone in the class cooperates and encourages each other to succeed, it helped me a lot.”– Amanda P.

604-580-2772 · www.stenbergcollege.com Over 94% of our grads are employed in their field of study within 6 months of graduation.