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JANUARY 15, 2015
the LEAD Sheet
CONTENTS
HIRED
ON THE SPOT
2
COMPUTING
PITFALLS
4
ASK A CASE
MANAGER
5
brighterlife.ca
By Kate Wiley
into their 60s for a variety of reasons – finances being the most common.
any of us long for retirement. We picture ourselves whiling away the days
in some remote, tropical hideaway. But the
reality of life post-career is not always so
rosy. Canadians are increasingly working well
The standard age to begin receiving the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is 65, but gone are the
days when employees could rely on generous
pensions from their employers. Those who
aren’t able to start saving for retirement mid
(Continued on page 4)
M
NEXT ISSUE:
JANUARY 29, 2015
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By Kate Wiley
M
eet Martina Morgenstern, a woman
who attributes her new job as Project
Coordinator for Verity Construction to the first
30 seconds of contact with her employer.
Martina’s boss met her for the first time at
a job fair last November. He asked her a few
questions and called her the same day to set
up an interview for the next. At the interview,
he hired her on the spot. “The first 30 seconds
are critical,” says Martina. “I had a something
specific in mind for every company I talked to
that day.”
That first impression is what sealed the
deal. Having left a high-powered job in Toronto, Martina came across as competent and
confident. It can be difficult to convey those
traits on an electronic document, which is why
job fairs are so popular. They offer a unique
opportunity: Face time.
In today’s job market, it’s uncommon for
employers to accept walk-in applicants. Job
seekers have to get really creative in order to
stand out among the hundreds of resumes submitted online. There are legendary stories out
there like that of the “Resume-Ale”. Brennan
Gleason, a recent graduate of the University
of the Fraser Valley's first Graphic and Digital
Design class, sent out four-packs of homebrew
branded as his “Resume-Ale”. The stunt resulted in several job offers – and a lot of hype.
His application went viral, drawing attention
from Yahoo, ABC News, The Huffington Post
and others.
One could argue Martina had a magic brew
of her own: An alluring German accent and 11
years with Mercedes-Benz Canada. As it turns
out, her position with Verity wasn’t even advertised that day at the fair. “Lots of jobs out
there are filled by word of mouth,” says Martina. Thankfully Janice Hlady at WorkLink’s
January 15, 2015
“The first 30 seconds
are critical. I had a something
specific in mind for every
company I talked to that day.”
– Martina Morgenstern, Project Coordinator, Verity Construction
and recent job fair hire
Sooke office had alerted her to the hidden job market. Martina hit the job
fair prepared with an unforgettable “elevator speech”.
Now Martina has a sunny office in Langford to call her own. She reports
directly to the president and welcomes the wide range of responsibilities
that come with working for a small, very busy company. “I can see myself
growing with this company, even if I’ll never make what I made in Toronto
again in my life,” she says with a smile.
Got a story to share? Your job success may inspire someone else to take the
next step. Email [email protected].
worklink.bc.ca • gthiringsolutions.ca • beaconcs.ca
2
PROFESSIONAL & ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS
The Co-operators is looking for a full-time Associate
Insurance Advisor in Victoria. A General Insurance License is required or must be obtained within two months
of hire. One year sales and service experience or related
business experience is preferred. Apply online at
careers.cooperators.ca. No close date provided.
degree or college diploma in business administration, marketing, communications, public relations, advertising or a
related field is required. Details at epicurev2.com.
King George International College is looking for a Middle Eastern Student Advisor/Pathway Coordinator to
assist with program placement, academic counselling and
with the university application process. Proficiency in
both written and spoken Arabic necessary. Find out more
at workbc.ca. Expires Jan. 30.
Travel Brands Victoria seeks a full-time Travel Manager
with an understanding of travel agency
accounting/administration procedures. Travel/Tourism
school diploma is essential. Three to 5 years on-the-job
experience and/or performing similar duties also required.
Howard Johnson Hotel and Suites Victoria Elk Lake has
Find out more at workbc.ca. Closes Feb. 13.
an opening for a Bookkeeper. Accounts receivable, payable, revenue reporting and payroll experince required.
Frontier Marketing Company is hiring a Marketing Strat- Find the full job posting at workbc.ca. Expires Jan. 23.
egist. Manage a large annual budget of Google AdWords
spending and report on fundraising revenue via Google
BC Ferries is hiring a Payroll Service Technician. The
Analytics and Raiser’s Edge/SalesForce. Visit
successful candidate will have completed or is currently
frontier.io/careers to learn more.
enrolled in Payroll Compliance and Payroll Fundamentals 1
courses under the Canadian Payroll Association, and has 1
Ecolab is looking for a Route Sales Manager in Training to 2 years direct experience in a computerized financial
to provide cleaning and sanitation solutions to around-the- operations department. Details at bcferries.com/
clock customers consisting of restaurants and other Instiabout/employment. Closes Jan. 23.
tutional foodservice accounts. Electrical, plumbing, and
mechanical experience is a must. Apply to the job posting
Unit 4 Business Software seeks a Sales Operations Coat ecolab.com/careers.
ordinator. Previous hi-tech sales operations experience,
Chubb Edwards Victoria branch is recruiting a Fire Solutions Sales Representative. Post secondary degree/
diploma in Business Administration, Commerce, Marketing
or Sales or equivalent education and experience required.
Find the complete job posting at monster.ca.
Epicure is seeking an experienced Vice President of
Sales and Field Development who will be responsible for
establishing and directing the sales activities. A university
plus knowledge of RFIs and RFPs required. Bachelor's degree preferred. Apply online at careers.unit4.com.
Brookfield Global Relocation Services has an opening for
an Advisor to fill a 12-month contract. Qualifications include experience in daily office administration with a
competency in basic accounting procedures. A background
in relocation, residential real estate, residential mortgages, legal or banking is an asset. Find the full job posting at
workbc.ca.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept
the one that is waiting for us.
— Joseph Campbell
January 15, 2015
worklink.bc.ca • gthiringsolutions.ca • beaconcs.ca
3
(Continued from page 1)
career are often cash-strapped once the paycheques stop. A
Statistics Canada report released last month found that almost a third of seniors living alone qualify as low-income.
Seniors being forced back into work are finding the options
limited. Unless a person has specialized skills, it can be difficult to find work that is not physically demanding. Digital literacy is another common roadblock to employment. “Getting
work can be especially hard if seniors have not kept up with,
let alone grown, their skills,” says Jo Zlotnik, a case manager
at WorkLink Employment society. “There’s such rapid change
and sophistication in the workforce that if you don’t keep up,
you may find yourself lost. Many seniors end up getting lowpay hospitality jobs to supplement their pensions.”
“There are so many people at the end of their careers who
are looking for work,” says Community Relations Manager
Garth Yoneda of GT Hiring Solutions. He says attendance at
recent hiring fairs has exceeded one thousand people, more
than 150 of which tend to be ages 55 and up.
Canadians are also living longer — with average life expectancy now at 85, according to Statistics Canada. Twenty
years of retirement not only requires a significant amount of
savings, it begs for some form of meaningful engagement
Figure out a way to
pass on the knowledge you
gained over the course of
your career.
within the community. “People who retire often don't have a
sense of being necessary anymore,” says Diana Wiley, a psychotherapist and gerontologist (and mother to the author).
“Depression can set in and lead to health problems like heart
disease and cancer.” Diana (age 72) continues to see clients
because “it’s fun and makes a difference — that’s what we
want in life, to make a difference.”
Diana counsels her clients: Don’t retire, redirect! That’s
exactly what Leo Chaland did. He spent 10 years as Superintendent of Schools for the Sooke School District. He retired
from that job in 1999, but within a couple of years he was
serving the education system again, this time as a board
member of Island Catholic Schools. “It allowed me to ease
(Continued on page 6)
sierraclub.org
January 15, 2015
worklink.bc.ca • gthiringsolutions.ca • beaconcs.ca
4
MANUFACTURING & FACILITIES JOBS
Artistic Mouldings & Millwork is hiring a General Labourer to work in a busy wood manufacturing plant. The
successful candidate will be responsible for performing
various duties relative to the production and shipping of
wood mouldings in a fast paced, noisy environment. High
school diploma required. Forklift license an asset. Find the
full job posting at workbc.ca. Closes Jan. 23.
District of Saanich Parks Division is seeking a Turf Technician to maintain sports fields and general turf areas,
including baseball, soccer and other sports facilities. Requirements include Grade 12 or equivalent, a certificate
or six accredited courses in turf management from a recognized post-secondary institution, and two years related
experience. Details at civicinfo.bc.ca. Closes Jan. 21.
Hilltop Greenhouses seeks a seasonal Greenhouse Labourer. Must be able to work Monday to Saturday until
approximately mid-June. Greenhouse experience preferred but not necessary. Application details at
workbc.ca. Expires Feb. 14.
Greater Victoria School District is recruiting a Supervisor of Maintenance to provide direction to more than 180
full-time employees. The successful applicant will have a
January 15, 2015
degree or diploma in business, engineering or a comparable
field and at least five years of experience in a unionized
environment in project planning, budget management,
people management and leading change. Details at
sd61.bc.ca > Employment. Deadline to apply is Jan. 23.
District of Saanich Parks Division is seeking multiple
temporary, full-time Parks Workers to perform a variety
of manual tasks in the maintenance of park areas in any of
the following sections: Horticulture, Maintenance, Construction, Urban Forestry and Natural Areas. Requirements
include Grade 11, one accredited course in a parks-related
field, six months parks-related experience, valid B.C. Pesticide Applicator’s Certificate, valid Class 5 B.C. Driver’s
Licence and satisfactory police information check. Find
out more at saanich.ca > Doing Business > Careers. Closes
Jan. 26.
Oswego Hotel is hiring a full-time Maintenance Supervisor with experience in the repair and upkeep of large
building systems, electrical, HVAC, plumbing etc. Responsibilities in the winter months primarily involve drywall
and painting. Requirements include a minimum of 3 years
hotel experience in a similar position. Apply online at
go2hr.ca.
worklink.bc.ca • gthiringsolutions.ca • beaconcs.ca
5
(Continued from page 4)
my way into retirement,” says Leo. “I
was concerned about going full speed
and then full stop.”
Now age 73, Leo has distanced himself from education, but he continues
to serve his church as committee chair
for the Responsible Ministry of the
Catholic Dioceses of Victoria. He says
some of the tasks are onerous, but it’s
nice to feel useful. “When you spend
10 years sitting in a top level position,
it gives you a certain degree of presence and authority,” confesses Leo.
When he retired, he wondered how
much of his identity would be tied up
in his former title. It’s a concern
shared by many retiring seniors:
Where will I find my sense of purpose?
“You find as you get older, people
treat you as old. You are regarded
well, but essentially as somewhat useless,” says Leo. “No one expects you
to have a lot to give.” His advice is to
invest in other areas of your life before retiring — family, church, sports,
hobbies — so you don’t feel at loose
ends when the career stops. If you
need some ideas, the library is full of
books about people who have
achieved great things after retirement, including new businesses.
With maturity comes a well-honed
skill set. Those skills don’t evaporate
with the 9 to 5 job. Once retired, you
can use them for whatever purposes
you please, whenever and wherever
you want. You are a free agent! Being
your own boss can be a huge positive.
Figure out a way to pass on the knowledge you gained over the course of
your career, and life beyond 60 can be
truly golden.
Kate Wiley is editor of the Lead Sheet.
Contact her at [email protected].
January 15, 2015
By Tony Abbis
T
he last issue of this column
looked at how the website Trello
could be your next best friend. Trello
can be used to keep your job search
(and life) on track. There are hundreds
of other apps, software and web pages
that can be equally useful and I hope to
cover as many of them as I can in future columns. As useful as technology
can be to the modern job-seeker, it
also presents a myriad of pitfalls.
each day engaged in this to the exclusion of other equally, or more important, activities.
It only takes a few minutes of your
time and access to Google to come up
with hundreds of articles about people
who lost their jobs or didn't get the job
because of what was on their Facebook
page, Twitter feed or blog. It should be
obvious by now to anybody with even a
passing interest in social media, that
the thoughtless click of a mouse button, an indiscreet photo, or a longwinded political rant can do irreparable
damage to a career or reputation.
The point is to not stop using the
Web to search and apply for jobs — but
to limit the time spent doing this so
there is the opportunity to meet the
people who will help you along your
path. One strategy could be to spend
part of the morning online with the rest
of the day put aside for research, building a network, contacting employers,
and targeting resumes and cover letters.
Even in the age of technology, most
people hear about jobs or get jobs
through the personal relationships they
build. A job-seeker who basks in the
glow of their monitor most of the day is
missing the opportunity to build and
strengthen the key personal relationships that are essential to success.
Your computer can be your best
friend or that spiteful imp that underBut that's not the main reason your
computer hates you. To the job-seeker, mines your career or job search. Learn
the computer offers the ability to apply how to turn your computer, tablet or
for many jobs a day by email or submit- phone into a tool that simplifies your
life and keeps you on task, and you will
ting resumes online. Applying to jobs
online is a highly useful activity, but the have the beginnings of a beautiful relationship.
ease of this carries a hidden danger.
For an archive of this column and for
Because surfing job boards and applying
for jobs feels very productive, it is easy links and resources see:
worklink.bc.ca/TechTips
to fall into the trap of spending hours
worklink.bc.ca • gthiringsolutions.ca • beaconcs.ca
6
SOCIAL & HEALTH JOBS
WJS is looking for a Program Manager in Victoria to direct a treatment-based program for young traumatized
children who may present a high risk of violence and/or
acting out behaviour. Qualifications include a degree in
social work with a child welfare specialization or relevant
degree with a minimum of three years experience working
in a trauma informed environment. WJS is also hiring Residential Child Workers to fill casual and PT shifts. Find out
more at wjscanada.com/jobs.
A Place For Mom is recruiting Senior Living Advisors
responsible for educating families on senior care options
and referring them to partner communities that match
their needs. This is a full-time position, regular evenings
and weekends will be required. Requirements include documented history of success positioning and selling solutions to businesses or consumers in a quota or metrics
driven environment. Bachelor's degree preferred. Find out
more at aplaceformom.com/about > Careers.
Island Health is hiring 5 Summer Team Leaders to provides a variety of recreational activities for individual and
groups of children and youth with varying disabilities at
Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health. Positions
are contingent upon funding received from Canada Summer Jobs Student Employment Program. Applicants must
be planning to attend post secondary education in September 2015. Details at viha.ca/careers. Open until filled.
The BC Cancer Agency is hiring a Patient Care Aide performs a variety of tasks such as measuring and recording
vital signs, cleaning instruments, stocking treatment areas, and escorting patients in and out of exam rooms.
Qualifications include completion of Grade 10, plus graduation from a recognized Nursing Assistant Program or an
equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Apply online at www.phsa.ca/careers.
TECHNOLOGY JOBS
CityView (a division of Harris Computer Systems) seeks
a Data Conversion Specialist. Qualifications include Bachelor's Degree or higher in Computer Science, or related
discipline. Expert or advanced skills in MS-SQL and an
ability to perform complex queries and data conversions a
must. The company is also hiring a Software Trainer. Details at harriscomputer.com > Careers.
Latitude Geographics is hiring a Product Support Analyst in Victoria. Minimum two years of experience providing remote software support for an integrated enterprise
level software solution required. See a full list of qualifications at latitudegeo.com/careers.
WorkLink is hiring a part-time Jr. System and Network
Administrator responsible for the smooth operation, administration and management of WorkLink’s IT infrastructure. Qualifications include Completion of a college
program in computer science, network administration or
information technology. Application details on the job
board at worklink.bc.ca. Closes Jan. 24.
January 15, 2015
Trapeze is looking for a Software QA/Training Analyst.
Qualifications include SQL Server or comparable database
experience and knowledge of C++, C# programming languages. Find out more at careers.trapezegroup.com.
TELUS Sourcing Solutions is recruiting a System Analyst
(PeopleSoft Security/Audit). Qualifications include a university degree in Business, Computer Science or Engineering, plus a minimum of 3-4 years in a systems
development role combined with PeopleSoft Security administration. Go to about.telus.com > Careers.
Microserve, an IT Solutions Provider in Saanichton, is
looking for an Account Executive with knowledge and
interest in local IT market and industry. Degree/diploma
in related Business field is strongly preferred. Details at
microserve.ca/careers.
School District #63 (Saanich) is hiring on-call Computer
Lab Assistants and Computer Systems Technicians. Find
the listing at www.makeafuture.ca.
worklink.bc.ca • gthiringsolutions.ca • beaconcs.ca
7
HOSPITALITY & CUSTOMER SERVICE JOBS
Industrial Plastics & Paints in Saanich is hiring a Salesperson (Hardware). Product knowledge in building materials other than lumber and marine pleasure craft and
supplies an asset. Find the job posting at workbc.ca. Expires Jan. 31.
Shoppers Drug Mart Langford is hiring an Assistant
Front Store Manager. Qualifications include post secondary education and proven leadership and staff management abilities. Flex schedule. Apply online at
jobs.shoppersdrugmart.ca. No close date provided.
Down to Earth seeks a full-time Nursery Supervisor to
oversee daily operations of its retail nursery. Responsibilities include sales and customer service, supervising staff,
plant stock care. Find the listing on the job board at
worklink.bc.ca. Closes Jan. 30.
Acklands-Grainger is recruiting an On-Site Service Representative. Qualifications include a college diploma with
focus on sales and marketing, or equivalent experience,
plus certification in WHMIS, TDG, and NORCAT. To apply,
visit acklandsgrainger.com > Careers.
COBS Bread is looking for full- and part-time Sales Assistants. Previous retail experience necessary. Experience
in customer service and cash handling is preferred, although not essential as COBS offers full training. The company also seeks a Junior Baker for its West Saanich Rd.
location. Details at workbc.ca. Expires Feb. 6.
General Paint is looking to hire a full-time Assistant
Store Manager for its Goldstream location. Minimum 3
years of Customer Service experience with a background
in retail sales (preferably in paint or hardware). Experience in a leadership or assistant manager role is an asset.
Apply for the job at generalpaintcareers.com.
Sears Victoria is hiring a part-time Catalogue Service
Desk Associate to advocate catalogue products and services and process transactions. Qualifications include a
secondary school diploma and a minimum of 3 months of
previous work experience. Apply online at
sears.ca/content/corporate-info/careers.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria ReStore seeks a part-time
Procurement Coordinator responsible for securing donations from private and commercial donors for the ReStore.
Qualifications include 5 years or more industry-related
experience in construction, building supply, home renovation, or related. Find the complete listing at workbc.ca.
TRADES JOBS
Marquise (a division of Compass Group) is currently
seeking Cooks (full-time and part-time) with culinary
background at Shannon Oaks, one of its independent senior living residences in Victoria. Three to five years of
cooking experience required. Find the full job posting at
smartrecruiters.com.
On Side Restoration is looking to hire a Water Damage
Technician in Victoria. At least 2 year’s renovation experience required. Details at onside.ca/jobs.
Seastar is hiring a Class 1 or 3 Gravel Truck Driver to
participate in subdivision construction as well as driving
responsibilities. For more information, visit the job board
at worklink.bc.ca. Closes Jan. 30.
Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa is looking for a Baker & Café
Cook. Must be available to work 5:00am–1pm two days a
week & 6am-2pm two days a week. Weekend availability
also a must. The hotel is also hiring a full-time Line Cook.
Details at sidneypier.com /careers.
Feedback? Send your comments to [email protected].