WorkBC Centre – Vancouver Midtown
Monthly Newsletter

JULY 2021

Register now for new workshop: Job Search Readiness 

What does it mean to be "job search ready"? How do you know if you're set up for success as you begin (or continue) your job hunt?

Learn how to prepare by reviewing the factors that will ensure you are well-positioned to apply to jobs. Join us for this valuable workshop that will provide you with the steps, tools, and information to be fully “job search ready." After all, preparation is half the battle and holds the key to success!

This workshop will also help you fulfill the steps required to successfully apply to the Hot Job leads posted on our job board. Job Search Readiness will be offered virtually on July 14th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Click here to register now on the Client Hub.

(Photo taken at WorkBC Midtown West before COVID-19)

Updated hours at Midtown West; in-person appointments now available at both Centres

Please take note of the newly implemented hours of operation for WorkBC Midtown West (Kitsilano) as listed below:

Midtown West

Monday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Weekends/Stat Holidays – Closed

WorkBC Midtown East (Mount Pleasant) will maintain its current business hours:

Midtown East

Monday, Thursday, Friday – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Weekends/Stat Holidays – Closed

Based on the province's Restart Plan, in-person appointments are now available on an individual (1:1) basis. Clients who need to meet with their Employment Specialist or Vocational Counselor have the option of scheduling a 1:1 appointment that is either in person, by phone, or via Zoom/Teams.

Please note that safety measures for in-person appointments, such as sanitizing hands upon entry, wearing a mask indoors and social distancing, will continue to be in effect at both Centres.

Group workshops/meetings will continue to be offered virtually until further notice. Please follow our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram) for the latest updates!

Latest Episode: Career Steps For High School Grads Who Don't Want To Go To Post-Secondary

While going straight on to post-secondary is what many students choose to do, it isn't for everyone – if you're in this group (or know someone who is), then this latest Get A Job! podcast episode is for you!

Guests Leena Aabedi (Program Coordinator, This Way ONward program), Rafael Kuhnen (Video Game Designer, Electronic Arts) and Alexis Bullen (Manager, Gear Up program) discuss training opportunities for grads, their personal career stories and why they chose not to attend post-secondary right after high school, how they landed their dream jobs anyway, and their advice to grads who want to do the same.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Client + Workshop Feedback Surveys: Fill out a survey, get a chance to win a gift card

We would love to hear about your experiences and thoughts as a WorkBC Midtown client to help us continue improving our services! We will be doing a monthly gift card draw for survey respondents – get a chance to win a $25 gift card to a store of your choice (choose from 70+ retailers)!

Two surveys are accessible on the Client Hub: the Client Feedback Survey and the Workshop Survey. Both are anonymous, but include the option to enter an email address before submitting your survey. Providing a valid email address enters you into the draw and enables us to contact you if your entry is selected.

Click here to access the Client Feedback Survey. Click here to access the Workshop Survey.

UPCOMING EVENTS

KIN'S FARM MARKET VIRTUAL HIRING FAIR

5 July 2021 | 2 PM to 4 PM

Youth job seekers (16-30), are you searching for your next role? Learn about Kin's Farm Market's open positions and have a chance at being interviewed at this hiring event! Kin's Farm Market is currently hiring for a range of roles, including Sales Associates and Shift Leaders. Register now; you will be emailed a Zoom link to access the event the evening before.

Click here to register.
 

VIRTUAL HIRING FAIR: BCIB and AEROTEK

8 July 2021 | 1 PM to 2 PM

Presented by WorkBC South Surrey, this online information session and hiring event features two renowned companies: BC Infrastructure Benefits Inc (BCIB) and Aerotek! Get an exclusive chance to meet with their recruitment teams to learn about the various positions available and their hiring process.

Click here to register.
 

VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT: TELUS and VITRUM GLASS

9 July 2021 | 11 AM to 12 PM

Join this Virtual Hiring Fair from the comfort of your home computer or smartphone, and meet the recruiters as they talk about their companies and current employment opportunities available. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up now!

Click here to register.
 

THE NEW NORMAL: LOOKING AHEAD TO JOB SEARCH IN A POST-COVID LABOUR MARKET

15 July 2021 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM

Don't miss this panel discussion to learn more about how the BC labour market is shifting due to COVID-19 and how you can use this information to plan your job search! Hear from employment experts about how job search and the labour market have been impacted, and how you can use this information to find work as the world looks ahead to the end of the pandemic. The speakers are: Christian Saint Cyr (Publisher, BC Labour Market Report) and Louise Roberts (Lead Job Developer, WorkBC Tri-Cities). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Click here to register.
 

YOUTH JOB SEEKERS (16-30): CAREER ZONE VIRTUAL HIRING WEEK

19-23 July 2021

Join us at Career Zone Virtual Hiring Week, a hiring event series featuring a different Vancouver employer everyday between July 19th and 23rd! Employers include: Cactus Club, Purdys, The Keg, and Starbucks. You can check out the details of the employers and their individual events using the link below, and register for one (or all!) of the events you're interested in. Just click "Select A Date" and choose the corresponding event date.

Some employers will be holding job interviews during their respective events, so make sure you come prepared if you wish to be interviewed. At each event, you'll hear directly from the employers as they present on the organization and roles available, and also get the chance to ask questions during Q&A sessions.

Click here to register.
 

AMAZON VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT

22 July 2021 | 1 PM to 2 PM

Join us for a virtual hiring fair with Amazon! The company is now hiring for Warehouse Fulfillment Associates and Sortation Associates. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about these roles, the hiring process, and more.

Click here to register.

FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

CLIENT SUCCESS STORY

I was laid off from my previous position at the end of January 2020 and came directly to register with WorkBC. I spent February and half of March taking workshops and rewriting my resume to get ready for job hunting, but the pandemic hit and shut everything down. The first wave pretty much brought job postings to a grinding halt. In June, I also broke my foot, which essentially took me out of the “looking for work” game for 4 months. I was on medical EI for that time period.

Another challenge was trying to stand out from the hundreds of other applicants also looking for work – administration positions were heavily sought after. There just didn't seem to be job postings for the types of companies that were a good fit for me. It took a lot of deep breathing and patience to hold on through all those months of looking with no end in sight.

This past year, WorkBC helped me with all their workshop offerings. I did all the workshops on Networking, LinkedIn, Resume Building, Cover Letters and Interview Skills. The Career Exploration workshop was incredibly helpful – it showed me that I was doing exactly what I was cut out to be doing with my skill set and who I am as a person. I highly recommend it to anyone who isn't sure about what they'd like to do next. For me, it was really valuable and affirming to make sure that I was on the right track.

Paul Gowan (Employment Facilitator) sat down with me to go through my resume and cover letter, and facilitated interview practice. I was frustrated that I’d applied to a number of positions but wasn't getting any responses. He liked my resume and cover letter, but felt that it could be better. I wouldn't have seen that on my own as I had developed a pretty bad case of fatigue at that stage, but he did remarkable work with me and kept me working on discovering myself in the process, which was so huge. It made all the difference when I showed up for the interview with my current employer.

Also, I want to say that I loved the Network to Work Cafe that WorkBC Midtown started in March this year. I’ve met friends from those meetings who I am still in touch with. It was great fuel to start your week with, especially when you're unemployed and just plain tired...that means everything.

–Ellie E., WorkBC Midtown client

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT

Machobear Studios: How a local start-up is innovating the rental process amidst a pandemic

Since its launch in 2015, Machobear Studios has quickly grown to become one of Vancouver’s most established tech start-ups. The company is the creator of liv.rent, an innovative platform that connects tenants to landlords and securely digitalizes every step of the rental process. From verification (think vetted listings, tenants and landlords) to virtual property viewings to securely signing digital contracts and even paying for rent with Bitcoin, Machobear Studios continuously innovates liv.rent to provide a secure, stress-free renting experience to both renters and landlords.

“We’re all about digital solutions, and how technology can better our daily lives and the future,” said Matisse Yiu, Marketing Manager at Machobear Studios. “When the pandemic hit, we saw a digital transformation that would have normally taken 10 years, sardine-canned into just a few months.” While the past year has been challenging for any business, it has also shown the value and potential of Machobear Studios’ work through liv.rent. “Users who were previously hesitant to adopt digital solutions like liv.rent were now coming to us, arms open and ready to learn how they can take their processes online.”

As the need for highly adaptable platforms like liv.rent continues to grow in a post-COVID world, Machobear Studios is expanding its team. The company is currently seeking a Front-end Developer, UX/UI Designer, and QA Engineer. According to Paula Azevedo, Business Development Manager, Machobear Studios is an ideal environment for individuals who love to problem-solve, are adaptable, display grit, enjoy collaboration, and have an upbeat personality. “Working in a tech start-up is exciting, and the fast-paced environment requires individuals to showcase these traits in a high level,” said Azevedo. “My advice for individuals who are interested in joining the team is: learn as you go but never stop learning!”

Interested in joining the Machobear Studios team? Check out the postings below:

• Front-end Developer
• UX/UI Designer
• QA Engineer
   

INTERESTING READS

Vancouver Sun article: Bye-bye four-year degree. Canadian companies want workers faster

"The skills shortage is so acute the private sector is stepping up training programs tailored for the jobs on offer rather than wait for universities."

Click here to continue reading.
 

HOT JOBS

Multiple positions available: Product Assembler, Electrical Engineer, Junior Software Engineer, Janitor
Norsat International
View postings
 

IT Manager
FoodX Technologies
View posting
 

Multiple positions available: Team Lead, Call Centre/Community Care Rep, Delivery Driver (FT)
SPUD
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Account Profile Associate
Raymond James
View posting


Social Media Manager
Hyper Hippo
View postings


Multiple positions available: E-commerce Associate, Grocery Store Clerk/Cashier
Sungiven Foods 
View postings


Inventory & Warehouse Team Member
Cocktail Box
View posting


Multiple positions available: Accounts Receivable Clerk, Property Manager, Tenant Support Worker, Front Line Social Support Worker
Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS)
View postings

Administrative Assistant
Tuktu
View posting


Customer Service Executive
Tuktu
View posting


For more job postings, visit our Job Boards on the Client Hub.

CONNECT WITH US

Vancouver Midtown East WorkBC Centre
110 East 3rd Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 1C8
604-829-2300
info-vancouvermidtown-east@workbc.ca
https://www.workbccentre-vancouvermidtown-east.ca/

Vancouver Midtown West WorkBC Centre
300-2150 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 4L9
604-688-4666
info-vancouvermidtown-west@workbc.ca
https://www.workbccentre-vancouvermidtown-west.ca