What can your local Chamber of Commerce do for your job search? In this episode of Get a Job!, we uncover how local business chambers in Metro Vancouver can help you unlock hidden job opportunities and fast-track your career goals.

Featuring Jennifer McKinnon (CEO, Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce), Patrick Stafford-Smith (CEO, North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce), and guest co-host Shirin Sobhani (Career Advisor, WorkBC Centre Coquitlam), this lively conversation dives into:

•  How local Chambers can help connect job seekers with local businesses and training opportunities
•  Which industries are hiring more actively right now
•  Why generic resumes fail – and how to stand out
•  Smart networking that actually works 
•  Volunteering as a gateway to employment
•  How to get involved with your local chamber

Whether you are actively job hunting or just curious about how business networks can boost your prospects, this episode is packed with valuable insights, practical advice and insider tips to help you along the way.

Links:

Find your local WorkBC Centre:
https://www.workbc.ca/discover-employment-services/workbc-centres/workbc-centre-locations 

Upcoming events hosted by WorkBC Centres (check regularly for updates):
https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/workbc-centres-10873100626

Thinking about working past the age of 55 or re-entering the job market after retirement? In this episode of Get a Job!, we dive into the realities and opportunities of job seeking as an older individual in Metro Vancouver.Joined by BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt, Career Advisor Keith Goodwin from the YWCA’s Job Futures 55+ program, and senior job seeker (and former pro athlete!) Paul Portier, this conversation is packed with practical advice, from how to tailor your resume and build confidence to navigating ageism and understanding the latest work trends.You'll hear about:

• How to frame decades of experience effectively
• Strategies for building confidence after time away from the job market
• Resume and interview tips tailored to older job seekers
• Insights on part-time, full-time, and flexible work options
• Resources available through WorkBC and beyond

Whether you’re over 55 and looking for work, or simply want to stay active and purposeful in your next chapter, this episode offers guidance to help you succeed.

Links:

• Find your local WorkBC Centre: https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/WorkBC-Centres/Find-Your-WorkBC-Centre.aspx
• Preparing for Job Interviews Virtual Workshop: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1301424619069
• Indigenous Career Fair: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/127989598634

In honor of Disability Employment Month, we sit down with Jillian Bradley (she/her), Director of Employment Initiatives at Inclusion BC, to discuss some valuable supports and resources available to persons with disabilities who are interested in exploring their career options. This episode delves into the work of the Mentorability Project, which connects individuals with disabilities to mentors in their fields of interest. Jillian shares inspiring success stories, such as a young man transitioning into a dog grooming career and a cheerleading enthusiast living her dream with the BC Lions dance team. The episode also emphasizes early youth engagement in employment conversations, pandemic-driven virtual mentorship adaptations, and broad support for mature workers who have experienced a change in their health but want to continue in the workforce. 

Links: 

• Find your local WorkBC Centre
• Inclusion BC
• Empowering Inclusion Panel - Sept 26, 2024
• Creating Effective Resumes Virtual Workshop - Sept 26, 2024
• Journey to Employment Hiring Fair - Oct 9

In this episode of "Get A Job!", we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the job application process and how to make these changes work for you! Guests Jabeen Boga (Regional Human Resources Business Partner at Rivera Inc.) and Ebru Pinar (Employment Facilitator at WorkBC Centre Vancouver Midtown) discuss the integration of AI in evaluating resumes and cover letters, and some of the best practices for tailoring your job applications with AI. If you're curious to find out what types of employers are likely to use AI, how their ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) work, what free tools (aside from ChatGPT) are available to job seekers, how to avoid common mistakes when using AI for job search, and more, then this episode is for you! 

Links:

• Find your local WorkBC Centre
• Preparing for Job Interviews (Free virtual workshop)

Looking to start or grow your career within a dynamic, inclusive, and flexible industry? Working for a local brewery may just be the right fit for you! In this episode, we sit down with Chris Backus of Brave Brewing Company and Gil Desaulniers of Mariner Brewing Company to chat about the diverse employment opportunities that exist within their industry. Both guests share what types of roles are available (including inclusive employment opportunities through a partnership with WorkBC), what skills & certifications you might need, how to stand out from the crowd when applying to work for a local brewery, and more. Don't miss this exciting episode about a fun and unique industry that has much to offer job seekers in and around Metro Vancouver! 

Links: 

• Find your local WorkBC Centre
• Preparing for Job Interviews Workshop (Free virtual workshop on April 23rd)

Everything around us – from furniture to food products – is a result of manufacturing. It is an industry that includes a wide range of subsectors, including food and beverage manufacturing, wood manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, and many more. Despite being a broad and necessary industry, the manufacturing sector can often be overlooked by many individuals deciding on a career path or simply looking for their next job.In this episode, we chat with David Munro, Manufacturing Consortium Manager at the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, to explore this diverse industry, particularly what job opportunities are available (you may be surprised!), what to expect when working in the industry, and what the future may hold for those considering a career in manufacturing.

Links:

• Find your local WorkBC Centre
• Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
• BC Youth in Manufacturing Initiative
• WILWorks Post Secondary
• WILWorks Skilled Trades in Advanced Manufacturing
• Preparing for Job Interviews: A Free Virtual Workshop
• Digitally Smart: Getting Employed Workshop Series

Based on current Indeed listings (as of October 2023), there are over 800 marketing-related positions in the Lower Mainland alone. Every business or organization carries out marketing activities, whether online (digital marketing) or through more traditional methods. While many of us may have an idea, what exactly IS marketing and what does a career in this field entail? Is it the right industry for YOU?

In this episode, we chat with Stefanie Gajdecki, Founder of Hemera Growth Group and a Digital Marketing Instructor with over 25 years of experience, about the latest trends & developments in the marketing industry, plus useful tips and tools to help you get started. If you're a creative individual with a flair for analytics and are considering a career in marketing, then this episode is for you!

Links:

• Find your local WorkBC Centre: https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/WorkBC-Centres/Find-Your-WorkBC-Centre.aspx
• Hemera Growth Group (Stefanie's Vancouver-based Strategic Marketing Firm): https://www.hemeragrowthgroup.com/
• 2023 Fall Hiring Fair hosted by Career Zone (November 8, 2023 in downtown Vancouver): https://2023fallhiringfair.eventbrite.ca/

September is Disability Employment month in BC, a great opportunity to highlight the significant role people with disabilities play in the workforce. In this episode, we chat with Emily Dietrich, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program Manager at BCAA, about why her company - like many others - values inclusive hiring and how jobseekers with disabilities can connect with accessible employers like BCAA. We also discuss ideas, tips and resources to help jobseekers with disabilities succeed in the job search process.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Find your local WorkBC Centre:
  https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/WorkBC-Centres/Find-Your-WorkBC-Centre.aspx
• Free resume workshop on Sept 19th (virtual):
  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/667920717847?aff=oddtdtcreator
• 2023 North Shore Job Fair (in-person):
  https://2023northshorejobfair.eventbrite.ca/

While building a career can be a big challenge, Indigenous jobseekers often face unique barriers to securing and maintaining employment.

In this episode, we chat with Christie Sparklingeyes, Indigenous Recruiter at Vancity, to discuss these challenges and what Indigenous job seekers can do to get on the right path with regards to career planning, landing a sustainable job, and connecting with inclusive employers in Vancouver. We’ll also look at what steps inclusive employers are taking and how organizations can tap into the Indigenous talent pool, beginning with building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.


Links:

• Find your local WorkBC Centre
• Training & Funding: ACCESS - Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society and Native Education
• Friendship Centre: Vancouver aboriginal friendship centre society
• Vancity Evergreen Posting: Career Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Metis) at Vancity
• Christie Sparklingeyes profile on LinkedIn
• Summer Hiring Fair at Career Zone (July 5, 2023): register here
• PowerUp program: Register here.
• Find out about other YWCA Employment Programs

Three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person hiring fairs and networking events are back in full swing. In Metro Vancouver alone, the past couple of months have been filled with various career fairs taking place almost every week. But what has changed, and what exactly can you expect when attending an in-person career fair these days?

In this episode, we chat with Ayesha Hirji, a recruiter at a post-secondary institution in Metro Vancouver with over five years of HR experience, and Chris Pollitt, an Employment Facilitator at WorkBC Midtown East with ten years of career coaching experience. Both guests share their insights, strategies, and best tips to help job seekers make the most out of attending in-person job fairs and networking events post-pandemic.

Links:

• Career Zone Spring Hiring Fair (April 5th from 1pm-4pm in Career Zone, downtown Vancouver): https://spring-hiring-fair.eventbrite.ca/
• Diverse Abilities Hiring Fair (April 20th from 10am-4pm in Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam): https://dahf2023-tricities.eventbrite.ca
• Find your local WorkBC Centre: https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/WorkBC-Centres/Find-Your-WorkBC-Centre.aspx