The Industry Training Authority (ITA) in BC is undertaking a pilot project to give skilled cooks an alternative way to obtain a trade credential.

Called the Multiple Assessment Pathways (MAP) project, the process involves having a Red Seal certified Chef evaluate, through a variety of methods, the ability of a skilled cook challenger to meet the occupational performance standards set by the industry.

The MAP project is seeking cooks with various levels of experience. The ideal candidate is a cook who has learned most of their skills on the job and who has little or no formal training or trade qualification. A total of 100 challengers will be selected for assessment as part of the pilot project.

To apply to challenge as part of the MAP project or to find out more information check the go2 website.

No need to commute to Nanaimo, starting September 22, 2009, you can attend the Medical Office Assistant Program at the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Parksville Campus. This non-credit program is offered on a part-time basis with courses scheduled in the evenings and some Saturdays. Application deadline for this program is August 14, 2009. To learn more about the program and admission requirements call the Parksville campus at 1-866-734-6252 to register for an information session. Attendance at this session is a mandatory step in the intake process.

Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) is one of the employers in our area that may hire graduates from this program. VIHA’s Career website is a great source of information and it has a section where a prospective applicant can explore careers. I looked up the qualifications for a Secretary/Receptionist at VIHA and some positions may require the Medical Office Assistant Program.

Unsure whether this would be a good career choice for you? Employment Consultants at the Career Centre always recommend doing some labour market research before investing in training.  One way to do this research is to talk to people that work in the field to gain a better understanding of the job and how often positions come up in our area.

Are you looking for a way to fast-track your Administrative Assistant training and get the credentials you need to compete successfully for great jobs? Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo is pleased to offer, for the first time, an Accelerated Program in Applied Business Technology (Level I.)  Persons who have three years’ recent office/computer experience and 35 wpm keyboarding, who successfully complete a two-week course, will be able to move directly into Level II in September, in which specialized training completes your certification.

This is a fantastic opportunity for people who have outdated office skills. Employers of choice frequently state the requirement for this certification in job postings. Administrative Assistant jobs offer good salaries, stable employment, and work opportunities in many industrial sectors. For further information, call Anne Gold at (250) 753-3245, Ext. 2344, or check the website. Registration is required by July 31st.

Results from two recent studies have been published on go2hr.ca, a comprehensive and up-to-date website on BC’s tourism industry. The Canada Tourism Industry Compensation Study conducted by the Hay Group found “that tourism jobs in the West are the highest paid in Canada. The survey also found that bonuses and gratuities added significantly to regular wages. On average a Food and Beverage Server in BC earns $10.14 an hour, and can also earn an additional 100% to 200% above their hourly wage in tips.”

The Vancouver Island Tourism Labour Market Study  compiled by Roslyn Kunin and Associates, Inc. is a comprehensive report on employment projections and labour supply issues. In general the findings were that “labour force growth should meet the needs of labour demand until 2013. After that, an aging population and its resulting effect of limited labour force growth will mean that even if the industry hires every single individual available to work in that occupation… there will be a labour shortage.”

Alternatives are available to employers that are experiencing changes in the marketplace and want to avoid layoffs. The Employer Sponsored Training (EST) provides eligible employers with financial assistance to support training activities for employees who would otherwise lose their jobs. This program will enable employees to gain more marketable and transferable skills and maintain employment. Employers that may have to lay off employees can apply for EST assistance if they are in one of the following circumstances:

Reduced business activity

Significant changes in market conditions

New legislative or regulatory requirements for workers

Priority may be given to employers with business recovery plans

Other priorities may be established based on immediate emerging needs

For more information check out the EST fact sheet.

Recently Pat Weber, from RE/MAX Anchor Realty in Qualicum Beach, spoke at the Career Centre theme workshop on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate industries. He offered some interesting pieces of information. When people think of real estate, they think of residential home sales, but Pat highlighted the many other avenues in real estate. For example, Pat has a background in economics and urban development, and before becoming a realtor, he worked for Indian Affairs in land management. Other jobs in real estate include reception, conveyancing, website maintenance, advertising and property and strata management. He explained that many people who work in land titles and other land management divisions in the government, started their careers by working for private real estate companies in an administrative role.

Sauder School of Business, in collaboration with UBC, provides the training to be licensed as a real estate agent or a property or strata manager, and it also offers other professional development courses.

Pat recommends talking to people who work in the industry to find out if it’s right for you. Also the RE/MAX Nanaimo website has a real estate simulator where you can take a self test, which takes about an hour, to find out if working as a real estate agent is right for you. 

An article in the Monday June 1st, Parksville Qualicum News reported “the expansion of Thrifty Foods in Parksville is ready to go and…store manager Doug Riederer is hopeful that construction will be complete within a year.”

Don May Construction has the contract to complete the new parking lot and building expansion. Work has already started on the lot and they are waiting for the final permits to start on the building. I spoke with Don May and although he doesn’t need any employees at the moment he is open to receiving resumes.

Learn more about Vancouver Island University (VIU) Parksville-Qualicum Centre programs and meet instructors at an open house Friday, June 12th from 10:00am to noon.  Located upstairs in the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre, 100 Jensen Avenue East, VIU offers various programs such as: an Esthetics Certificate, Nail Technology, upgrading, literacy and tutoring, English, Psychology and Liberal Studies, Master Gardener Certificate, Emergency Medical Responder, ElderCollege and the Medical Office Assistant Certificate.

An upcoming Career Centre workshop on Friday June 12th from 9am to noon will highlight the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (FIRE) Industry. A panel of employers will discuss what’s happening locally in their fields and answer your questions.

BC Workfutures, a website that profiles key occupations and industries in BC, indicates that this industry group generates more economic output than any other industry in BC. It is an industry that can be impacted by the economy, technology, demographics and world events but the future projections are that it will continue to see average growth.

Another event related to the real estate industry is an upcoming Economics of Real Estate Development workshop hosted by Oceanside Development & Construction Association (ODCA). The workshop is scheduled on June 16 at Parskville Community & Conference Centre and will be of interest to real estate agents, developers, planners and builders. It will address the economic or financial aspects of real estate development and investment, and will also look at real estate investment analysis from the perspective of a number of players in the real estate market. Registration is $125 and forms and more information can be found on the ODCA website.

From May 28 to June 11th Working.com is hosting a virtual career fair that will present an opportunity for job seekers to connect with employers. An article in the May 23rd Victoria Times Colonist states that “Job seekers…will be able to view in-depth videos to get an inside glimpse into organizations from six categories, and use the chat function to connect in real time with a company representative one-on-one.” Highlighted are opportunities in the public sector, health care, retail, finance, engineering and other industries.