Oceanside Village Resort is located at 1080 Resort Drive in Parksville.

Tell us about your business/organization and what makes you stand out as an employer?

Oceanside Village Resort Ltd. is owned by the Hill family of Parksville, with over 45 years experience operating resorts. The Hills opened their first resort, Kasba Lake Lodge in 1975 and then developed and operated what is currently known as Beach Acres across from us. We are a 15 acre resort with 140 cottages of varying sizes sleeping from 1 – 8 persons and each cottage is privately owned. All of our cottages have been designed by a professional interior decorating company out of Nanaimo which offers up a warm and inviting feeling with furniture packages to go with the interior color schemes. All of our accommodations come fully equipped with the comforts of home including 6 appliances and up to three televisions per cottage. We are a very pet friendly resort offering up cottages for both short term and long term stays.

Oceanside Village Resort is like a home away from home for many, as we have a huge following of repeat guests and snowbirds here from one to five months each year. On-site guests can enjoy our indoor pool, hot tub and exercise room, along with amenities such as our Taste Café & Bistro, Tranquil Moments Day Spa and Aglow Salon. We value our staff as much as our guests and everyone is treated with the same integrity and respect. In doing so, all staff strive to make Oceanside Village Resort the first choice of guests and commit themselves to meeting and exceeding expectations through constant dedication to every aspect of service we provide.

How many employees do you have?

In off season we have approximately 14 employees and during the busier times of the year we have upwards of 24 – 26 employees.

What do you look for in a new employee?

Enthusiasm for the job is key as well as a good work ethic. We look for individuals who want to excel in the hospitality industry and be part of a team with a focus on honesty, integrity and respect for both their colleagues and guests. Our staff members need to be able to work independently with little supervision and often under pressure given the tight time constraints involved with the day to day running of our resort. Outgoing personalities and an eagerness to assist are essential. Every guest arriving needs to be greeted by staff with a cheerful outlook to create a wow factor.

What advice would you give someone who wants to work for your organization?

To be professional, warm and friendly and take the time to chat with a guest and get to know them. This type of service often results in repeat guests as it creates a family type atmosphere. We want to exceed the guests expectations with each visit and this means being ambitious and dedicated to customer service. We also encourage fun fun fun! If a guest walks in and sees that we are having fun in our office smiling and laughing and everyone welcomes them openly, that is a wonderful first impression!

Do you anticipate hiring in the next 6 months? If so for what types of positions?

Currently we have a good compliment of summer staff but we could be looking to add a couple more cleaners and possibly one more part time person to Guest Services.

What is the best way for someone to apply if they are interested in working for your organization?

By either coming in to see us in person and dropping off a resume or by email to the Resort Manager Kathy Fraser at Kathy@kasba.com

An article posted on the Parksville Beach News website on June 28th indicates “those who watch tourism numbers closely in our region say 2016 is shaping up to be better than 2015 — and that was a record year for many operators. The numbers available from the first four months of the year show occupancy rates at hotels, motels, etc. were up 13 per cent from 2015 and the all-important revenue per available room stat shows a 37 per cent increase, said Blain Sepos, executive director of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association.” This increase in visitors means tourism employers will be on the look out for staff! Often these employers like to meet you in person. Spruce up your resume, dress to impress and drop in at a quieter time to apply. You might just be the person they are looking for. For more leads check out this week’s hot sheet.

Also please note that during the months of July and August the Hot Sheet will be produced every second week. The next hot sheet will be out July 19th.

See this week’s hot sheet for a variety of job leads and business buzz.

By Janet Kimmel, CCDP/Employment Consultant

Want the inside scoop on how to stand out among other job candidates?

The job market is competitive. I read an interesting article on self-marketing for employment in a recent issue of BC Business magazine and thought about how it can help job seekers on Central Vancouver Island. It addresses the topic of what recruiters look for in potential candidates. Recruiters work on behalf of employers to find the best person to fill a particular role in an organization. The article discusses a new trend where it is no longer enough to be the person who achieves top grades from a good college or other training program; it is the individual who brings their true self (your brand) to the interview who will certainly stand out. The principles can be applied to job seekers in large cities and can also be applied to smaller labour market such as ours.

How can you prepare yourself to stand out from the competition?
How do you demonstrate your brand?

Know your personality
What are your talents, passions, interests, unique qualities and goals that go beyond finding a job?
People with the power to hire want to hear about your thoughts, ideas, and visions on human, social, and community issues. Idealism, leadership skills, and a strong desire to improve something are examples of key character traits.

Research the organization
Use technology that is all around us. Learn from company websites and social media posts, from which you become familiar with a particular philosophical viewpoint or cause. Armed with information, you can discuss how their vision is similar to your own. John Allen, from the staffing company, People Solutions, says “With a focus on the triple bottom line and creating health and wealth in whole communities… (financial institution) Vancity looks for candidates who have done their research on the company’s cooperative model and are philosophically aligned with its mission and vision.”

Be yourself
Continue to be true to yourself and you will find a good fit. Build your resume with experience and skills you gain from community involvement. There is no shortage of work to be done, both volunteer and paid. Any specialized knowledge you acquire is the value you bring to your next job, and is an integral part of your brand.

Learn more on this topic
Come to a free workshop at The Career Centre where you can learn how your personality and your brand are essential to finding work you love.