Lots of information about training opportunities including the Pathway to Trades program for youth! Find out all about it in your JAM update for May 24th.

Lots of information included in our Jobs and More for May 8th. YOUTH – If you are interested in the carpentry and electrical trades, don’t miss the opportunity for FREE training in our Pathway to Trades Program! Click here for your JAM update!

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

Our tagline is “support shelter safety” and these three words encapsulate the core of our work. We provide shelter and psychosocial support to Nanaimo and Oceanside residents who need it. We run crisis stabilization and assisted living programs along with supportive recovery and outreach services. In addition, our clients have access to our pre-employment and life skills programs. ICCS offers wages on par with or higher than most organizations in our sector, and much of our workforce enjoys the benefits of membership in the BCGEU. But where we really shine is our culture. Long term employees report that the clients they work with and the meaningful aspect of the work is what keeps them engaged and satisfied year after year. While the flavour of our culture differs somewhat from program to program, overall it shares a distinctive bottom line. While fiscal responsibility is important, we also measure our success by how well we contribute to making the world a better place. It is probably not an exaggeration to say that every employee joins our team because of the opportunity the job provides in this regard. Our employees feel like they are making a significant and meaningful contribution to improving the lives of neighbours and community members. They feel that way, because they really are making that difference. At the management level, there is a conscious focus on supporting our front line staff to face the challenges of the job with resiliency and strength. We emphasize empathy and compassion, alongside healthy boundaries and self-care. There is a genuine desire from the Board of Directors to our frontline staff to model therapeutic relationships and integrity. We are always working to secure the resources, partnerships, and expertise necessary to achieve our vision.

How many employees do you have?

As of 01 April 2023 we have 138 employees in Nanaimo and Parksville.

What do you look for in a new employee?

Our biggest category of employees is Support Workers. In Support Workers we look for relevant education that provides the skills and strategies for managing the difficult behaviour that some of our client’s express. We look for a natural temperament marked by empathy and resiliency. We look for integrity, ethical principles, and maturity. We hire from different ages, recognizing that each stage of life has a valuable perspective. We look for “people skills,” a healthy understanding of boundaries, and intelligence. Our most successful employees are ones who have some familiarity with people in crisis, or who have lived experience with mental health and recovery. We look for people who understand trauma and the way that early adverse childhood experiences shape perspectives and behaviour.

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

Understand the job and what training and resources you need to be successful. In general this involves an understanding of yourself, your triggers, and the things that motivate and discourage you. Are you a good listener? Do you like holding space for people, being present? Are you good at offering empathy? Those qualities are essential to support work. As are healthy boundaries. If you are interested in one of the other jobs in our society, are you willing to work with the limitations of a non-profit environment? Along with our enviable work culture, goes the challenges of working with tight budgets.  If a position you are applying for says it includes night shifts, spend some time considering if that is something you can really do for an extended period. If you don’t have experience doing front line work, and think you would like it, consider volunteering. We are developing a volunteer training program that offers some opportunities to work alongside frontline staff.

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

We will be hiring Casual Support Workers in the Oceanside area in the coming months. We’ll also be hiring for a variety of positions in Nanaimo, including Support Workers and several administrative positions.

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

Please visit our website and click on the “Join Us” tab. www.Islandcrisiscaresociety.ca

YOUTH WEEK AND LOOKING FOR A SUMMER JOB

BC Youth Week is a provincial celebration of youth held annually during the first week of May. It is a week of fun filled interaction and a celebration intended to build a strong connection between youth and their communities. Because of this, we decided to focus our May 2023 Tip of the Month on our young people and student job seekers.

Tips for Looking for a Summer Job

Working a summer job can help you gain experience and earn money. Working can be highly rewarding but sometimes challenging to find the right fit. If you are looking for a summer job, it may be helpful to learn more about strategies and tips you can use to make your job search as effective as possible.

What kind of work do you want?

To find a job that best fits you, start with thinking about your interests and values. Even if the position is temporary, you want to enjoy what you are doing. Consider topics that you enjoy and how your interests and values can transform into a summer job.  For example: if you like sports, you might want to apply at a sporting goods store, if you like reading you might want to apply at a book store.

Get your references ready

Put together a list of three references. These can be former employers, but if you’ve never worked before, or have limited experience, you can use volunteer references, coaches, teachers, neighbours, former coworkers and acquaintances. Ensure you ask your references for permission first and be sure to get a phone number and an email address for your list.

Check out your social media with a sharp eye. What would a potential employer see if they were to look you up? Do you seem trustworthy and professional? Would you want to hire you to represent your business? How are your privacy settings? If you think no one is going to look, you’re probably wrong.

Write a Resume and Cover Letter

For most jobs, you will need a resume and cover letter to submit to the employer. MS Word has templates and a quick google search will reveal many more great examples. Always have two people proofread your documents before you start handing them out to employers. The Career Centre has an online resume and cover letter workshop https://learning.careercentre.org/ and resume examples on our website.

 Get Help with a Summer Job Search

The https://www.careercentre.org/find-a-job/  and https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/youth  are great places to start looking for work. Most employers in the Oceanside area post jobs on the Career Centre website. If you’re a student, check with your school Career Education office and ask how they can assist you.

 Check out Summer Youth Employment Programs

Many organizations have summer programs that run between June and August. They are typically city, provincial, or non-profit agencies. Finding these positions may require a little digging, but this is another instance where an online search is your friend. The City of Parksville and Chambers of Commerce are good examples of this in our community.

 Network, network, network!

Networking really does work! It is an excellent way to tap into the hidden job market and it’s not all that difficult. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Talk to family, friends, friends’ parents, teachers, coaches, anyone and everyone – and ask if they can help you or if they have any leads.

Networking is the best way to find a job and most people are glad to provide job leads and advice. For more information on the hidden job market, the Career Centre sends out news via JAM (Jobs and More), a bi-weekly resource containing up to date local information.

 Apply Online

Read application instructions carefully. You don’t want to be screened out because you submitted an application online without attaching your resume or showing up at the wrong time. Depending on the organization, you may need a resume and possibly a cover letter or there may just be an online application. Every employer has different criteria, be sure you know theirs.

Apply In-Person

Applying in-person allows you to make a personal connection and gives your potential employer a chance to chat with you. Some jobs require a resume, some require an application. Everyone could be different. Be sure to be neat, well groomed and appear “ready to work.” You may be interviewed on the spot!

 Good luck and happy hunting!