Funding is now available for the Get Youth Working! Program. This program offers BC employers a Wage Subsidy as an incentive to hire youth, providing on the job experience they need to excel. The program is open to eligible youth 18-24 years of age. For more information see this week’s hot sheet.  

Did you know our hot sheet features a job search tip? This week we link to our May Tip of the Month for suggestions on how to ensure you are making the most of your references to help you land a job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 emergency shelters, a sobering centre, crisis stabilization and assisted living programs, along with supportive recovery and outreach services. The Deloitte Millennial Survey last year (2018) reported that attracting and retaining millennials and Gen Z respondents includes several key factors. The first two were financial rewards and workplace culture. 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 May 2019 we have 106 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 Support Workers and Outreach Workers in the Oceanside area, as well as advertising for some management level positions. We will also be hiring for similar positions in Nanaimo.

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

References

Now that you have your resume and cover letter all ready for your job applications, be sure you have an up to date, relevant list of references.

Choosing

Choose people that can speak positively about your skills and experiences directly related to the position you have applied for.  Direct supervisors or managers and people you have worked closely with are ideal.  If your background is in self employment, a client may make a good reference.

If you don’t have a work history, you can ask people you volunteered for or coaches, teachers and even the neighbour whose lawn you mowed or the parents whose children you babysat.  Avoid using personal references unless the employer has specifically asked for them.

Remember, not only will prospective employers Google you, they will also Google your references.  This is often how they get their first impression of you both. If you Google yourself and your references beforehand, you will be better prepared for any questions that might arise.

Have a minimum of three references, consider more if you are applying for senior positions.

Maintaining

Check in with your references when you are actively applying for work.  If you are going for an interview, provide your references with a copy of the job posting and your updated resume. This will allow them to be better prepared to relate their answers directly to their experiences with you.  You can even give them some ideas about which of your skills they might like to highlight.

Make sure to show gratitude to your references, it takes time for them to do this for you.  Send them a thank you note.

Using

List your references on a separate sheet of paper in a format that matches your resume. Include their name, position, organization/company, address, email and phone number.  Ask your reference for the best contact information to use and if there is any information they would not like included.  Make it as easy as possible for your prospective employer to contact your references.  Here is an example:

Ms. Job Reference, Greatest Boss Ever

ABC Company, 123 Street, Parksville, BC V9P 1K1

Email:  jobref@greatestsboss.ca

Work:  250-951-XXXX   Cell:  250-951-XXXX   Home: 250-951-XXXX

If you don’t include a reference from your most recent employer or one of your previous employers, be prepared to be questioned about why you didn’t.

It is not necessary to include your references in your resume when you apply, most often people wait until they have an interview.  There is no need to include “References available upon request”.  If you decide to include your references in your application, you have to be prepared that the employer may contact the reference without letting you know.