Category: Jobs and Apprenticeships

When people think of the film industry, the first place that comes to mind is likely Hollywood or maybe Toronto. Yet British Columbia has a thriving film industry that has helped to make the province an important part of this field.

The film industry in British Columbia started in the 1970s and has continued to grow since then. Hollywood filmmakers have often used places in BC for their Canadian locations, beginning with the Dominion Bridge steel plant in Burnaby, which was part of a film in the late 1970s. Since then, spots in British Columbia have been part of many films, as well as documentaries, advertisements, and other parts of the industry.

Besides being a location for Hollywood films, British Columbia has its own very successful film industry. For example, after Bridge Studios opened in 1987, the company filmed movies such as Star Trek 3, 50 Shades of Grey and Tomorrowland. North Shore Studios produced Deadpool, iZombie and The X-Files.  In 2001, Mammoth Studios opened and soon began producing films such as X-Men, The Revenant, and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. Famous movie stars have visited British Columbia to take part in filming programs in various locations around the province.

British Columbia’s film industry is part of a larger Canadian film industry. Ontario and Quebec, as well as other parts of Canada, also have film companies producing many movies and documentaries. The National Film Board of Canada was formed in 1939 to make films that were significant for the history and culture of Canada, and the organization continues to be important today.

Like in the rest of Canada, many parts of British Columbia’s film industry stopped or were severely restricted during the pandemic. These problems came after years of struggling with competition from Hollywood films. With bigger budgets and more access to famous actors, Hollywood films tend to get more attention than Canadian films, and people are often unaware of the films coming from Canada. Distribution of films in Canada also tends to be difficult, partly because of the large distances that films had to travel before the age of digital files. Even now, films can take a long time to get to Canada.

Despite those difficulties, the film industry has done well in British Columbia. The creative sector, which includes film, television, media, music, and magazine and book publishing, generates $4 billion each year in the province. Besides that, these industries create 85,000 jobs for people working in various aspects of these creative fields. Actors, producers, artists, writers, and many other creative people can work in these fields, but others are also necessary.

The film industry involves people in many different roles. Besides the writers, producers, directors, and actors, each film requires people to set up the stages, run the camera equipment, make lunches, and complete many different small jobs. People who want to be part of the film industry have many choices of how to get involved in this thriving field.

British Columbia’s film industry will continue to change over the years. If it continues to do as well as it has, it will be an important part of life for many people in the province.

 

Bibliography:

Gee, Dana. “B.C. Film/TV Industry Awaits as Talks Continue in Hollywood Actors’ Strike.” https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/bc-film-tv-industry-hollywood-actors-strike.

Magder, Ted; Piers Handling; and Peter Morris. “Canadian Film History: 1939 to 1973.” https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-film-history-1939-to-1973.

Peng, Jenny. “Timeline: The B.C. Film Industry Shoots to the Forefront.” https://www.bcbusiness.ca/Timeline-The-BC-film-industry-shoots-to-the-forefront.

Thomson, Cameron. “B.C. Leads the Way in Film and TV Production in Canada: Report.” https://globalnews.ca/news/5113028/bc-film-industry-2019/.

Variety can be interesting and exciting, but when safety and quality are at issue, people need consistency. In Ontario and other parts of Canada, the Red Seal program helps to ensure that people in certain trades follow consistent standards across the country.

People who hire plumbers or electricians want to know that their homes will not be flooded with water from leaky pipes or burned up because of faulty wiring. Even when people go to a restaurant, they want to know that the person cooking their meal understands how to prepare it without causing food poisoning. A Red Seal designation means that the people in that trade have been tested to make sure that they know how to do their jobs.

The Red Seal program is a project of the federal and provincial governments to make sure that every province and territory has the same basic standards. Each area differs slightly, and each person has different strengths and weaknesses, but the Red Seal tests are designed to ensure that people working on opposite ends of the country will have basically the same set of knowledge and skills.

Tradespeople in certain fields, but not all trades, must pass the Red Seal examination to prove that they have the necessary knowledge and skills for the work. If they pass, they receive a Red Seal endorsement on their final certificate, which allows them to work in any part of Canada without having to retrain for the work. This can be an advantage for tradespeople, especially if they need to move to another province for work or family reasons.

In Ontario, more than fifty trades are governed by Red Seal standards. Carpenters, cooks, industrial millwrights, and welders are some of the people who work by Red Seal standards. Truck and coach technicians and general machinists are also part of that program. Often, Red Seal designations begin during people’s apprenticeships and continue throughout their careers.

The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) directs the overall apprenticeship program, but the provinces do most of the actual planning and overseeing of the programs. The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program or the Government of Ontario websites are good places to start learning about the training requirements for a Red Seal designation, to find out how to prepare for the test, and to learn how to maintain a Red Seal designation even years after passing the test.

For many people working on assignments and writing tests in school, the idea of writing another test might seem like an unnecessary burden. Red Seal tests can be difficult to pass, and many people might wonder if it is worth the effort. However, having that designation can be useful since jobs and family circumstances are often uncertain. Even if the Red Seal designation is optional, it can be a good choice for many tradespeople.

When people are just starting out in their careers, it can be difficult to know how their lives will change. Marrying someone from a different province, moving for better job opportunities, or relocating to look after elderly parents can all change the course of people’s careers. If you have a chance to get into a Red Seal trade, it could help you maintain steady jobs and become an expert in your field.

 

Bibliography

Government of Ontario. “Finish an Apprenticeship.” https://www.ontario.ca/page/finish-apprenticeship.

Grow Training. “Red Seal Trades Program.” https://www.growtraining.ca/grow-resources/redseal-hort.

Red Seal Canada. “Red Seal Program.” https://www.red-seal.ca/eng/about/pr.4gr.1m.shtml.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. “Red Seal Trades.” https://oyap.ca/en/about_apprenticeship/red_seal_trades/.

By Olivia Condlln-Wilby

Job interviews are stressful. Whether you’re preparing for your first one ever, or you have a hundred of them under your belt, it’s normal to be at least a little bit nervous every time. Maybe you’re worried that you won’t have enough to talk about or that your mind will go blank in the moment. Perhaps you have a tendency to ramble and get off topic, and you’re worried you won’t actually express what you need to say in the interview. Whatever your concern, a little preparation can go a long way to helping you feel confident and ready to shine when your interview date finally comes. Spend some time following these steps, and you’ll find interviews to be much less stressful, especially as you do more and more of them.

1. Do your research.

Before your interview, take some time to research the organization and the position you’re interested in. Most companies have a website or social media that you can scan for information about the organization’s mission, goals, activities, history, and services or products. It’s common for an interviewer to ask something like, “What do you know about our organization?” Be prepared to answer this question with a few key points from your research. To a hiring manager, this preparation shows commitment, enthusiasm, organization, and professionalism.

It’s also a good idea to re-read the job listing before your interview. What skills and competencies are required for the role? Which of your past experiences are most relevant? You can start to anticipate some of the questions they may ask based on the content of the job listing. For example, if the listing mentions that they want someone who’s “a strong communicator,” you can bet that they will ask you to discuss your interpersonal and communication skills, as well as your experiences working with others.

2. Make notes.

Think about your most relevant skills and experiences and start to write down some of the examples you plan to discuss in your interview. Everyone takes notes differently, but a tried-and-true method for job interviews is the STARR method. For each skill or experience you wish to highlight, you can use this approach to structure your answer:

Situation: Describe the general context for your answer. For example: “I was volunteering at my local library, reading stories to children.”

Task: Identify the specific task that you had to complete. For example: “I had to keep a group of young children focused and engaged for 45 minutes, without losing control of the audience.”

Action: Explain the actions you took to complete the task. For example: “I encouraged audience participation by letting children pick the books and take turns reading so that they would stay focused and engaged during story time.”

Result: Describe the positive outcome(s) of your actions. For example: “The children remained happy and engaged throughout the story, and many of them returned the following week because they had such a good time.”

Relevance: Make a connection to the job you’re currently interested in. For example: “This experience demonstrates my ability to work with children and keep them on topic for extended periods of time. As a camp counsellor, I would use these skills to maintain control of my group of campers and ensure that each day runs smoothly and enjoyably.”

You may not use the STARR method for every single answer during the interview, but writing out a few examples beforehand can help you reflect on your qualifications and figure out how to describe them to the interviewer in the best possible way.

3. Prepare your questions.

Every interviewer is trying to assess whether you’d be a good fit for the role, but the interview is also a chance for you to find out more about the organization and whether you’d truly be happy working there. At the end of an interview, you will likely be asked something like, “Do you have any questions for me?” This is a perfect opportunity for you to gain some clarity about the job, the work culture, and the people you’d be working with if you’re successful in getting hired. Some sample questions you may want to ask include:

• How would you describe the work culture at [Insert Organization]?
• What is your favourite thing about working there? What is your least favourite?
• What would a typical day in this role look like for me?

4. Avoid common pitfalls.

There are some major “don’ts” when it comes to preparing for job interviews, and it’s important to avoid making these common mistakes.

• Do not walk into an interview without any background knowledge about the organization. It definitely won’t make a good impression on the interviewer if you end up having to admit that you don’t know anything about the company you’re trying to work for.
• Do not try to “wing it,” especially if it’s your first time. Even if you feel confident beforehand, you may find yourself getting nervous and flustered during the interview, especially if you haven’t done many of them before (or at all). Prepare, prepare, prepare!
• Do not ask superficial or “Google-able” questions. Not only does this waste an opportunity to find out more valuable insights, but it also reflects poorly on you if you ask a question that could have easily been answered by skimming the company website.

By following these simple guidelines, you can prepare properly for every job interview that comes your way and avoid the missteps most people make during the interview process.

By Olivia Condlln-Wilby

In Canada, your resume is an essential part of the job search process. It is your primary method of advertising your skills, experiences, and achievements to potential employers, and hiring managers will use it to assess whether you’re qualified for the role and a good fit for the company. Knowing how to create an effective resume is a skill that will support your success in any future profession – plus, it will make the entire job search process much easier and less stressful. As you prepare to embark on your next job application, feel free to use this article as a resource for writing, updating, and proofreading your resume.

Resume Appearance

Your resume should be clear, concise, and easy to read. Employers may be reviewing hundreds of resumes from candidates just like you, and they will likely spend a total of 30 seconds skimming the content before deciding whether to invite you for an interview. As such, it’s important to make yourself stand out and get your key points across quickly. Some quick tips for success are as follows:

• Begin with a header. At the top of your resume, create a header with your name, contact information, and perhaps a link to your LinkedIn page, if you have one.
• Be consistent. Use a consistent font, style, and text size throughout your resume.
• Use space effectively. You don’t want your resume to be cluttered and hard to read. Try to avoid using unnecessary graphics, borders, and other embellishments; focus on the essential content rather than a fancy design.

Resume Content & Structure

Canadian employers typically expect resumes to have a certain structure, and while you may be tempted to deviate from the norm, it can actually hurt your chances of getting hired if you think too far outside of the box. A Canadian resume should be 1 or 2 pages, maximum, and submitting a 3-4 page resume may result in a hiring manager deciding not to bother reading it.

Within those 1-2 pages, a Canadian resume should have the following sections:

• Professional Summary (or Objective): In this section, you can introduce yourself and highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. If you had just a few sentences to explain why you deserve this job, what would you say?

Example: “Hard-working student with strong multitasking skills and previous experience in a fast-paced retail environment, seeking an opportunity to apply my excellent interpersonal skills to a customer service position.”

• Skills & Competencies: These are a few bullet points outlining your most relevant skills. Review the job listing and pay attention to the specific criteria they’ve outlined for their ideal candidate. How have you demonstrated those skills?

Example: “Strong communication skills demonstrated by over a year of experience in customer service.”

• Relevant Experience: Identify your most relevant experiences and create 3-5 bullet points to describe each one. These could be work, volunteer, or extra-curricular activities that show how you’re qualified for the job you’re interested in. Use action words to describe your experiences and emphasize your specific achievements.

Example: “Collaborated with a team of volunteers to deliver hot meals to the elderly, resulting in a high satisfaction rate among consumers and an efficient delivery schedule.”

• Education: In this section, you can list your educational history, including the name of the schools you’ve previously attended, as well as the dates you were enrolled there.

Example: “Northern Secondary School, September 2021 – Present.”

In your resume, you may also choose to include a section focusing on scholarships, awards, projects, or other achievements that do not fall under the categories listed above. A section like this is completely optional, and you should only include it if the items you want to list are specifically related to the job you’re applying for.

Moving Forward with Job Applications

If you follow the resume structure and general guidelines outlined above, you can feel confident that your resume will be in line with Canadian standards and have a good chance of impressing employers as they review all the applications that come in for each job. Remember to be clear, concise, and organized, and don’t be shy about highlighting your skills and achievements.