How to: Get a Criminal Record Check for ECE

How to Get a Criminal Record Check for ECE

Every daycare will require new employees to get a criminal record check (CRC) done before starting work. As well, most post-secondary institutions require a criminal record check before starting an Early Childhood Education program. The government of BC has a CRC specific for this case: Criminal Record Check for Working with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults. 

There are a couple ways to get a CRC:

  1. Online Request at Criminal Record Check (gov.bc.ca).
  2. Fill out a consent form from the school.
Online Request for Criminal Record Check

To be able to submit an online CRC request there are some eligibility requirements you have to meet:

  • At least 12 years old.
  • Have an access code from your school.
  • Verify your identity with your BC Services Card.

If you are over 12 years old and have a BC Services Card but not an access code from your school, you need to ask them for the code in order to be able to submit the request. All schools should have the code and share it with you.

If you are over 12 years old and have an access code but not a BC Services Card, see below for “Fill out a consent form”.

Fill out a Consent Form from the School

This option is used in a few scenarios. One scenario is as stated from above, you are over 12 years old but do not have a BC Services Card. The form can be filled out by your school and you just need to fill in your personal information and have the school verify your identity themselves. 

Another scenario where the form is used is for new students to an ECE program. Majority of post-secondary institutions will use the form instead of requesting online.

See below for a sample of the consent form to be filled out.

We hope this helps you get your criminal record check for studying or working as an ECE in BC!

How To: Make a Good Impression

How to Make a Good Impression at a Job Interview

A job interview can be scary, that is why we have created this blog post to ease your mind! Here are five ways to make a good impression. These tips can help you build a connection with the prospective employer and create a lasting impression.

Five Ways for Make a Good First Impression:
  1. Be authentic.
  2. Make eye contact.
  3. Be aware of body language.
  4. Tell them “why”.
  5. Stay positive.

Be Authentic

Be yourself! Employers want to make connections and the best HR professionals can tell if you are not being authentic. If you are not being authentic, the employer will feel that you do not care about them or that you do not bring anything new to the group. If you are ‘selling’ rather than ‘telling’, the employer will not trust you. Answer questions with enthusiasm and charisma to show your passion for the position and opportunity to have the interview.

Make Eye Contact

Maintaining eye contact throughout an interview shows that you are interested and that you appreciate the opportunity for the interview. Eye contact shows that you are open, honest, and dependable. If you do not keep eye contact with the employer during the interview, they may feel that you are not trustworthy.

Be Aware of Body Language

Displaying positive body language means to be open and attentive while speaking with the employer. As mentioned above, eye contact is a great way to appear open. It is also important to position your body toward the interviewer to show you are engaged in the conversation.

However, you should keep in mind to not have your body closed off (ie. legs and/or arms crossed), this translates to being negative body language. As well, looking away during conversation or blinking too much are both bad things to do.

Tell Them “Why”

You should answer every question to your best ability. However, one thing you can do is to take it a step further. Once you have simply answered their question, discuss why the answer leads you to being the most qualified candidate. Think like “cause” and “effect”.

Stay Positive

To make a good first impression, it is important to leave your worries or negative energy at the door. If you show signs of negativity or conflict, the employer may conclude that that is your attitude and decide you are not a good fit. Once you enter the workplace or start the interview via call, stay positive, relaxed, and enthusiastic. This will help for the interview to go smoothly and show how you can help the business grow.

We hope this helps you in your next job interview and you put your best foot forward!

How To: Give Constructive Feedback

How to Give Constructive Feedback

Constructive feedback is honest, clear, and direct feedback. Usually, it provides specific examples and actionable suggestions for positive change or improvement. It should be offered in a friendly manner with good intentions.

Constructive feedback build trust and provides the opportunity for both people to grow. It is important to remain empathetic to the other person’s circumstances to make it easier to provide beneficial feedback.

“Feedback Sandwich” Method

A “feedback sandwich” is where you start with a praise / positive comment, stating the area of feedback, ending with reiterating the positive. This makes the feedback less harsh for the recipient.

Ex. “You’re excellent at client relations, but you could improve on presentations in meetings by speaking up and working on your materials, I am super excited to see the progress you will make! I would love to sit with you to discuss design tips.”

Be Specific

If your feedback is more specific and detailed, then the more actionable it will be. List out objectives, behaviour changes you want to see in detail. This will help the recipient to understand and be able to make the changes. This provides clarity and minimizes the person feeling anxious from a piece of vague feedback.

Ex. “I would like you to write a marketing article on how to identify and communicate with a target audience. Let me know if you need further suggestions, I’m here to help.”

Give Recommendations

By giving recommendations, it can help the recipient gain a better understanding of you and your expectations and it provides a clear call to action.

Ex. “The presentation could be reduced from 30 minutes to 20 minutes if you limit one example per point. This will make your presentation more impactful and concise. The two to three examples you have distract listeners from the main message.”

Tips for Giving Constructive Feedback

  • Use “I” statements.
  • Focus on the situation, not the person. Don’t attack them.
  • Keep your language positive.
  • Think about timing.
  • Be conscious of your tone.
  • Make it a conversation.
  • Be mindful of emotions.
  • Have open body language.
  • Ask yourself, “Does this really need to be said?”

How To: Answer Interview Questions

How to Answer Interview Questions

So, we have discussed best practices for job interviews as well as how to prepare for one. Now, we will go over how to answer interview questions. 

In this blog post, we will go over the best ways to answer interview questions. We will outline the different types of candidates and their answer styles.

When asked to introduce yourself, try to keep it short and precise. You do not want to give every detail of every past job, the employer can read your resume for that. Instead, give a brief description of your current/last job then any subsequent related experiences. Give background to your education and work experiences. After that, focus on the new opportunity and why you applied to this one. Discuss why you want the role and why you are the perfect candidate for it.

TYPES OF CANDIDATES

Away Candidates

These types of candidates want to get away from a situation that is causing them stress and need for change. This may mean they are at a company that is not doing well, at a risk of losing their job, or is already unemployed. These candidates tend to have negative answers.

Towards Candidates

Towards candidates are looking towards something better. They are not trying to escape a situation, they are motivated to find better opportunities. They tend to focus on what they can get out of a new role or how the new role can make them happier.

EXAMPLE: “Why are you looking for a new job?”

Away Answers

  • “My current employer does not understand what my job requires.”
  • “There is a negative atmosphere at my current workplace.”
  • “The company I am working for is not doing well, and management does not seem to care.”

Towards Answers

  • “Tell me about your career options, work-life balance, and pay.”
  • “This opportunity is an area I would like to pursue.”
  • “This opportunity really interested me, I would love to learn more about it.”

As shown above, a towards candidate is more appealing. They are not negative and are looking for specific information regarding the opportunity and the employer.

How To: Identify Leadership Qualities

How to Identify Leadership Qualities

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

Leadership is the act of guiding, influencing, directing a group of people or an organization. A Leader is someone who has the ability to inspire others.

There is no one definition of a leader or the qualities or characteristics that make a good one. This blog post will discuss some of the top things that make a leader a great one.

Leadership is something that can be learned. Most people can become leaders when provided the right circumstances.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

The best leaders have qualities and characteristics that others respond to in a positive manner.

  • Effective communication
  • Positive attitude
  • Self-aware and self-regulating
  • Strong ethics
  • Flexible
  • Enthusiastic
  • Drive toward achievement
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Ability to influence and inspire others
  • Future-forward
  • Integrity
  • Respect from others
  • Honest and loyal

Having a leader with good qualities and strong intentions are very important for a business to last. If an organization does not have good leadership, it will likely fail in result of limiting resources and wasting time.

It is easy to spot a leader when you see one. They have followers, are respected, and looked up to. Leaders come from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences with different techniques, qualities, and characteristics.

How To: Professionally Resign

How to Professionally Resign from a Job

It is important to resign from any job in a professional and courteous way. It is also important to leave on good terms with your employer so you can use them as a reference later, and to minimize any bad talk about you in the industry. Even if it is a toxic work environment or there was poor leadership, it is vital to keep good relationships.

HOW TO RESIGN

You must write a formal resignation letter, no matter the situation. This is the professional way to leave a job on good terms.

If you are leaving a job to start a new one, make sure you have signed a job offer and have a set start date. Once everything is sorted for your new job, you should give your resignation letter to your current employer.

You should talk with your manager first and tell them that you are leaving. Make sure that they are the first to know in the company so as to keep a good relationship. This also allows them to start making arrangements to find a replacement for your position. Before leaving, offer to train either a current or a new employee on some of your roles. Alternatively, you can leave detailed notes or advice so that the company can operate smoothly once you are gone.

Before writing your resignation letter, review your employment contract to understand your obligations. You may find a notice period stated within the contract, whatever is stated is what you must go by. It is acceptable to provide more notice than what is agreed in the contract, however, you cannot provide notice in less time. If there is no notice mentioned, then you must give “reasonable notice”. Generally this is 2 weeks, however if you are in a more senior position, then there are additional rules. Check out the Employment Standards Act of BC for more information.

A resignation letter should only be given in person. It is more personal and courteous than sending an email. Schedule a meeting with your manager and prepare to talk about your transition ideas. If your manager asks why you are leaving, provide a short but honest answer. Be prepared to handle a counteroffer to make you stay.

THE RESIGNATION LETTER

Your resignation letter should be addressed to your manager and have the date you are giving the letter to them. It is good practice to keep a resignation letter brief and precise. In the opening, you must state you are tendering your resignation and explicitly mention the date your resignation is effective from. You should also include a sentence or two to close the working relationship with the company. It is best to end the letter thanking them for the opportunity and provide any other generous thoughts.

LEAVING THE JOB

You should prepare for the exit interview and treat it as any other interview. Prepare questions and answers in advance. Focus on positivity and provide professional answers.

You may ask your supervisor or manager for a reference. Be polite and appreciative of their guidance throughout your time with the company. It is also important to keep in touch with supervisors and colleagues after leaving. Use LinkedIn to connect with them to maintain an open communication channel besides texting or email.

On your last day, make sure to pack your personal items. Check all drawers and storage spaces to get all of your belongings.

TIPS & BEST PRACTICES
  • Express gratitude & appreciation
  • Remain professional in your last days of work
  • Prepare for the exit interview
  • Do not gossip

How To: Provide Your References

How To Provide References for a Job and Who to Include

References are people who can attest to your work experience, education, character, skills, and habits. Who you choose to be a reference is up to you, and you should choose them carefully. Make sure that you are on good terms with them and that they know they are your reference. As well, make sure they they can speak highly of you and the experience you had working together.

During the job search process, an employer may ask you to provide some references who they may contact. As discussed in a previous blog post, your references should not be listed on your resume. You should wait until the employer asks for them to allow for better preparation and a better outcome.

Typically, if you are asked to share your references after an interview, it is a good sign that the employer is interested in your application. Before sending your references to an employer, make sure that you contact each reference to inform them to expect a call from the employer (Provide company name and contact person), as well as information regarding the job. The best thing is to send them the job posting along with your resume so they can prepare.

WHO TO INCLUDE AS A REFERENCE?
  • Work References – Previous Manager, Supervisor, Co-Worker, etc.
  • Academic References – Teacher, Tutor, Colleague from the same Program, etc.
  • Character References – Landlord, Friends, Clients, etc.

Most employers prefer work references as they can provide the most detail to what they are looking for in a reference. Work references have the experience of your work habits, transferrable skills, and personality. Try to have all work references listed, but if you are new to the country or do not have much work experience, then list an academic or character reference as well.

*Note: If you are currently employed, do not use a reference from your current job if the company is not aware of you looking for a new job.

Academic references are good if you are a fresh graduate or new to the country and studying. Keeping good relationships with teachers in your program are vital to help you in the future. If you are in a large university, you could use someone in the same program as you who has done some assignments with you. This way they have an understanding of how you work and handle some situations.

Character references should be used if you have no one else as they usually do not know how you are in the workplace. These references can provide information on your personal qualities. Relatives are not allowed to be used as references as there is a strong bias.

WHAT TO INCLUDE?

You should list all of the relevant contact information for each person on your reference list. This includes Full Name, Job Title, Company, Phone Number, Email. If they are a character reference, it is best to list your relationship with them.

 

Work / Academic Reference Example:

John Smith

Manager, Swift Connect Inc.

Office Phone: 604-503-9446 ext.1

Email: info@swiftconnect.ca

 

Character Reference Example:

Jane Doe

Landlord

Phone: 604-123-4567

Email: jane.doe@gmail.com

How To: Manage & Prepare for Screen Calls

How to Manage Screening Calls for a Job

A screen call is part of the recruitment process. Not every employer will do this, however, it is important to prepare and understand a phone screening call. The call is typically used as a pre-interview to allow the employer to examine your qualifications before progressing to a formal interview.

HOW TO PREPARE?

It is hard to prepare for a screening call as they are unexpected for the job seeker. However when you are sending your resume to companies, make sure to really understand what they are looking for. Take the time to read the job post to find out about the company as well as the skills and qualifications required for the position.

Know what companies you have applied to and the job title. If a recruiter mentions their company name and you do not remember them or the job, then it is very off-putting for the recruiter. As well, if you mention “I have applied to so many jobs, I can’t remember yours” that will not translate well to their eyes. To combat this, save the job post as a doc doc on your computer or print it out. This will be easy to access when you receive a call. Also, it is good practice to have the resume and/or cover letter you used in the application to help.

Make sure that your voicemail is set up and the message is professional. If your voicemail is not set up, then the recruiter will be unsure if they reached the right person. This can have a negative outcome as it shows that you have not taken the time to do a simple task. If you do have a voicemail but it is unprofessional, then it is likely that the recruiter will not even leave a message.

RECEIVING THE CALL

When you are applying for jobs, it is important to answer any phone calls. We understand that most people do not answer unknown callers anymore because of the abundance of spam, but if you are on the job search, answer every call. Make sure to answer professionally and calmly.

If you are outside when you receive a call or are busy doing a task, you can ask for their name and phone number to call them back. However, it is important to give a timeframe on when you are available to call back, ie. in 15 minutes or at 3pm. It is best not to continue the call when there are distractions around you, this is a private conversation that you need to focus on.

If you are at home and available, take the call! Get your resume, cover letter, and job post handy to refer back to when speaking with the employer. This way you are looking at the same information and it is easy to answer a specific question. However, if they ask you a question that you mention in your resume or cover letter, do not read it word from word. Personalize it and re-word your answer.

TIPS:

  • Do not take the call on speaker phone.
  • Do not hide information, be transparent and give all the information.
  • Be honest for gaps in employment or why you left a job.
  • Be detailed in your answer, try not to be vague.
  • Relax and be professional.
COMMON QUESTIONS

Below are a list of common questions that an employer may ask you during a screening call.

  • Why are you leaving your current / last position?
  • Why did you apply to this role? What interested you about our job posting?
  • What are your salary expectations?
  • How do you manage time?
  • How do you handle stress in the workplace?
  • What are your biggest strengths / weaknesses?
  • Tell me about a time where you had to complete a project in a group. Was it a good or bad experience? Why?
  • Have you had to deal with conflict in the workplace? How did you handle it? How was it resolved?
  • Tell me about a time where you took initiative.
  • General inquiry about job gaps, industry changes.

How To: References on Your Resume

Do References Belong on Your Resume?

In this blog post we will discuss whether references should be on a resume and the reasons to support. 

In short, no, references should not be listed on a resume. Applying for a job is a process and not a one-step thing. Generally, references will be used after having an interview with the employer. Once the interview is done, they may ask for a list of three references. Here is where you can provide the information.

You may choose to put “References Available Upon Request” at the end of your resume. This is an acceptable way to mention you have the references and are willing to share with the employer. Alternatively, you may choose not to mention anything on your resume and that is sufficient as well.

By waiting until references are asked, this protects yourself as well as the confidentiality of your reference‘s contact information. If your references are attached to your resume, that welcomes the employer to contact them at any time, where you have no control or warning. When an employer requests your references, you can ask them if you can send it via email after the interview. This allows you to contact the three people on your list to tell them about the job and share details on what the employer is looking for. Also, to warn them to expect a call or email from who interviewed you. Make sure to mention the full name of the interviewer and the company name so your reference person is prepared and ready to speak about you.

If references are listed on your resume and the employer chooses to contact them without warning, the reference person will not be prepared. It is possible they may not answer the call, or not be focused on the call since they did not have time to prepare.

As well, it is important to keep your reference list up to date to ensure that the people listed and their contact information is correct. Make sure that you are on good terms with the people listed, confident they can speak positively about you, and that they know who you are. Before putting someone on your reference list, make sure to ask them if it is okay. Permission is key, if you do not have permission, they will likely not help you in your job search.

REFERENCE CONTACT INFORMATION

It is good practice to have the full name of the reference person, their position and company, phone number, and email. The job title and company are for previous employers to show how you know them. If it is a personal reference, make a not of how you know them.

In summary, it is best not to include references on your resume. Wait until an employer asks for them to protect their personal information as well as allow you time to provide details of the job to your references and warn them to expect a call / email.

How to get Documents Authenticated

How to get Documents Authenticated / Apostille

WHAT IS AUTHENTICATION?

Authentication of documents is required for most Canadian documents before being used in a foreign country. Authentication is to prove that the signature and the seal are genuine. In other countries this process may be known as apostille or legalization.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

For a document to be authenticated, it must be the original document (no scanned or pictures of documents) and must have the original signature and seal, if applicable. In some cases, a certified true copy or a notarized version of a document are accepted.

If a document, or part of a document, is in another language other then English or French, the document must be sent for a certified, notarized translation. Note that some countries may require a translator’s affidavit.

If you need further information on specific country requirements, please contact us and we can help.

HOW TO GET A DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATED?

We offer authentication / apostille services with our notary partner. We are experienced in getting documents organized, knowledgeable about the process, and can provide updates throughout.

OUR SERVICES

  • Assist gathering documents and ensure they are the correct document type.
  • Our partner notary will help assess the documents.
  • Facilitate an in-person or Zoom meeting so you can meet the notary and swear the documents are true and the signature is yours.
  • Monitor the process and keep you updated throughout.
  • Get documents officially translated and notarized, including affidavit if needed.

If you are looking to get your documents authenticated / apostille, contact us to learn more about our services!                     EMAIL US – INFO AT SWIFTCONNECT . CA