Lauras many jobs in Vancouver!!

Real Estate Council of BC
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Ok so we may be here a while!!

In the first week of arriving neil and i joined quite a few of the employment agencies, addecco, hays and some other canadian ones. As usual we were told there would be lots of jobs as our skills are so good!!!

The experience working over here in Vancouver has been great regardless of the jobs i have been doing.

On the Thursday (24th November 2005) Neil had a call from the 500 staffing agency saying BC Hydro (big electrics company) wanted to see him for an interview for an IT position for two weeks!! Fast forward to now and Neil is still in the same job and has his own cubicle and name plate and has been given more and more responsibility etc. He was asked if he wanted to go permanent but there is no point as the benefits dont kick in until after 6 months!!

janet and me at the library at ubc!!
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Well, it has been a different story for me!

To date i have had about 15 different temp jobs some for a few days and some for a few weeks!! Plus i also babysit, waitress on casual ad hoc basis  and recently did some background acting, on pierce brosnan film!The latter was tiring but also such a great experience and i met some nice people and some very weird canadians!!

The first, most significant job was in early december for six weeks working as office assistant for the Real Estate Council of British Columbia. The location was great as it was just a block away from where we live in Downtown Vancouver so i could walk there. The job was a bit boring, but the people were nice. There was the possibility of extending the contract but i had had enough after the six weeks!

me with my barcode scanner!!
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As well as working at above position, i worked for big American, clothing company, called Roots on Robson Street, downtown. Normally eight hrs on a week day and four hrs in evening three days mid-week. I made some good friends here who i have been out with since but the work was absolutely mind-numbing. The bonus was the discount on clothes and working with lots of young people. I only lasted here for a week and half!!

Then i worked as a receptionist for a big property development group called WesGroup and Parklane Homes. I was covering for a girl who was on holiday for two weeks so an extension was not an option. This job was based in the same building as Neil so i could walk there and Neil sometimes popped up to see me!! The people were also friendly but job was too boring for me!!

Where Neil works and where i did for two weeks!!
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I then worked as receptionist again out at Renfrew for Bell Business Solutions, covering for another temp who was on hol for week. Interesting job but not much to do. I quite enjoyed the scenic route on the skytrain as the weather was sunny for the two weeks i was there in Feb.

Starting March 1st i worked at the University of British Columbia. I have never seen a university so big, it is like a self-contained city. There are two hospitals, a beach, ice rinks, massive indoor and outdoor swimming pool, two churches, a golf course......... the list goes one. I worked as...... wait for it, alibrary assistant at the Irvin Kay Barber Learning centre. The job was easy and good money and the people i worked with were very friendly and i have kept in touch with one of the girl students there.

WesGroup and Parklane Homes offices
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Getting bored yet?? i am!!

Lastly i have been working for UBC, again, for the Sauder School of Executive Education but at their downtown location. This was the best job so far as it is something i am interested in, Event Management. I walk there too and it is right next door to the art gallery so very picturesque. There are some english people working there too and we all have a good laugh.

The experience working over here in Vancouver has been great regardless of the jobs i have been doing. It is so interesting seeing how other cultures work and how other countries operate in the workplace.