A funny thing happened yesterday. After several rapidfire first interviews (don't call us, we'll call you), I decided to head to Gastown and find the Irish pub where an old Guelph friend now works. It was a balmy 15 Celsius Vancouver afternoon, and I strolled through downtown somewhat haphazardly, smiling and nodding at the increasing number of winos and druggies as I head towards Hastings Street.
Arriving in Gastown, I discovered the address I had for the pub was wrong, and the coins in my pocket (bus fare) were drawing some undue attention on my stroll through Blood Alley Way. It started to rain for the first time of the day, and I discoverd I had left my umbrella at the last interview. That being the last straw, I gave up, and headed for home. Then again, I wasn't really sure where home was, so I just caught a bus, rode to a Skytrain station, and rode the Skytrain to another station that felt close to home.
To my surprise, upon exiting the train station, there was a queue for free pizzas! That's right, Toscana was giving away frozen pizzas off the back of a truck as a promotion. With pizza under arm, I strolled down Nanaimo Street in search of a way home. I got there five minutes before Laura did, just in time to grab garbage bags at the dollar store.
After our free pizza dinner, Laura and I decided to take a stroll. Coffee in hand, we set out at 8:00 to discover the neighbourhood in our sweatshirts and running shoes. We found a great little grocery store (1/2 bulk barn, 1/2 corner grocer, all organic) with prices comparable to Ontario - $1.79/lb. for lean ground beef! We walked up to the Nanaimo train station, so that I could time how long it actually took.
On our way back, we found a little green space under the train tracks, and Laura stopped to admire a pretty bush. I pointed out a sign to her, the green space was called "Filipino Plaza" !?! There wasn't very much about it that was Filipino or a plaza... Almost home, walking through a quiet unlit neighbourhood, we were arguing the finer points of various run down older houses, when a drug dealer with a knife jumped out from behind a tree, scaring both of us.
Actually, it was someone's garbage out for pickup that fell over, and we made it home safely just after 9:00 for a cup of tea.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Vancouver restaurant hiring - a guide
I feel like I've been here before...print resumes at the coffee shop, canvass all the restaurants on the street start with the best and work down, meeting managers, smiling off rejections, filling out repetitive application forms with inane questions. Oh yeah, this is the same circle as Toronto '97, Guelph '99, Huntsville '00 and Guelph '06. After 12 years waiting tables, I should have seen it all...
I have, however, learned of a few things that are different in Vancouver:
1. All restaurant managers have a 3:00 Monday meeting. Do NOT disturb. Who cares who they're meeting?
2. All of the chains have their applications available online. Fill it out, no matter how inane the questions, and carry it with you. that's what separates you from the masses.
3. Most restaurants have open interviews between 9 and 11 am, even when they're not hiring. Like that's a good use of time.
4. Eating out in Vancouver is more upscale, across the board - even at Tim Horton's. But the tips aren't any better.
5. It's easier to get a job in a restaurant if you speak Chinese, Japanese or Korean, even for an Italian restaurant.
6.Even if you get a job, you need to spend $1000 on your wardrobe before you can start (unless everything you own is short, tight, black and from Mexx, Guess, Costa Blanca, Urban Behaviour, etc)
7. British Columbians are not afraid to make fun of Ontario, and brag about the mountains, even when interviewing you. Just smile and nod.
8. You can go broke on free wireless at Van cafes, buying $5.00 lattes while you wait for the next interview.
9.The transit system actually gets you where you want to go! And, if you make a mistake, you have two hours to backtrack on a transfer.
10. Knowing the GMs name before you walk in, and wearing a tie and jacket still gets you an interview, no matter how much you fail on all of the above. Thank you Google!
I have, however, learned of a few things that are different in Vancouver:
1. All restaurant managers have a 3:00 Monday meeting. Do NOT disturb. Who cares who they're meeting?
2. All of the chains have their applications available online. Fill it out, no matter how inane the questions, and carry it with you. that's what separates you from the masses.
3. Most restaurants have open interviews between 9 and 11 am, even when they're not hiring. Like that's a good use of time.
4. Eating out in Vancouver is more upscale, across the board - even at Tim Horton's. But the tips aren't any better.
5. It's easier to get a job in a restaurant if you speak Chinese, Japanese or Korean, even for an Italian restaurant.
6.Even if you get a job, you need to spend $1000 on your wardrobe before you can start (unless everything you own is short, tight, black and from Mexx, Guess, Costa Blanca, Urban Behaviour, etc)
7. British Columbians are not afraid to make fun of Ontario, and brag about the mountains, even when interviewing you. Just smile and nod.
8. You can go broke on free wireless at Van cafes, buying $5.00 lattes while you wait for the next interview.
9.The transit system actually gets you where you want to go! And, if you make a mistake, you have two hours to backtrack on a transfer.
10. Knowing the GMs name before you walk in, and wearing a tie and jacket still gets you an interview, no matter how much you fail on all of the above. Thank you Google!
Monday, March 23, 2009
The hunt - Day 2
So, today is job hunt day. I am at a little cafe near Laura's office (20 minutes bus, including one transfer from home), and the resume update (email me if you need my new number), and job bank searching begins. I have a few possibilities to lock down as well, we'll see how it goes!
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