John’s EMBERS Journey
After completing a degree in Hotel Management, John moved to Vancouver seven years ago with the aspiration of working in the bustling tourism industry. After a few years, and with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, John decided he needed to look for a new employment path.
John was interested in the construction industry, in particular safety, and completed Construction Safety Officer (CSO) training through BCIT. After having finished his certifications, John had difficulty finding employment as a ‘green’ CSO. John joined EMBERS after going to other employment agencies for a couple of years and has been with us for just under a year. We sat down with John to learn more about his story.
How long have you been with EMBERS?
I’ve been with EMBERS for 11 months, almost one year.
How did you hear about EMBERS?
I first heard about EMBERS online through a Google search.
What was your situation before EMBERS?
I was working for another staffing company. It was a lot of broken promises and there wasn’t enough work. I came and applied for EMBERS and then the calls really started coming in.
I was in restaurants for a long time and a lot of it was hit or miss. Covid really impacted the industry. The hours were not great and the inconsistencies of seasons made the income unpredictable. I couldn’t afford to just wait until the summer and only work on weekends. I needed something more stable that could help me pay the bills and stay in Vancouver long term.
I saw safety in the construction industry as the best route. I went to BCIT as a full-time worker and part-time student to do my construction safety training. The safety industry made me realize that there is more to construction than joining the trades.
What kind of work are you doing right now?
I am working as a Construction Safety Officer (CSO), Hoist Operator and OFA 3.
How has EMBERS impacted you on your employment journey?
It has given me a whole sense of worth. EMBERS has shown me that there is a good organization out there that is willing to invest in people who go the extra mile. An example was getting tickets to a country concert [generously donated by BC Place]. It shows that there are good people. And if it all goes well, you will be rewarded. A lot of people don’t want to hire green CSOs. EMBERS has always been the most reliable source of income and source of employment. I feel the strongest I’ve been in the journey so far. I feel like I can get to my goal of working at WorkSafeBC.
What goals are you looking forward to in the future?
I would like to work at WorkSafeBC, do safety consulting, or be a Director of Safety/Health and Safety Manager.
What advice would you give to someone in a similar situation?
I would say come to EMBERS. Don’t lose hope. In a city like Vancouver, as expensive as it is, it is easy to give up hope but it is better to keep fighting and keep believing. It took me over a year to finally find a reliable source of income. There will be a spot for you even though it might be frustrating at the beginning, you can’t lose sleep or hope because there is hope.
Anything else you would like to add?
Contacts are everything because construction is a small industry. When you get good contacts, stay loyal to them. I couldn’t figure it out on my own. I should have asked for help earlier. If you have a good contact, don’t lose it. Politics can absolutely play a role.