The following companies currently have various IT job openings

• Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX)
• Insurance Corporation of BC
• Workers Compensation Board
• University of BC

Make sure you visit these companies' websites for more information.

Do not forget to check the Saturday Vancouver Sun and the Sunday Vancouver Province newspapers for career opportunities.

Some Useful Tips To Enhance Your Career and Improve Your Marketability

• Invest time, money and effort to learn (i.e., buy books, magazines, software, etc. for additional or updated source of technical information)
• Attend seminars, presentations
• Join work groups and IT-related associations
• Establish a network of IT friends; socialize with IT people
• Try to improve your communications skills; join organizations such as "Toastmasters Club", etc. Communications skills, believe it or not, can make or break your chance for a great opportunity
• Always assess your situation and know what you want to do with your career. Remember, working in IT is not just programming work. You can be a systems or network administrator, computer operator, business analyst, telecommunications specialist, security officer, etc. There are just too many different areas to be involved in. You cannot be everything at once.
• If you are new to IT (recent graduates, no experience), accept even non-IT related jobs in large corporations. You can explore IT opportunities once inside.
• If you do not have any experience, volunteer to do IT related work such as building websites, doing programming for free, etc., to gain experience. Community services and other non-profit organizations can provide you with the needed exposure that you can refer to in your resume.
• Many software development houses hire new graduates, but at lower rates. Don't worry about the pay when you're just starting your career. However, don't let yourself be taken advantage of just because you appear to be desperate. Get some experience and develop your skills. But once you gain a lot of experience, make sure that you are compensated fairly according to your level of skills and what you can contribute. Do not undersell yourself once you're established.
• Advertise yourself, but don't be pushy and insistent. Many times, personality can be a determining factor between success and failure.
• Finally, being in IT has it rewards. IT personnel, overall, are well compensated compared with those of other professions because of high demand, the technical skills required and other factors. However, MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE. Stay in a position in which you can take pride in your accomplishments, where you can find the challenges that you seek, where you can always learn new concepts and skills, where you know there are future opportunities for you, and finally, a position that makes you look forward to your getting up in the morning to go to work.

Interview Tips

• Arrive early for your job interview
• Appear neat, tidy and professional
• Shake hands firmly
• Find out about the company's business; do some research before the interview
• During the interview, appear confident; know your strengths but do not exaggerate about your capabilities. Never lie about your background. Openly and honestly admit those things that you cannot do! Admitting one's weaknesses can also be a sign of a strong minded, mature individual. If you are missing specific desired skills, counter by stating that you are a quick learner.
• Look at the interviewer directly in the eyes
• Emphasize your skills, accomplishments and other strengths; how you can contribute to the success of the organization.
• Explain how you enjoy challenges and also working with or being part of a team
• If you have prior experience outside Canada, but Canadian experience in IT is being required, respond by saying that in IT work, technical aspects such as computer programming languages, operating systems, device configuration setup, systems design, etc., are all the same anywhere in the world. In fact, in many areas, Canada lags behind many countries in technology development and projects. IT people anywhere in the world face the same challenges and issues. However, something we have to admit, we must be able to communicate effectively in order to explain or present our technical solutions to our peers.
• Express interest by asking about organizational charts, the technical environment and show how you'd fit in. Remember, you have to convince the interviewer that you are the best person for the job (i.e., "...why should we hire you over other qualified candidates?")
• At the end of the interview, repeat about your interest for the job and the contribution that you could make
• Thank the interviewer for his/her time

Remember: failing one or two interviews does not mean the end of the road for you. Find out why you did not get hired and learn from it for your next interview.