If someone had asked me this time last year to define what my boundaries were when it came to work, I would have just shrugged it off and said, “I have decent boundaries. I’m good!”. I believed that when it came to working in the hospitality and tourism industry, it was work hard to play hard and that is what I signed up for. You don’t sign up for this life if you want weekends and holidays off.

If you’re feeling disconnected from the tourism and hospitality industries, there are some great opportunities in March to reconnect with your industry peers and brush up on your knowledge. We rounded up 5 can’t miss low-cost and free options to help you build your resume and connections while staying on top of trends.

Looking to ace your next video interview? Career Contacts is here to provide these 5 tips to put your best [virtual] foot forward.

Networking, schnetworking. Quite frankly, I did not even understand what that daunting term meant until I was knee-deep in my corporate career in luxury hotels. For many of us the mere word ‘networking’ leads to instant fear and dread. It’s easy to find excuses not to network, such as not having anything to wear, being stuck in a lockdown, not sure what you even want to ‘do’ with your life, shall I go on? There is always an excuse but almost everyone has the ability to open their eyes and get their head out of the screen.

Leaving a job you didn’t want to leave just plain sucks. Usually when starting a new job, it comes with an air of excitement, but now, the excitement is still there, but it’s different.

When I applied at my old job, I had planned to stay there for the long haul. It was a well-known hotel that offered growth opportunities and a GM who truly put people first. I had finally found my groove at the job. I felt I had the respect of my co-workers and knew where I wanted to steer my career for future growth.

There is no denying that COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, study and play.

If you miss working and connecting with others in-person, have recently been displaced from another job or want to expand your skills and/or earn money while you study from home - then why not consider working in the BC tourism industry this winter?

Summer School is in session! Let's brush up on the basics of the application process and show you how to navigate the full cycle recruitment process as we move into a new future of recruiting.

WORTH Association launched a mentorship program in January, 2020. A first for our industry, the program paired over 40 women from Whistler, Victoria and Vancouver. Our matches came with different backgrounds and experiences, but the one thing they all share in common is their love of the industry.

Over six months, the pairs connected in person, by phone, through text or virtually. With the guidance from their mentors, we saw women ask for pay increases, earn promotions, relocate and return to school. We felt especially grateful to our mentors who supported their proteges through the disruption caused by the pandemic.