Canada Border Services issues the call...

The Canadian Border Service Agency is once again looking for residents of Prince Rupert to fill out their staffing requirements in the city.

Friday's Daily News provided details of a job posting available with the Agency until the end of May, which offers applicants the chance to apply even if they don't have the normal two years of post secondary education in their resumes just yet.

Local recrutiers for CBSA explained the thinking behind the posting and what the successful applicant may face on his or her way to a carrer with border services.

Would-be border officers urged to sign up
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Friday, May 16, 2008
Pages one and two

The Canada Border Service Agency has already been successful in hiring people from Prince Rupert to work in the community, and Chief of Operations Trevor Baird is hoping to add at least one more local face to the CBSA's growing staff.

CBSA has always had current employment opportunities posted on its website, and traditionally one of the their hiring standards has required applicants have at least two years of post-secondary education prior to applying.

"However, a new posting available until the end of May allows for people with a minimum of a high school diploma and training or experience relevant to the position to be considered for acceptance.

"That really opens up the door to a broader range of people, and we really want to capitalize on that," said Baird.

"Our goal is to really hire as much locally as we can.

"People who are living here in Prince Rupert are here because they want to be here, they're vested in the community, and quite frankly we'd like to add those people to our labour force."
Given that it is a limited posting that will only be available until May 27, Baird and the rest of the CBSA team have been talking to community groups and anyone else who is interested about what is involved in a career with the agency - and why local people should take advantage.

Successful applicants can expect to undergo as much as 10 months of full-time training before being stationed in a location of their preference, with a starting salary of between $51,000 and $55,000.

"The organization is large enough that I don't actually foresee a time when somebody would qualify and we wouldn't have a job to offer," said Baird.

"We're running about 12 positions short right now, which would be for full-capacity staffing. Container volumes are slower in this building stage than we anticipated, so we're not critical for staff right now, but because this opportunity is there, I want to be proactive in getting local people qualified and into a pool, so that we can draw from that as container volumes increase."

For those without two years of post-secondary education, CBSA will consider applicants who have experience in interpreting, enforcing or applying governing authorities such as rules, legislations or procedures, people who have gathered information in an investigative setting or pressure situation and those who have processed import, export or travel documentation, or dealt with people in conflict situations, including working with the public. The posting for Border Services Officer can be viewed at the Public Service Commission of Canada website.

For more information, call the local CBSA offices at 627-3003 or drop by in person to the offices at 220-215 Cow Bay Road.