How We Hire

Interested in employment with BCIT? Visit our Careers page to explore current job openings!

We update our job postings every Wednesday and Saturday; we encourage you to check back regularly for new opportunities. Please pay special attention to the close date on each posting to ensure you meet the deadline to submit your application.

For competitions marked open until filled, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible as applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Our hiring process

As an institute with a vision of empowering people, we want to help you succeed in our hiring process! While the competition stages may differ depending on the role you apply to, our application process is consistent for all positions. The tips and insights below are designed to support you as you explore career opportunities with us.

Step 1: Submit your application online

Once you have found a position that you are interested in, you will need to submit your application online via our BCIT Careers portal.

For existing users, please login to apply to jobs. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset your password following these instructions. If you do not receive a password reset email, please contact us at RecruitmentAssistant@bcit.ca

For new users, please create an account on the BCIT Careers page to apply to a job posting. You will need to provide your current contact information and answer some basic questions to create your profile.

If you require accessibility accommodations during any part of the application or hiring process, please contact us so we can best support you. Please note that all applications must be submitted via the careers page portal, email applications will not be accepted.

For troubleshooting help, please visit the PeopleAdmin Help page.

Application Tips

Make sure your application is complete by providing answers to all questions on the job posting and uploading your resume and cover letter. Kindly note that no additional documents are required as part of your application process.

Resume and Cover Letter

All applicants must submit a resume and cover letter as part of their application. We encourage you to review the full job posting carefully and consider how your experience aligns with the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for the role. Be sure to showcase your qualifications and strengths clearly in both your resume and cover letter.

Resume Tips

List your current and previous work experience, including dates of employment.
Highlight relevant education and certifications.
Include your contact information, such as your phone number and email address.
Aim to keep your resume concise, ideally one to two pages, unless you’re submitting a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for a faculty position.
Carefully proofread for spelling and grammatical errors.

Cover Letter Tips

Clearly state the specific position you are applying for.
Demonstrate how your experience and education align with the job’s qualifications.
Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and qualities that make you an ideal candidate.
Include your contact information, such as your phone number and email address.
Keep your cover letter concise, ideally one page, but no more than two.
Carefully proofread for spelling and grammatical errors.

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Please check your spam and junk email folders for your confirmation email.

We thank all applicants for their interest in employment at BCIT and note that applications are typically reviewed in the weeks following a job posting’s close date. We are unable to provide a timeline of next steps for competitions that are open until filled, as this varies for each competition. Thank you in advance for your patience and kindly note that only applicants shortlisted for a competition will be contacted.

Step 2: Shortlisting of candidates

If you are shortlisted for a competition, we will reach out to inform you about the next steps in our recruitment process. Please note that the timeline for this can vary by competition.

Step 3: The assessment stage

The next steps in our recruitment process may vary depending on the position you have applied for; however, applicants may participate in any of the below steps, such as:

Pre-Screening

We may connect to learn more about your application and explore your interest in the position further.

Testing

Some positions may require skills testing before or after an interview. These tests can vary by position and may include timed administrative testing, written assignments, problem solving, and many more. Detailed instructions will be provided if you are selected to complete a testing assessment, and we will be available to answer any questions that you may have.

Presentations

You may be asked to prepare a presentation for your interview to showcase your skills and demonstrate your knowledge that is relevant to the role. If this step is required, we will let you know and provide instructions on what is expected. The requirements for presentations typically incorporate a specific topic, last 5-10 minutes, and may ask you to prepare visual aids or handouts to supplement your topic. You may be asked to use PowerPoint or other platforms to share your presentation. These presentations should be delivered in real time (not pre-recorded) so the Selection Committee can see your skills in action!

Interviews

We typically conduct panel-style interviews that last between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. These interviews focus on evaluating your knowledge, skills, and abilities, while also giving you and the Selection Committee an opportunity to determine if the position is the right fit.

We conduct interviews in person or virtually using Microsoft Teams. If you have an in-person interview, it may take place at any of our 5 campus locations. We recommend allowing ample time for parking and arriving early to ensure that you can find the room where you will meet your interview panel.

To help you find your way, please visit our floor plan maps. These maps are detailed by campus, building, and floor to help you navigate our BCIT Campuses.

Do your research! We want to understand what excites you about working here and the position you have applied for. Take time to explore BCIT’s mission, vision, and values, and review the job description to familiarize yourself with the key responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required for success within the role.

Anticipate potential interview questions based on the role’s requirements and prepare your answers. You can expect a variety of questions during the interview, which may include:

Behavioral questions
These focus on your past experiences to help us understand how you think and act in specific work-related situations. For example: “Tell us about a time when you…”

Technical questions
These assess your technical expertise related to the position’s specific requirements. For example: “Describe your experience using this software?”

Situational and hypothetical questions
These evaluate your problem-solving and critical thinking skills when faced with a scenario. For example: “What would you do if this situation arose…?”

Competency and values-based questions
These explore how your skills, abilities, and values align with the role and working at BCIT. For example: “Share a time when you championed diversity and inclusion?”

Experience and education verification questions
These help us understand how your education and past experiences contribute to your potential success in the role. For example: “Your resume mentions teaching experience; please tell us more about that.”

Ask someone you trust to conduct a mock interview with you. Practice your responses and refine them as needed. To prepare effectively, especially for behavioral questions, we recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers.

This will remind you of all the items to cover when preparing your responses to interview questions:

S – Situation

Set the scene; provide enough detail for the interviewer to understand the context.

Example:

“In my previous Administrative Assistant role, I noticed that clients were often upset that our employee self-serve program was not user-friendly. Our system has not changed in several years, and no longer met the needs of our clients.”

T – Task

Describe the goal or what needed to be done. Be specific.

Example:

“I brought forward these concerns to my manager, who had tasked me to identify specific areas in the system where we could improve to benefit our clients.”

A – Action

Explain what you did to address the situation, including skills used, behaviours and characteristics.

Example:

“I started by tracking all client complaints to identify common concerns throughout all departments, and scheduled interviews with employees to gather their feedback. After careful consideration of their feedback, we decided that our system needed to allow employees to upload data directly, without filling in multiple online forms. I followed-up with our IT department and provided instructions on the necessary changes.”

R – Result

Describe what happened, including positive results and how you contributed.

Example:

“As a result of these changes, the system became more user-friendly, and we were able to reduce the number of discrepancies in the data provided by our clients. Many managers were glad to see these changes in place. Administrative Assistants were able to focus on other tasks rather than clarifying information with clients.”

Choose a quiet, private location: select a well-lit space that is free from potential interruptions.

Ensure a stable internet connection: verify that your internet connection is strong and reliable.

Test your audio and webcam: check that your microphone and camera are functioning properly before the interview.

Select an appropriate background: if using a virtual background, opt for plain colors, simple office-like settings, or blurred backgrounds. Avoid distracting backgrounds with movement, bright colors, or numerous images. If you prefer not to use a virtual background, ensure that your webcam captures a tidy space without distractions.

Dress professionally: wear professional attire as you would for an in-person interview.

Minimize distractions on your computer: close any unnecessary windows that could divert your attention during the interview.

Silence your phone: set your phone to silent mode, and mute your microphone when others are speaking to minimize background noise.

Familiarize yourself with Microsoft Teams: if you need to prepare materials for the Selection Committee, ensure you know how to share your screen or how to present from PowerPoint.

Join your Microsoft Teams meeting early: you will be admitted into a virtual waiting room and the Selection Committee can see when you arrive; we recommend joining 5-minutes before your interview begins so that they can meet with you on-time.

Seek clarification or ask us to repeat the question: if you are unsure about a question or didn’t hear it clearly, please feel free to ask us to repeat it.

Prepare thoughtful questions: have at least 2-3 insightful questions ready to ask the Selection Committee at the end of the interview.

Send a thank-you note: after the interview, consider sending a thank-you email to the person who scheduled your meeting. They can share your gratitude with the Selection Committee on your behalf.

Arrive early: allow plenty of time to reach your meeting location; we recommend arriving to your meeting location at least 10-15 minutes before your interview begins.

Silence your phone: set your phone to silent mode or turn it off to prevent interruptions during the interview.

Dress professionally: wear appropriate attire and consider bringing a notepad to take notes if you wish.

Consider a handshake: if you feel comfortable, a handshake is encouraged when greeting the members of the Selection Committee.

Prepare your presentation: if you plan to present and are using your own laptop, ensure that your materials are pre-loaded and ready to go.

Seek clarification or ask us to repeat the question: if you are unsure about a question or didn’t hear it clearly, please feel free to ask us to repeat it.

Prepare thoughtful questions: have at least 2-3 insightful questions ready to ask the Selection Committee at the end of the interview.

Send a thank-you note: after the interview, consider sending a thank-you email to the person who scheduled your meeting. They can share your gratitude with the Selection Committee on your behalf.

Follow-ups

We may ask to speak to you or meet with you a second time to get to know you better.

Reference Checks

If you have completed all stages in the competition and we wish to learn more about your past work experience, we will connect with you to request your work references.

You will be asked to provide at least 3 former supervisors or mangers that can speak to your work performance. Please speak with your references before providing their contact information to our team so that they are aware we will try to complete reference checks within a couple of business days.

Step 4: Competition results and feedback

We recognize that completing various stages of the recruitment process requires significant effort and we sincerely thank all applicants for their interest and participation in our recruitment process. Regardless of the outcome, we deeply appreciate the time and effort that you have invested, and we encourage you to continue exploring career opportunities at BCIT.

If you have interviewed with us, we warmly invite you to connect with our team for feedback, as we are eager to support you in preparing for your next opportunity at BCIT!

* Please note that due to the high volume of applications received, we can only provide feedback to candidates who have progressed beyond the shortlisting stage of a competition.

If a job offer is made

If you have been selected as the successful candidate, congratulations! You will receive a verbal offer, followed by a letter of offer. Once you have accepted the position, we will connect to provide additional details regarding the verification of your educational credentials and welcome you to BCIT.

After a job offer has been confirmed, you will need to submit originals of your credentials, directly from the granting institution. Employment at BCIT is conditional upon verification of credentials. Our team will follow-up with you to provide additional information about this step.

For international credentials, these are required to be assessed by an approved credential evaluation service. For more infromation on educational credential assessments, please visit BCIT’s International Credential Evaulation Service (ICES).

BCIT eJobs

Students are welcomed and encouraged to apply to BCIT’s job postings. For additional job opportunities, internships, and summer work opportunities beyond BCIT, check out eJobs. Career service support is also available to BCIT students through the BCIT Student Association, for more information please visit their Career Services page.

What skills do I need to be a polytechnic instructor?

The BCIT Associate Certificate in Polytechnic Teaching is designed to equip you with the essential skills to excel as a polytechnic instructor. Whether you’re looking to enhance your teaching expertise or kickstart a rewarding career in education, this program provides a comprehensive foundation and introduction to exciting career opportunities in the field of polytechnic education.

How We Hire

Our hiring process

Step 1: Submit your application online

Application Tips

Resume and Cover Letter

Resume Tips

Cover Letter Tips

Step 2: Shortlisting of candidates

Step 3: The assessment stage

Pre-Screening

Testing

Presentations

Interviews

Interview preparation: general guidance

The STAR method

Interview preparation: virtual interviews

Interview preparation: in-person interviews

Follow-ups

Reference Checks

Step 4: Competition results and feedback

If a job offer is made

Credential Verification

BCIT eJobs

What skills do I need to be a polytechnic instructor?