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Brown in charge of Employee Experience By Paul Andrew During the next few weeks, Kirby Brown and his team at Whistler-Blackcomb’s Employee Experience department will most likely be the busiest people in Whistler.

Brown in charge of Employee Experience By Paul Andrew During the next few weeks, Kirby Brown and his team at Whistler-Blackcomb’s Employee Experience department will most likely be the busiest people in Whistler. They hope to screen at least 5,000 people during the four-week employment fair to fill 2,000 entry level and seasonal jobs for the 1999/2000 season. And so far Brown says things have been good. Contacted by Pique Oct. 1, the first official day of the month-long job fair, Brown said the response was better than expected. "Last year, the first day about 500 people come in," Brown said. "This year because of the on-line application process, it’s more than 1,000. So that was 500 in person last year. This way we can handle way more people and it’s a lot less foot traffic. But we have had some people come in and use the terminals to apply on-line." Brown has been with Whistler-Blackcomb for six years, most recently with the employee accommodations and services. He takes over Employee Experience from Gord Ahrens, who’s still with Intrawest but as general manager of operations at Panorama Mountain Village, near Invermere. "We’re hoping to have at least 5,000 people apply because that way we have a better selection of applicants," Brown said. "But everyone gets an initial screening. After that, your second interview will be with the department that we think is best suited for you. The initial screening isn’t really an interview for a specific job but you still have to put your best foot forward." The on-line application process, which takes about an hour, includes a 56-question personality assessment which will be used as a reference during the second interview. Brown said the personality assessment helps tailor the interview to you as a person. He says there is no right or wrong response to statements such as: I have felt insecure; I am described as carefree or; listening is more fun than talking. It is used primarily to determine what your behavioural traits are. "The on-line assessment is an Intrawest initiative and Whistler-Blackcomb is the first to use it among all Intrawest resorts. Eventually all Intrawest resorts will use it," Brown explained. Among the benefits of becoming a Whistler-Blackcomb employee are 50 per cent off food at all mountain-operated restaurants, including Merlin’s and the Garibaldi Lift Co.; a dual mountain season’s pass; free ski and snowboard lessons; employee housing if necessary and 20 per cent off clothing at any Whistler-Blackcomb retail shop. Entry level and seasonal employees’ wages start at $7.50 per hour and go as high as $11.05. For those who cannot complete an application on-line at home or elsewhere, computer terminals are available at the administration building, at the base of Blackcomb in the Upper Village. All applicants must first complete the application before calling for an interview. Call 938-7366 for information on booking an interview. Editor’s note: I know we’ve published this before now but the web site for the mountains is www.whistler-blackcomb.com