vcc.ca
RSCR 0612: Exploring Employment 1
Effective date
September 2026
Department
Community & Career Education
School
Arts and Sciences
Description
Introducing students to the retail and service sectors, this course focuses on distinguishing between these industries while developing fundamental knowledge and essential skills for workplace success. Students embark on field trips to various retail and service worksites, where they experience the realities of the work environment and meet with industry professionals. They learn to identify common products and labels in retail, practice efficiency in service tasks, and apply principles like First In, First Out (FIFO) consistently. Students explore various roles within retail and service sectors, encompassing tourism, community centers, and restaurants. They also recognize Indigenous historical elements in British Columbia tourism and learn to identify personality traits for effective career planning.
Credits
4.0
Year of study
Below Grade 10 Equivalency
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate basic knowledge and essential skills of the retail and service industry.
- Identify products and labels common to the retail and service industry consistently.
- Demonstrate efficiency in carry out service, cart and basket collection.
- Perform proper product bagging skills, price checks, perishable returns and shopping cart duties as required in the retail setting.
- Apply the First In, First Out principle (FIFO) consistently.
- Demonstrate cleaning techniques (e.g., bathroom, kitchen, activity clean up and take down).
- Use digital design tools (E.g. PowerPoint, Canva, PICMONKEY) at an entry level to create digital content, such as posters, signage and social media posts.
- Recognize personality traits and goals to match with career planning.
- Identify various roles within the service and retail sectors including tourism, community centers, senior homes, restaurant, retail/grocery stores and theatres/entertainment.
- Identify the five main sectors of tourism.
- Recognize Indigenous historical elements in British Columbia tourism to acknowledge their cultural importance to the local community.
- Identify similarities and differences when working with different groups of people (E.g., seniors, children, adult, youth, large groups, small groups).
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 48.75
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 18.5
Total Hours: 67.25
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 18.5
Total Hours: 67.25
Instructional Strategies
This course focuses on the instructional strategy of experiential learning through field trips and site visits. Strategies may also include but are not limited to: lecture, classroom discussion, demonstrations, guest speakers, lab work and practice.
Grading System
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Passing grade
S (50%)
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Participation |
20 |
Observation and analysis in classroom and on field trips |
|
Quizzes/Tests |
10 |
Verbal and/or written |
|
Lab Work |
20 |
Observation and analysis of retail and service skills practiced in retail lab |
|
Project |
20 |
Research on retail and hospitality sectors |
|
Other |
20 |
Skills assessment completed to identify areas of strength and interest |
|
Reflect |
10 |
|
Course topics
- Retail Industry Service Industry Workplace Success Product Identification Inventory Management (FIFO) Tourism Essential Skills Skills Assessment Digital Literacy Career Planning Indigenous Education Longhouse Values Experiential Learning Cleaning Skills Community Centre / Sr. Centre Products and Labels
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.