Immigration Employment Council of BC
Channel: MherMardoyan Career Coach
Date: 2019-08-15

I was once told that immigration is an “exercise and optimism”. So as you're looking to build new life in Canada, you think I'm a smart person, I've got all this opportunity there, I'm going to do really, I can do it exactly. In lots of cases, they can but there are certain new-onces to the Canadian labor market that one needs to be made aware of. There's a lot of research that needs to go into that before someone makes the decision to come to Canada. 

So you talk about pre-arrival, before someone comes to Canada, but even before someone decides to apply to come to Canada, I think it's important that they do their homework. One of the ways we're trying to help at that part of the continuum is through our fast program. So it's facilitating access to skilled talent, the long name, but we call it fast for short. And what we're trying to do is turn the conversation away from credentials to one of competencies. So to help the newcomer, or the potential newcomer understand how their skills, what they can tangibly do fit in with the needs of the Canadian labor market, but then also give them a way to demonstrate to hiring employers, how they can meet their needs. In one way, we try to overcome the question of credentials because for unregulated occupations, you don't actually need a credential, what you need is an employer who trusts that you can do the job. 

The other piece that we have there is the cultural side. So what does it mean to work in that occupation in Canada? So we're not talking about general information around weather you know the fact that it's cold in winter, and you need…….? We're talking specifically about what does it mean to work in the skilled trades? What does it mean to work in it? What is the Canadian work environment, like for the job you want to do? And what we're trying to do with that is help the newcomer prepare themselves.

So, you know, temper that optimism, maybe a little bit with a little more reality, this is what you're walking into, if that's what you expect to do. But then it also helps give the employer confidence that the individual has a better understanding of how the workplace functions and how they can place themselves in that workplace. It's a question of fit for most hiring was most instances of hiring, 

For someone who comes from overseas, and has not worked in Canada, it may take time, it may take a little bit of time, but it may also raise some concerns from the Canadian employer that they're don't know how to work with other Canadian employees. That may be fair or not but it just takes a little bit of faith on the employer side and willingness to work with the newcomer, to help them fit in, like you'd have to do with anyone. It's all onboarding new staff, whether you're from Canada or not. I think, what we're trying to do is help the employer recognize that and then make that process a little bit easier. 

Connect with Patrick MacKenzie: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mackenzie-859559/

Immigrant Employment Council of BC: https://iecbc.ca/

Connect with Mher Mardoyan:
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mher-mardoyan/

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