When professionals immigrate to Canada, they are taking a calculated risk that giving up their lives in their home countries will eventually pay off with a better life for their families. After a few months of breathing in the fresh air and settling into their new communities, reality sets in.
Canada is an increasingly expensive place to live, so the pressure to find a job sooner than later becomes a priority. But their confidence starts to fade when they realize how different Canada is from their home country:
1. No one in Canada knows who they are or what they can do, so they have to build a new professional network from zero.
2. They have to develop a realistic plan and first job goal without knowledge about the local market and system that creates this reality.
3. They also realize that their cultural soft skills may not help them navigate the unwritten rules of the Canadian workplace.
4. They have to find and apply for jobs in a country that has a different system for resumes, job applications, and interviews that requires them to market and sell themselves in a way different than their own country.
5. They have to be able to identify the red flags that tell them a job ad is real or fake and whether a company is taking advantage of them or not.
6. And they must figure all of this out in English which is not their first language.
It’s no wonder that their confidence takes a dive! It can be overwhelming to know where to start. If this is you or someone you know, The Centre's ELT Program is designed for exactly this experience. When students complete this free 12-week program, they leave with a realistic step-by-step plan and a new set of skills to navigate their job search. Don’t take my word for it – see their responses to a recent post on Linkedin: ELT Program for Newcomer Professionals.
Learn more about Enhanced Language Training Program for Work.
We are now accepting registrations for new classes starting in January 2025!