Kepreye Otrofanowei; Employment Consultant with Build ON
When it comes to job searching in Canada, most professionals will stress the importance of networking and often times the question for most newcomers is “where do I begin”. One of the simplest answers to this question is – find a mentor. Who/what exactly is a mentor? Simply put, a mentor in this context is an experienced professional who has a career in your field in Canada. This is essential because the realities of your field in Canada may be different from what you are used to in your home country and a mentor can help you navigate these differences. There are several reasons you need a mentor and this post will highlight three of these reasons.
Before delving further into the reasons you need a mentor for an effective job search, it is important to clarify the roles of a mentor. A mentor is a source of information, feedback, and support for those who are willing to learn, wish to improve their level of expertise, and who want to develop new skills. A mentor should not be seen as your personal counselor, an expert, someone who will find you a job and keep in mind that a mentor does not necessarily have to be someone with your exact preferred job title.
Now that we have clarified the roles and expectations for a mentor/mentee relationship, the first reason you need a mentor is as a networking link. The vast majority of jobs are not advertised or posted online. That means if you are relying on job posts and advertisements to secure a job you are not being as effective as you can be in your job search. When it comes to finding a job in Canada, especially as a newcomer, meeting professionals who can introduce you to potential opportunities is essential. Since skilled immigrants have little to no connections when they move to a new country, a mentor can serve as this link or as a connection to vital professionals who will be a valuable part of your network. To find out more about the value of networking visit the settlement.org website.
The second reason you need a mentor is to gain insight into the Canadian labour market for your respective field. Mentors have a wealth of knowledge and experience in their field in Canada and they can provide you with information you may not be able to find elsewhere. They can teach you about the economy and labour market conditions in a way that independent research may not be able to reveal. They can also teach you how to access resources to achieve your long term career goals.
Finally, a mentor can help you navigate the requirement of Canadian experience and Canadian workplace culture. Workplace culture differs from one organization to another but on a larger scale, it varies from country to country and Canadian workplace culture is different from that of most countries. Canada’s population consists of diaspora from around the world and this diversity converges to form a unifying “Canadian workplace culture”. During your job search process, you may come across the phrase “Canadian experience” which can be confusing since in order to get Canadian experience you need a job in Canada but to get a job you need Canadian experience. Mentors can help you decode this mystery and act as a guide to help deal with some of the professional challenges you may face. Read this account by a mentor to learn about a few skills that can help mentees attain an excellent mentoring experience.
There are several reasons you should get a mentor and several pre and post-arrival services that offer mentorship connections. Register with Build ON or reach out to your employment consultant to discuss your options.