Dolapo Asaju; Y Employment Access Centre
With the New Year comes resolutions to exercise more, save more money or finally take that trip, but with the uncertainty of this past year, lay-offs and workplace shifts, there is a good chance employment goals will make our lists this year. It is especially difficult when you are immigrating and are wondering what this new country holds for you as you adjust to living and working here. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your employment journey in Canada.
Set some goals
You have already taken those first steps regarding setting up your job search and employment here in Canada by signing up for the pre-arrival program with Build-On. That’s an amazing first step to getting you familiarized with the Canadian system as well as how to write a winning resume. On the other hand, you want to consider what post arrival employment might look like for you. It is important to set some goals and intentions regarding what you want to accomplish as a professional here, there is no better time than the new year to set these goals. How do you want to work? Do you want to set up your own business here? If so, how would you go about that? You can begin by listing 3 things you would want to accomplish in your 1st year of work or create a 30-60-90-day plan. Use S.M.A.R.T goal setting (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) and set big goals, but list out what small everyday steps you can take to get there; e.g. “Get a Job” is a general goal, but how would you break this down to achievable steps everyday? Maybe your goal for the week can be “Contact 5 people on LinkedIn” or “Update my resume” are more specific and measurable. This makes it easy to see your progress and most importantly reward yourself every step of the way!
Get Resources
Now that you have set some more goals and intentions as to what you would like to accomplish as a professional in Canada, It is time to resource it up! Being in new country, and not knowing how the employment world works can be an overwhelming experience. It is important to think about how to build up your resources not only to help you job search; but how to build and expand your network, and have the people who will encourage you when you are down. Job searching can be hard, but with the right resources you don’t have to go at it alone. You can begin by looking for post-arrival employment supports with organizations like YMCA, OCISO, YSB according to your needs and goals. Think about your goals, and your current skill sets; where do you want to go from here? Is a pre-employment program good for you? Often times what might seem like a step back like seeking a mentor or volunteering might just be the thing to get you ahead in your employment goals. Working with an employment consultant, a placement agency, a mentor etc. can further familiarize you with the Canadian workforce and have now become part of your network. This will allow you to be exposed to several opportunities and further advance your employment goals and opportunities.
Refresh your Skill-sets
At this point, you have met with an employment consultant, set up a meeting with a mentor and possibly registered for a placement agency. These people have set you up with an amazing resume, and some effective job searching skills and other supports. You should share some of your goals with the people around you (particularly mentors, colleagues) getting their opinion on how feasible these goals are and what the path to achievement might look like for you. Your mentor or consultant can help you map a path to success. This could involve refreshing and updating your skill sets. Whether you have arrived in the country or not, a step you can take is assessing your degree (Try W.E.S)- is it equivalent to what someone who went to school here has? If it is not, consider going back to school or what trainings you can take to cover that gap. If it is equivalent, that is great however many pitfalls people encounter is they expect that their experience will translate here seamlessly. You may have 20 years of experience at home, but make sure that you are taking Canadian courses, and certifications even if you have these same certificates/courses from your home country. This will show that you are willing to learn, and can equal the playing field between you and other Canadian job seekers.
I hope the tips outlined in this post help you as you begin your job search journey in Canada this New Year. Reach out to your employment consultant for additional support and remember that you can utilize post arrival services like the Y Employment Access Centre once you arrive in Canada.