When a newcomer to Canada has difficulty getting work in their field or even finding other reasonable employment opportunities despite having significant work experience from their home country, going back to post-secondary school can give them a boost. Education can be a useful bridge to employment. College and university programs not only provide specific information and skills, but they also demonstrate a candidate’s knowledge of Canadian culture, standards and regulations. Many schools also offer the opportunity to gain work experience through school employment or placements. Furthermore, most institutions offer career services that can help prepare students for job search.
Flexible options
Returning to post-secondary doesn’t have to mean adding a full degree. In addition to degree and diploma programs, there are one-year certificates and individual courses offered through a school’s continuing education department. What you decide to study may not even be related to your subsequent work life. Sometimes you may pick a program or course that interests you or that you feel will lead to good future opportunities. It may simply offer a good way to enhance personal and intellectual growth. Whatever your reason, your studies can demonstrate to employers your work ethic and written and verbal language skills. It may also showcase your problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills, which are critical in the workplace.
Building networks
Post-secondary education may help you find the people who become your references or who can tell you about job leads and even future employers. They can build your personal and professional network. Here are two newcomers whose Canadian college experience gave them a useful boost and helped them get their first work opportunity.
Feroz came to Canada from Iran with a degree in economics. His parents had steered him toward this field because they thought it would ensure a steady job in Canada. After he arrived and could not find work, he enrolled in a full-time college diploma program in business and applied for a part-time reception job at his college. He enjoyed meeting people and was good at customer service. When he applied for a part-time job at a bank, he asked his employer at the college for a reference. At first, he was given very few hours at the bank, but those grew into a more significant amount of time as he proved himself capable and efficient. After two years, he left his three-year diploma program because he was offered a full-time position at the bank. Feroz feels that his college experience gave him a leg up in the job market. “Going to college in Canada was so much more than getting an education. It was an opportunity to improve my English, to meet people in my field, to gain references, and to showcase my abilities and work ethic. It was exactly what I needed to get into the job market,” he says.
Trudy was a professional planner from Türkiye. She felt her graduate degree and the five years of experience working in Türkiye would get her a job easily in Canada. She landed a few interviews but never received an offer. While it is true that she wasn’t familiar with Canadian planning practices, she felt it would not be difficult for her to learn. “I now realize that employers didn’t trust that I knew enough about Canadian practices and weren’t willing to give me a chance. A short program at college gave me what I needed to prove to them that I was able to do the work. I not only learned relevant content, but I also built excellent relationships with my professors, who became my references.” Eventually, she enrolled in a one-year post-graduate diploma program related to planning and computing at a local college, and when she finished with excellent grades, employers saw her differently. Her up-to-date computing skills and academic success helped her land her first professional job in Canada in a planning office.
Many newcomers come to Canada with a good education and work experience, but openings in their field may not be plentiful. Additional coursework may help them get familiar with Canadian work practices, prove their competencies and give them a competitive edge in a tight job market.
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