December 2011
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expert advice
INSIDE
Carl M. asks: “Will a blog help me find a job?” 9
Corporate film industry on a roll 4 How the telephone can help in your job hunt 5
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Rebuilding shipbuilding in British Columbia 7 7 promising jobs you didn’t know about 9
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Immigrant mentoring program launched 11
Tapping the hidden job market Find out how internships, mentorships and volunteer work can help you find employment in Canada BY NOA GLOUBERMAN
W
hen Michael Batu decided to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines in his early 20s, he envisioned many opportunities in his new home. What he didn’t anticipate was the difficulties he would encounter in trying to access the Canadian job market. “I found out I wasn’t prepared – I had no idea what to expect,” said Batu. “Even with the right education and credentials I had a lot of trouble finding work in Canada.” After submitting over 400 applications in five months and not receiving a single job offer, Batu decided to apply for a paid internship in order to gain practical, professional, hands-on workplace experience. “It was a cold October morning and I was wearing a short-sleeved collared shirt and a jacket that just barely kept me warm,” Batu said. “I was sitting outside the office waiting for the interview and there were two other applicants there, both wearing suits. I panicked. I thought if I didn’t even know how to dress for a Canadian job interview, how was I going to get the job?” But, a few days later, he got the call: the internship was his. During his six-month paid placement he
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Potential employers will appreciate your effort in taking on a volunteer role, and even more so if it is somehow relevant to your professional aspirations
gained valuable experience about Canadian work culture and learned more about what it means to work in a professional environment in Canada. “I wasn’t getting coffee or stuffing envelopes – this was a real job,” Batu said. “I immediately saw the
difference before the internship and after I got that elusive Canadian experience. It opened a lot of doors for me.” “There are many barriers in terms of what Canadian employers are looking for when they’re hiring,” said Astarte Sands, who,
Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker diploma program It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is. – Hermann Hesse In partnership with PHS Community Services Society and the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, this unique curriculum has been prepared to support individuals with mental heath challenges and addictions. Based on the input received from these industry partners, this program has been specifically designed to prepare students – philosophically, mentally/intellectually, emotionally, and experientially – for a successful career with longevity and the potential for advancement.
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Call today: 604-580-2772 · www.stenbergcollege.com Over 94% of our grads are employed in their field of study within 6 months of graduation.
in 2008, launched the Workplace Connections Mentoring Program at MOSAIC – a non-profit immigrant-serving agency in Vancouver. “A newcomer arrives in Canada with the right skills and background and is led to believe a job
will be easy to find. But what they actually find is that many employers here are very reluctant to hire anyone without Canadian experience.” Workplace Connections matches skilled immigrants with Canadian professionals who act as volunteer mentors. Two hours a week for three months, via phone and email and in person, each pair works together on the newcomer’s employment goals. “Part of the challenge of moving to Canada and starting to look for work here is becoming aware of what the opportunities are and thinking outside the box about where to get those opportunities,” Sands explained. “Mentoring is a great alternative to a traditional job search,” she added. “Getting advice from an experienced Canadian who knows the road to employment and can in many ways take a newcomer’s hand and show them the way is invaluable.” When TV producer Tiffy Riel moved to Vancouver from Kuala Lampur, she found it difficult to find work with local television and advertising agencies. After connecting with Felicia Granger, her Workplace Connections mentor see page 3