After months of preparations, you finally arrive in Canada. You're jetlagged, anxious, and ready to get settled. As an immigrant, one of the first things you should consider doing is registering with a settlement organization.

You'll find immigrant-serving agencies in most medium-sized or large Canadian cities. In smaller cities or towns, libraries and community centres often provide similar, if more limited, services for newcomers. The Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies, AAISA, lists locations across the province.

Regardless of how well prepared to integrate you feel, accessing the services of an immigrant-serving agency is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family when you move to Canada.

(Free) Skills Training

Immigrant-serving agencies offer a large number of employment services, many of which are free, covering everything from job search specifics (workplace communication skills, networking, and mentorship, for example) to computer and employment skills training. You can also attend occupation-specific workshops, such as skills upgrading courses for accountants or engineers, and accreditation examination study groups.

If none of the programs an agency advertises seem to match your needs, it's a good idea to ask what's available. You may find out about a program that you hadn't previously considered, and settlement organizations are always adding new programs.

Job Search Support

Settlement agencies have strong relationships with the local business community and can connect newcomers with job opportunities at companies that value the skills and experience of immigrants. Some employment programs teach you how to look for a job; some even find an internship or job opportunity for you!

Professional and Personal Contacts

Immigrant-serving agencies also help you gain professional and personal contacts. By participating in workshops or meeting with settlement organization employees, you'll meet more people. Chat with guest speakers from the local business community; ask for a business card or to connect on LinkedIn. Attend sessions and courses and you'll meet fellow immigrants, people who are facing the same challenges. They may become business contacts, friends, or both–an essential part of your support system in your new home.

Canadian Work Experience Through Volunteering

Volunteer with a settlement organization and you'll gain Canadian work experience, help other immigrants, and feel good about yourself. It could also lead to employment within the organization or elsewhere!

Help for the Whole Family

Take part in social, educational, recreational services, programs, and activities for children, youth, adults, and seniors. If you need assistance finding a place to live or a family doctor, have questions about income support, or need help filling out forms and applications, experienced settlement professionals can help you. Learn about community resources such as schools, health clinics, and legal services. Also, improve your English skills, visit a local tourist attraction, get family counseling or parenting support, and have coffee with other immigrants. There's something for everyone at any age!

Q & A with a SOPA Client

The clients the SOPA program  receives are very diverse. We receive clients from all corners of the world; Nigeria, India, China, Egypt, Philippines, Iran, Ukraine, and professions ranging from IT, Mechanical Engineer, HR, Accountant, Nurse, Biomedical Scientist and High School Teacher. However, they all have a common goal: to improve their quality of life (and that of their families) by moving to Canada and finding a fulfilling job. The SOPA courses enable them to work towards achieving their objectives by providing them with necessary information to arrive prepared and find and maintain employment.

Ed Solano is one of the SOPA clients who benefitted from our free online courses. Ed, a Production Engineer originally from Colombia, who moved from the United States to Canada with his wife at the end of May took the time to answer some questions we asked him about his experience with SOPA.

Why did you decide to move to Canada?

Canada is one of the world’s most multicultural countries. It's a very welcoming country to new immigrants. Also, Canada has a strong and stable economy and is known for being one of the safest countries on the planet.

Why did you register with SOPA?

First of all, it's free. It's a program created to help newcomers and is sponsored by the Canadian government. In addition, I personally wanted to get information about Canadian culture, how to find a job in Canada, settlement options, etc. After reviewing the SOPA website and the available courses, I found what I was looking for and decided to enroll.

How did you find out about SOPA?

I found out about SOPA when browsing the internet. I recalled, I typed in Google “successful stories of immigrants in Canada” and when reading one of those successful stories SOPA was mentioned. This person talked about the importance of enrolling in pre-arrival services before moving to Canada and the valuable information provided regarding Canadian culture, settlement, employment, etc. Then, I checked out the SOPA website and decided to register.

“Thank you to the Calgary SOPA team for all the support during my pre-arrival journey. I appreciate the feedback and advice I received. The information was very valuable and I learned a lot! I recommend everyone moving to Canada to enroll with SOPA.”

– Ed Solano, SOPA Client

Would you recommend SOPA to newcomer professionals who are moving to Alberta?

Absolutely. Because I personally think the best way to be successful in a new country is to know in advance as much as possible about it. Arriving prepared gives you an advantage compared to other immigrants. For instance, you already know what places to visit for immigration support, how to search for housing, the online employment tools used for job search, etc.

What advice would you give to a new immigrant moving to Canada?

Take advantage of the pre-arrival services funded by the Canadian government. These programs are created for newcomers only. Moving to a new country is like starting a new life and there are so many things to be considered. The more you are aware, the easier the adaptation period is.

How was the overall SOPA experience for you?

Thank you to the Alberta SOPA team for all the support during my pre-arrival journey. I appreciate the feedback and advice I received. The information was very valuable and I learned a lot! I recommend everyone moving to Canada to enroll with SOPA.

Sign up for free pre-arrival courses and resources! Visit www.arriveprepared.ca

When you move to Canada, one of your most important concerns is finding a job, often the same position you had in the country you've come from. To accomplish this, you need to apply the effective job search strategies you've learned from courses and workshops–such as using transferrable skills, networking and targeting resumes. You also need to understand and develop people skills, or what are commonly referred to as soft skills. 

Soft skills are very important to Canadian employers; they want to make sure you'll adapt easily to their workplace. It's important to understand that the use and practice of soft skills are unique in each culture, workplace and country. What might be acceptable in your previous workplace and country may not be practiced in Canada, and vice versa. Thus, recognizing the need to learn how to apply your existing soft skills and develop new ones that will fit the Canadian workplace culture is a good start.

Your soft skills factor in as soon as you interact with others–from the time you call to confirm an appointment with reception, through your job interview, to your daily communication with your colleagues and clients.  Your knowledge of soft skills should involve continuous learning as you will use various skills for your career advancement. 

Three key soft skills that I believe every newcomer should have are communication, observation and adaptability. 

Communication

The ultimate goal of communication is to connect effectively with others. 

One of the best ways to connect is to engage in small talk.  It might sound trivial, especially if this is not a common practice in your own culture, but this is something we need to do in Canada. Learn the local language and know what the acceptable topics are to open conversations. Small talk is often done in networking events and social gatherings - you’ll never know what opportunities come out of these conversations! Here's an example of a SOPA graduate who got a job using small talk at a bus stop!  

As a newcomer, you should also develop your presentation skills, not just for public speaking, but more importantly, to present yourself and your ideas well. Speaking up and expressing your opinion is highly encouraged in the Canadian workplace.

LinkedIn is the best social media platform for connecting with professionals in Canada, and it's widely used by recruiters. Skilled workers and professionals should have a LinkedIn profile and understand how to network appropriately.

Observation

Observation skills are also very important for integrating into the Canadian workplace. Canada is known to have a very indirect and polite culture. People go out of their way to avoid confrontation. Your colleagues might be saying yes they agree but they actually mean “not really,” and this is shown through body language (such as a confused look), hesitation or politely disagreeing in a roundabout way.  Thus, the power of observation will help you interpret and understand what they’re really saying. This takes time and practice with a conscious effort to be attentive.

Adaptability

The third soft skill that immigrants should have is adaptability.  This means being open to different cultural practices and beliefs as your co-workers in Canada come from various backgrounds and professions. Adapting to the culture and to the practices you have observed will help you stay positive. If you're not used to networking and small talk, you'll need to adapt to obtain and keep a job.

Adaptability also means being open to all the cultural and professional backgrounds in this new environment. It's also about flexibility in the workplace which may entail volunteering to help co-workers on a project or accepting tasks beyond your job description.

In your quest for the job that you want, you may trip and falter, and that’s okay! The important thing is that you learn and move forward. Being able to communicate, observe and adapt will help you succeed in finding the job you want and ensure your career growth in Canada.  

To learn more about soft skills and job search in Canada, register for free online courses at http://www.arriveprepared.ca/.

Who do you picture when you think of a job seeker? Perhaps someone who is stressed and desperate to find a job. Someone who spends their days reading hundreds of job postings and submitting many applications.

Looking for a job is hard work. It takes determination, energy, and time. Many years of experience, a strong resume, and a well-written cover letter might not be enough. Job hunting can be a daunting task–it might take more time than you expect to find a job–so it is important to stay positive. 

When I was a job seeker, I was going through countless job postings and writing tons of creative cover letters, but no one was inviting me to a job interview, let alone offering me a job.  Although I felt disappointed, it was just a temporary feeling. Deep down, I knew that the job I was waiting for would appear soon.

I stayed positive.

You should too!

A positive attitude will help motivate you to continue with your job search and manage its challenges. It's as essential to your work search as a well-written resume and a professional network. People with a positive attitude appear confident when networking and during interviews, and are more likely to be hired.

4 Tips on How to Stay Positive in Your Job Search

1. Network
Connect with other people who are in a similar situation. They can offer you good advice and helpful tips. By networking you also increase your chances of finding a job.


2. Set a Routine
Starting your day early and being well-organized will give you enough time for your job search and your other responsibilities. Set a specific amount of time that you are going to dedicate to your job search, and have daily tasks and goals to keep you focused.

3. Volunteer
It's a great way to keep yourself busy, and it gives you the opportunity to meet new people. Volunteering for something that you believe in can lift your spirits, and it'll look great on your resume. It can also lead to a job, like in my case. I volunteered for a non-profit organization for several months and then got a job there. As a volunteer, I acquired and gained new skills which I apply to my current job.

4. Don't Give Up
Don't get discouraged when you're not getting any emails back or you're not getting any responses. Stay healthy, exercise and nurture a grateful attitude. It's important to focus on the good things when going through a difficult and often stressful job search.

Staying positive in your job search may be easier said than done, but it's worth it.  A University of Missouri study showed having a positive attitude while searching for a job can contribute to receiving invitations to interviews and job offers.

So, keep your head up! Stay positive and don’t give up searching!

When I moved to Canada three years ago, I had no idea what networking was. It seemed very popular; everybody was talking about it. 

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

"Are you on LinkedIn?"

“You should network, Aneta.”

I started researching, visiting various websites and reading tons of articles on networking. I even watched short movies on YouTube, which I found very helpful.

I've learned a lot about networking since then, and it's influenced my new life in Canada: my English has improved, I've become more confident, and I've learned about job opportunities.  

What is Networking?

Networking is a simple way of interacting with people in order to create social, but mostly professional relations. Networking means speaking with people in professional situations—workshops, training, association meetings or career fairs—and social situations, discussing your experience, skills, goals and dreams. You can network online as well, connecting with people through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or other social media. Family and friends can be great to network with, but remember to seek out people you don't know, who are doing work you hope to do, or who share similar professional or personal interests.

One of my favourite ways of networking was attending presentations on topics that I was interested about. It was easier for me to engage in the conversation because I wanted to learn more about the topic.

Why You Should Network

A 2012 survey by Right Management on networking claimed “person-to-person networking is the single most effective way to find a new job, with 46% of job seekers identifying networking as the reason they found their most recent job.” According to Cornell University’s Career Center, 80% of available jobs are not advertised. These jobs are often referred to as the “hidden job market.” Most people learn about hidden jobs through professional networks or social networks, including friends or family

Tips for Networking

• Find people who share similar interests, through meetup or Eventbrite. Groups and events are great ways to meet and interact with people.
  
  
• Learn what to say or ask when meeting new people.
  
  
• Learn how to describe your skills, experience, career interests and goals.
  
  
• Be an effective listener. Always show interest in what the people you meet have to say.
  
  
• Believe in yourself. I will give you my personal tip: before going to an event or presentation, always think how far you've come, the journey that brought you here and what you want to achieve.
  
  
• Always follow up. The best way is via email or social media like LinkedIn or Facebook. I believe it's important to nurture those brief moments you spent connecting. It may be the beginning of a new relationship, and soon you might receive information about a job opportunity. In the short message you send it's good to refer to the event or conversation that you had with that person or to mention something specific so they can recall it.

Practice makes Perfect

I know for many of you it might be scary being in a new country and interacting with people in English. It was scary for me! It took me a long time to fight that fear and to realize that if I wanted to succeed in Canada, I needed to start networking and interacting with others.

At first, networking was difficult, but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. Some networking events were easier than others, but each of them was a great experience. Practicing networking made me stronger. It improved my interpersonal and communication skills and prepared me for the Canadian workplace. Networking even led me to my first job in Canada.

Give networking a try and who knows what it will lead to?! You may end up with the job and career of your dreams.