Job search advice, interview tips, resume best practices and more, we have the information you need in order to be successful at work!
For questions, comments about the blog, or to submit a question for the Ask an Employment Specialist column, email the Editor, at klewis@jvstoronto.org.
As of September 14th, JVS Toronto locations have reopened for 1-on-1 in-person services by appointment only. All other JVS Toronto services continue to be available virtually JVS Toronto is following Reopening Ontario guidelines and continues to adhere to all public health recommendations for the safe, responsible and gradual reopening of our in-person programs and services. The following protocols have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of all staff and visitors: Underneath all these layers of change is a dedicated team of professionals committed to providing the highest quality of service in a safe, comfortable and caring environment. We look forward to serving you in person soon If you have any questions or concerns regarding our services or safety protocols, please contact us at services@jvstoronto.org or 416-787-1151. Moving to a new country, adjusting to a new culture, and adapting to new employment realities are difficult transitions that can negatively impact your health, including your mental health. Change is difficult, but you can handle it. In times of change, learning how to support your mental health and how to get help if you need it, are critical to your ability to be resilient. In this webinar, you’ll hear from Lawrence D. Blake, M.Phil, PhD(c), Canadian Mental Health Association and learn: The current pandemic situation has changed everyone’s lives and we know that for those immigrating to Canada at this time it might seem even harder to stay motivated to continue with your job search. These are challenging times but there is no reason to give up on your goals. Today we are sharing an inspiring story with you from one of our program participants. Daniela is a food scientist from Brazil who immigrated to Canada in May 2020. She registered with Canada InfoNet for pre-arrival support for her job search and was able to secure a job offer before arriving in British Columbia. Daniela was very focused on her search and application, targeting jobs that really matched her profile, instead of applying for dozens of random jobs. On top of going through our program’s e-learning modules, which give jobseekers a good understanding of job search in Canada and getting one-on-one employment counselling, here are some of the strategies that Daniela shared with us that helped her achieve her goal: When she was invited to attend an online interview, Daniela reached out to her employment specialist and asked for tips on interview preparation. They worked on common interview questions and discussed some cultural differences, which made her feel more confident for the interview. Daniela shares some advice for jobseekers who are in the same situation: “It is very important to look for job positions that are a good match for you and adapt your resume, using keywords. I made a list with several positions I found on Indeed or Linkedin and used their descriptions and keywords to prepare different resumes for me. Something that I did several times was to apply for a specific position and look for someone who worked for that company on Linkedin. I would then connect with that person and explain my situation: I would say I was going to immigrate to Canada, I had several years of experience in that area and I would ask if they could give me any suggestion. I got lots of positive replies and they even connected me to other people that could be important to help with an interview.” After arriving in Canada and following the 14-day mandatory quarantine, Daniela has started her new job in British Columbia and is excited for what the future holds for her in Canada. We wish her all the best for her career and settlement in Canada. Every individual experience in immigration and job seeking is different and with its own challenges, which is why, creating your personalized job search strategy is very important. If you have been approved for immigration, our Employment Specialists at Canada InfoNet can help you develop that strategy even before you come to Canada. Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On June 14 2020, Rajeev Chib, Pan Asia Regional Head, Client Development and Business Management, Citibank, joined our panel of industry experts to advise job seekers on navigating the labour market, including topics like: Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On June 18 2020, Apotex joined our panel of industry experts to advise job seekers on navigating the labour market, including topics like: Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On May 21 2020, we were joined by ARES Staffing Solutions as part of our ongoing efforts to support job seekers during these unprecedented times. This webinar, "The new normal - impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian labour market" will focus on: Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On June 11 2020, Commercial Financial Service Experts from RBC shared how COVID has affected them both personally and professionally. The panel addressed questions like: Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On May 28 2020, IBM joined our panel of industry experts to advise job seekers on navigating the labour market, including topics like: Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On May 21 2020, Insight joined our panel of industry experts to talk about Recruiting for IT Sales by a recruiter from one of Fortune’s best workplaces in technology, followed by a live Q&A session. Industry Experts Talk is a weekly webinar series where job seekers can get expert insight and up-to-date information from industry-leading experts. You will learn about market trends, the skills and qualifications employers are looking, their recruitment processes, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. On May 14 2020, the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) joined our panel of industry experts to advise job seekers on navigating the labour market as a newcomer in Canada, including topics like: Right now, while we are unexpectedly stuck at home, job seekers are starting to wonder what to tell future employers about what they have been doing over this time. I have tried to reassure my clients that it's unlikely that employers will ask -- most people understand that in these "unprecedented times" (as the press keeps telling us) people are dealing with a many unexpected pressures. But now that many of us have found some kind of daily routine, as stressful and unsettled as it may be, some are looking for something to do that is positive and future-oriented which might advance their careers or give them a competitive edge when they resume their job search. Considering what so many people are going through as they try to balance the role of parent, teacher, homekeeper, cook, shopper, and caregiver -- job search is understandably hardly a priority for some. Of course, self care and day to day survival should to be our first priority, and the added pressure of taking on additional responsibilities might not be the right thing to do right now. However, the option to take courses online is available for those who feel the need (and have the opportunity) to do something for their resume. Taking a course can also be a useful distraction, a way to gain a sense of control and do something for yourself. Finding online training courses that are credible and accessible isn’t an easy task. While Googling “online courses in Toronto” will give you pages and pages of results, it can be difficult to determine which of these courses are worth your time (and money). Here is a selection of quality resources to learn new skills and boost your employability. Public Libraries: Across many locations, public libraries are offering online learning opportunities to card holding members, including IT options such application software, web site development, JavaScript and Python, CISCO networking, opportunities for certification and examination preparation, as well as opportunities to learn programs such as QuickBooks and Microsoft Office. Libraries also offer access to a wide range of online courses for free, such as Find the Public libraries websites in your city for more information. You will need a library card to access these programs (If you do not have a library card, check the website of your local public library – some have temporarily introduced online registration options to access some resources. Libraries in the GTA include: Universities and Colleges: Publicly funded post-secondary schools also offer a wide range of Continuing Education opportunities both in-person and online; many of which are quite affordable. In addition, through Continuing Education departments at colleges and universities, job seekers can earn certificates in their area of study that will demonstrate their expertise when applying to jobs. Online courses are available at Ontario Learn. In recent months, universities have begun to advertise more online courses for people who don’t necessarily want to do an entire degree, under the category of Continuing Education, such as University of Toronto, Ryerson and York University Private Colleges: Many private colleges offer a wide range of training opportunities, an increasing number of which are available online. The provincial government registers and oversees all these schools to ensure quality, though they do vary widely in their standards. Candidates should keep in mind that many of these schools might not necessarily approved by the certifying professional bodies (e.g. Pharmacy Assistant candidates have to refer to this list to ensure the course is approved by the CCAPP, the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy programs), so it is important to check first before registering to make sure that the course and school are approved. Fortunately, there are a growing number of opportunities to study online which allows for greater flexibility and often lower (or no) costs. Some excellent online training sources include: Also -- remember that non profit organizations such as JVS Toronto are offering a range of free expert webinars for job seekers, so check those out as well. Whatever education or training you choose to pursue, remember to add your new skills to your resume and LinkedIn profile. I would like to start by saying that I am very lucky and happy to be associated with JVS Toronto. Organizations like JVS do so much to help newcomers in taking one of the most difficult steps of their lives. I was one of these newcomers a few years back and now I am fortunate enough to be a volunteer with JVS. Here’s the story of my wonderful journey. I immigrated to Canada on December 9th, 2017 but my preparations had started about 6 months before this when I received my COPR. I was working as a Product Manager in Delhi, India at that time. When I got free from work, I spent my time on the internet, researching whatever I could find about immigrating to Canada, the life in Canada, career opportunities in my field, the weather here, interesting places to visit, etc. That is when I came across JVS Toronto and I decided to register with them. Registration was simple and in a couple days, I started working with an Employment Specialist and very soon I was assigned a mentor. My mentor was none other than Mr. Rick McCallion. I had tons of doubts and question but was confused around where to start with the mentorship program. Rick sensed my confusion and took control of the conversation. He started off with some introductions to break the ice and in no time, we were exchanging tons of information with each other. Rick read all my questions properly and gave me precise answers with sources that I could go to if I needed more details. He also made sure, that I was feeling comfortable about the move and all my doubts (around job, expenses, housing, transportation, etc.) were resolved to the best of his abilities. My interaction with him over the Canada InfoNet portal instilled a lot more confidence and predictability around my move to Canada. I was in a much better state of mind when the mentorship ended as compared to when I started. My Employment Specialist also helped and supported me by reviewing my resume and updating it according to the Canadian standards. When I came to Canada, I followed all of the advice that I received through the program and my mentor gave me and it really made a difference. Specific to job searching, since I knew December to January is generally a slow time in the job market due to the holidays, I kept my cool and kept preparing for interviews, networking with people and enhancing my knowledge. I started rigorously applying in mid-January on job portals like Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, etc. I landed a couple interviews and was lucky enough to land a job in my field of Product Management in mid-February. I feel that keeping a cool head during my job search, enhancing my knowledge and networking, were key to my success. As soon as I completed 2 years working here in Canada, I approached JVS Toronto to see if I could be a volunteer mentor with them. JVS agreed and I am now acting as a mentor for a newcomer. I am still very new to this but since I was on the mentee side fairly recently, I understand their state of mind and their queries quite well. I hope I can provide some clarity and confidence to the mentees I get associated with and help ease their transition to this great new country and a great new life. If Kanwardyal’s story inspires you to want to become a mentor with our Canada InfoNet program, please click here and register with us. During these pandemic times, the one thing that stands out to me is something that I have sometimes taken for granted - the importance of connections. In the last few weeks of self-isolation and social distancing, I look around at my friends, family and neighbours and I can see how we are all yearning for those social connections. What was so easy just a couple of months ago, now takes planning, rigour and diligence, and even then, it is never just quite the same. Fortunately, now that we have the odd beautiful day, I see how my neighbours, properly social distanced, flock to the courtyard of our condominium complex just to be able to connect with each other. Now, more than ever, the importance of these social connections is painfully evident. As we come out of National Volunteer Week, I’ve been reflecting on my 11 years a mentor in the JVS Toronto Canada InfoNet program and it’s role and impact on connections – global connections. The primary reason why I volunteer has always been to somehow make a difference in the little slice of the world that I occupy – to leave some type of a footprint behind. But why did I choose this particular volunteering opportunity where there are countless tens of thousand volunteer opportunities across Canada? Primarily, it was because Canada InfoNet mentoring program is facilitated online and it’s on a schedule convenient to me. This was a significant benefit. I’ve done the traditional volunteering in the past, but there was something about the convenience of this specific opportunity that spoke to me. I used to refer to this volunteer program as “virtual” but as I have mentored over the years, somehow I don’t think that virtual is quite the right word. Although the communication method of the mentoring program is virtual, it is really much more than that. It’s real and it’s personal. I’ve been so lucky to have maintained connections with my mentees over the years and this connection has made this program far more than “virtual”. It’s tangible and it makes a difference. Not only in the lives of my mentees (hopefully!) but in mine as well. I see the children of mentees being born in Canada, children that may not have had the same opportunities back home. To see these families grow and flourish here gives me tremendous satisfaction. And when I see mentees become Canadian citizens, and especially when I see that they too have been so impacted by the program reach out to apply to become a mentor, that fills me with pride. Not pride in myself, but rather my indescribable pride in the mentees who have taken a leap of faith in Canada, have flourished and are now trying to pay back to others wanting to relocate to Canada. Connections. I see now how important connections are to me. When restrictions are eventually lifted, when we don’t have to be so cautious about who, where, how, for how long and from what distance, when all of these are an afterthought, I’ll always try to keep in mind how precious these connections are and how important they are. If nothing else, one of the things that I’ve learned from the state of the world right now is to appreciate and value the ability that I have to connect with those that I love. Connections transcend geographic or political borders. How can we be part of a society without connections? And more importantly, how can we have a society without looking for opportunities to help others? I’m very grateful to JVS Toronto for their CanadaInfoNet mentoring program. Now more than ever, I cherish the connections that I’ve made through this program. If Rick’s story inspires you to want to become a mentor with our Canada InfoNet program, please click here and register with us. March 8th, 2020 was International Women's Day; a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls, and raising awareness of the work that needs to be done to achieve equality. Immigrant women face a range of challenges in the workforce, including the gender pay gap, and difficulties accessing executive roles in the workforce. This is made even clearer by the data -- a recent study by TRIEC shows that women only make up about 36 percent of executive roles in the Greater Toronto Area, and when those 36 percent are analyzed for immigration status and ethnicity, the number falls further -- only 2 percent of executive roles in are occupied by racialized immigrant women. To mark International Women’s Day, we asked a few of our female mentors to share their stories and challenges in finding a place in the Canadian workforce. Maral Melkonian arrived from Syria in 2016, with a background in banking. After a challenging job search, she secured a position as a Credit Analyst at TD Bank and joined the Canada InfoNet program as a mentor. Experiences dealing with immigration challenges and assistance she received from employment and mentoring programs inspired her to become a mentor. She shared the following about her experience: It is very hard for all of us to be uprooted from our land, home, friends and parents, packing all our life souvenirs in few suitcases, and decide to begin a new life in a very different country like Canada, different in culture, nature, weather and environment. Undertaking the challenge because we all believe we are going to have a better and safer life, a brilliant future for our children and us. The biggest and hardest challenge comes when we start to search for a job, related to the same profession and field (we had before immigrating). The main and most important point is to meet the correct person or organization to help and advise you, not necessarily by finding the job, but an encouraging word makes and means a lot, or lead you to dive deeper in searches in the proper sectors, companies and institutions. In addition to barriers faced by all immigrants, women have to overcome additional challenges, Maral shares: …the work schedule, the working hours and days, especially if they have families and young kids. It is so hard to manage if both parents are working and they have to accept any offer just to start and survive. For example, I have to work three different schedules a week with one day late shift, other examples some retail workers and bank branches require all weekends, noting here the kids’ drop off and pick up strict times by schools. These are some of the many challenges faced by women, which can lead to their career goals having to be set aside. The support Maral received from her mentor – whom she calls “a lifesaving angel” – was crucial for her to get her first job in Canada at a leading bank. She emphasizes how her mentorship experience was beneficial, not only for the technical knowledge her mentor shared, but also to keep her motivated and encouraged. For that reason, Maral later became a mentor with Canada InfoNet -- to pass on her experience and pay forward for all the support she received when she was new in Canada. Fabi Ramos, now employed as a Marketing Manager at Next Edge Capital, immigrated from Brazil in 2016. She chose to become a mentor because she saw it as “an opportunity to learn, develop leadership skills and gain a personal sense of satisfaction” from helping immigrants who are now facing the challenges that she previously faced. In regards to being a woman in the Canadian workplace, she shares: Like most women, I have also experienced challenges in the job market such as gender pay gap, career ladder opportunities, fear of becoming pregnant, appearance judgment, room temperature disparity and other gender bias. I usually say that women need to work harder to prove our worth in the work place, to win our space. Employers have an important role to play in achieving more equality in the workforce. A study by McKinsey & Company reveals the importance of the link between diversity and corporate financial out-performance; one of their findings showed is that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams were 21 percent more likely to experience above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile. We still have a long way to go, but we believe that bringing awareness to the issues and giving an opportunity for women to tell their stories is one step towards finding solutions that will benefit our whole community. JVS Toronto’s Canada InfoNet mentoring program is enriched by all the support offered by our women mentors to immigrating professionals. Beyond International Women's Day, diversity should not simply be something to strive for but it should be a given that women have their place in the workforce. Despite having sent out hundreds of resumes, you still haven't received a response. You know connections are important to land a job, however you are new to the country and find it difficult to reach out to employers. Job fairs offer a rare opportunity to make a good first impression on potential employers and let them know the skills you have to offer. As virtual job fairs become more popular, we are sharing tips to help job seekers make the best of this event. Virtual job fairs are solely online and are similar to regular job fairs except communication with employers is done in writing via an instant messaging platform rather than in person. Since the job fair is not in person, it isn't necessary to wear a suit or other formal office wear, however being too comfortable can also have its pitfalls. Participating in the job fair in a comfortable environment might lead you to communicate in an informal manner. Imagine the kind of answers you might give if you were talking to employers while wearing a bathrobe, lying in bed and eating chips. Also, remember mood and attitude can be apparent in your writing so it's very important to maintain a positive attitude. To ensure you are in the right frame of mind, take yourself out of the space you are in by showering, getting dressed in presentable clothes and sitting at a table. Here are some tips to make the most of the virtual job fair experience: Employers want to know that you are interested in working for them and the job they are hiring for. Virtual job fairs can bring in hundreds of job seekers so showing genuine interest is more likely to make you stand out from the crowd and convince the employer that you might be the right fit for the position. For this reason, it’s important to research and only approach employers you are really interested in. A job fair is just like an interview, so prepare accordingly. Prepare some short and direct answers to standard questions such as “Tell me about yourself”, “Why do you want to work here?” and “What skills do you have?” It’s also very important to create an elevator pitch to introduce yourself. As this is a virtual job fair, you will be communicating in writing so make sure you chose your words carefully because once they have been sent they can't be taken back.COVID-19 Service Update - September, 2020
JVS Toronto Resuming In-Person Services
Mental Health & Newcomers
Emotional well-being during immigration, settlement & job seeking in Canada
I found a job before arriving in Canada amidst Covid
A Canada InfoNet Success Story
Industry Experts Talk: The Future of Jobs in Banking
Industry Experts Talk: How to ace the hiring process and excel at work with Apotex
Industry Experts Talk: The New Normal with ARES Staffing Solutions
Industry Experts Talk: RBC Commercial Financial Service Experts
Industry Experts Talk: Labour Market & Recruitment with IBM
Industry Experts Talk: Careers in IT Sales with Insight Canada
Industry Experts Talk: Job Searching as a Newcomer with TRIEC
Update your skills from home — where to find low cost and free online courses
Mentee Success Story and Mentor Spotlight
Meet Kanwardyal, A Canada InfoNet Success Story
Kanwardyal Singh is a Product Owner/Manager who immigrated from India in 2017. In his preparation to come to Canada he became a program participant and mentee with Canada InfoNet where he was matched with Rick McCallion. After successfully establishing himself in the country, he wanted to pay it forward and decided to become a mentor with the program to support others like him. Here he shares his inspiring story with us.
Volunteering and Connections
Meet Rick, A Canada InfoNet Mentor
Canada InfoNet’s veteran mentor Rick McCallion, leader in IT change, who has been supporting our program for over a decade contributed to this newsletter by sharing his experience and highlighting the importance of volunteering.
Are we Doing Enough to Support Immigrant Women in the Workplace?
Our Mentors Share Their Stories
The Role of Employers
Navigating Your Way Through Virtual Job Fairs: Tips for Job Seekers
Before the Job Fair
During the Job Fair
After the Job Fair
Register to attend JVS Toronto's Virtual Job Fair, July 23, 2020.
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