March 26, 2025 Leave a Comment

Encouraging Newcomer Women in Trades Pursue Their Goals

Michelle, an experienced Industrial Electrician from Cameroon, is on the path to becoming a licensed 442A Industrial Electrician in Ontario.

With over eight years of experience in power generation, Michelle worked at a heavy fuel thermal power plant in Douala, where she was the only woman on the team. Working in a male-dominated field came with challenges, but Michelle proved her skills and determination, earning respect through her hard work and technical expertise.

When she arrived in Ontario, Michelle faced a new challenge — understanding how to get licensed and continue her career. Unfamiliar with the process, she didn’t know where to begin until a friend referred her to JVS Toronto’s START program, funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). Through START, Michelle received personalized support, technical training, and financial assistance for her Trade Equivalency Assessment, licensing fees, and tools.

A highlight for Michelle was the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) training, which provided valuable upskilling opportunity relevant to industrial electrical work. Michelle shared that programs like START are critical for newcomers in skilled trades, who often face additional barriers in entering and advancing in the industry. She now feels confident and prepared, with the skills and tools needed to succeed.

Currently preparing for the Red Seal Electrician Exam, Michelle is close to becoming licensed in Ontario and encourages other women in trades to pursue their goals, saying:

If a woman decides and works hard, she can achieve anything.

Michelle highly recommends JVS Toronto’s START program to all newcomers in skilled trades:

Thanks to the START program at JVS Toronto, my dream of continuing my electrical career in Canada is becoming a reality.

July 24, 2024 1 Comment

Overcoming Job-Related Challenges as Newcomers in Canada

Between 2016 and 2021, a record number of 1.3 million newcomers permanently settled in Canada. In 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed double the number of applications for permanent residence, temporary residence and citizenship compared to the previous year. These numbers, which are projected to keep growing, aren’t surprising considering Canada’s reputation of being an attractive immigrant destination due to its dynamic economy and multicultural population.

For newcomers to Canada, moving to a new country presents a wealth of exciting opportunities. However, it can also bring its fair share of challenges. For one, obtaining a job that fits one’s skills and experience can be an intimidating and challenging task. This may feel like an impossible hurdle in starting one’s professional career and life in a new country.

JVS Toronto offers programs and employment counselling to help newcomers overcome the common job-related challenges they may face in Canada, as listed below.

Insufficient Pre-arrival Information

Coming to Canada with a good understanding of what to expect can reduce the uncertainty that inevitably comes with settling into a new country.

Prior to entering Canada, it can help newcomers to seek as much information as possible about when to apply for jobs, what jobs they can apply for, and even the maximum number of hours they can work per week (if applicable). These factors differ depending on their immigration status in Canada as some may either be permanent or temporary residents (such as students and economic immigrants).

Lack of, or Difficulty Obtaining Canadian Work Experience

Newcomers may find themselves competing with job-seekers with more experience in the Canadian job market. Because some employers may place a higher value on local experience, this may leave newcomers struggling to secure their first job in Canada.

Fortunately, there are many opportunities to jumpstart one’s Canadian professional experience. For example, newcomers can take part in meaningful volunteer opportunities and internships, potentially in an industry relevant to their chosen professional path. Through these, newcomers can demonstrate their competence, reliability, and ability to thrive in a Canadian work environment.

Browsing online job boards and attending in-person job fairs are great ways to discover volunteer and internship opportunities.

Getting Foreign Experience and Education Recognized

There is no doubt many newcomers arrive in Canada with solid employment and educational credentials. They may certainly qualify for many open positions and academic opportunities; however, they may encounter difficulty in getting their prior work and school credentials recognized.

Looking into industry-specific licensing requirements in Canada is crucial, particularly for regulated professions. If applicable, newcomers should contact or consult the websites of licensing or regulatory bodies in their respective fields.

For professionally experienced newcomers looking to adapt their skills to Canada, short-term bridging programs are a great option. Many employment agencies like JVS Toronto and educational institutions offer these programs to equip newcomers from various professional backgrounds with confidence, updated skills and networking opportunities to help them secure jobs that fit their skills and experiences.

If considering further education, newcomers can research services that offer credential evaluation.

Limited Social and Professional Connections

For newcomers and long-time Canadian residents alike, establishing a strong professional network is essential for success in one’s employment search. They are tremendously helpful when considering a switch in industry, looking to join a new company, or exploring further education.

Because newcomers typically have fewer connections in Canada, they may feel limited in their options for career advancement. Fortunately, there are ways to address this, such as participating in networking events and job fairs organized by agencies like JVS Toronto.

Taking advantage of pre-existing connections, if available, such as family and friends in Canada is a great first option. Volunteering with local organizations may also be helpful in meeting other professionals.

Language or Communication Barriers

Language proficiency is a necessity for any kind of job. Lack of fluency in either English or French may make it difficult to get hired or severely limit newcomers’ employment options in Canada.

Many newcomers arrive in Canada proficient in English, French, or even both, and this definitely benefits them greatly in their job search and their performance in the workplace. However, language fluency does not guarantee an understanding of Canadian workplace culture, which may differ significantly from a newcomer’s country of origin. It’s possible that this may even lead to miscommunication in the workplace.

For newcomers looking to improve their language skills and knowledge of Canadian workplace terminology and culture, language classes can be beneficial and provide employers additional assurance of your language competency.

Lack of Understanding of the Canadian Job Market

Although there may be similarities in the recruitment and hiring processes between Canada and newcomers’ home countries, there are undeniable nuances that can vary from country to country. Therefore, it’s important to carefully research common practices in Canada. Optimizing job search strategies to meet Canadian standards can greatly impact one’s job search success.

One way to begin understanding the Canadian job market is to seek insights from any family and friends already in Canada. If this isn’t possible, there are also various community-managed online resources such as Facebook groups and other online forums for newcomers.

Newcomers may also consider consulting employment counsellors to receive individualized career support. Consider participating in job-related workshops to sharpen your resume and cover letter, interview skills, and job search tactics, among others.

While there are unique challenges newcomers face when seeking employment in Canada, there certainly are ways to address them. It is important to remain proactive and confident as you explore and prepare for your next professional steps in Canada.

We understand that starting your job search in a new country can be daunting, but we’re here to help! JVS Toronto offers a range of programs for newcomers to Canada to aid them in their employment search.

July 24, 2024 1 Comment

The Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Job Search

It’s nearly impossible these days to read the news without coming across discussions about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to make everything so easy that it will “eventually take away all our jobs.” Such scary predictions are hard to challenge when AI seems vast and confusing.

So here’s a definition: AI is a field of computer science that focuses on creating technology that can perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. It does so by gathering a large amount of data and “learning” from it. This “machine learning” trains computers to recognize patterns in the data to make predictions or decisions. As a result, it can be used to perform a range of tasks that humans usually do—only quicker and (sometimes) better.

For job seekers and employers, new AI-driven technologies bring a huge and dizzying array of tools that claim to make hiring and job search better and more efficient. It’s important to note that your job search already relies on AI in many ways.

If used thoughtfully, AI can be a helpful tool. But it is important to remember that there are still many ways in which humans are much better at job search than machines.

Let’s look at some of the ways AI is already being used, some of the tools you might want to consider, and when it’s worth relying on human skills to best navigate the job search process and stand out from the competition.

1. Optimizing Resumes and Cover Letters

When you upload your resume and cover letter to a recruiting site, ATS recruiting tools scan, sort, and select those that best match the employer’s specific job descriptions. Some AI tools (such as JobScan and Zety) can be helpful for job seekers to analyze job postings, identify the most suited keyword, and optimize resumes and cover letters. They can help highlight relevant skills and ensure compatibility with the posting, which might improve the chances of the resume and cover letter you have submitted being identified by ATS and forwarded to the employer.

Another use of AI is to help with language, grammar and spelling (I use Grammarly for this – its Chrome extension has a useful free option for checking basic spelling and grammar, regardless of whether you are a first-language English speaker).

Cautionary note: Some AI platforms offer to write your resume and cover letter, often for a fee. But there are some reasons to be skeptical of such offers. Firstly, there’s no reason to spend money when there are organizations such as JVS Toronto that can help with writing a better, more personalized resume for free.

Secondly, you will be required to share a lot of personal information with the app for your resume. That information then becomes the property of the platform, which should raise some privacy concerns for users.

Third, and most important to the job search, writing a resume and cover letter is very useful to prepare you for job interviews. The process allows you to think and sort through your work history and skills and figure out how to describe yourself best.

Finally, text written by AI tends to be impersonal and uninteresting. Employers are also increasingly aware that job seekers will use these tools. It’s possible that AI detectors will soon become part of ATS systems. When this happens, you don’t want to be dismissed as someone unwilling to invest the effort needed to do your job search.

2. Enhancing Job Search Experience

Many job search platforms (Indeed and LinkedIn) use intelligent algorithms to understand and match job seekers’ skills, interests, and experience with job postings in real time. They categorize and rank job listings based on relevance and create a tailored job search experience for job seekers. This is why LinkedIn can impressively recommend jobs to you that you might not have considered, simply based on your profile, contacts, and activities on the platform.

3. Interview Preparation and Practice

An increasing number of online apps and platforms offer AI-based virtual interviews that simulate real interview scenarios and offer job seekers feedback and opportunities to practice their skills.

Cautionary note: These are still in the early stages of development and are not necessarily effective. Also, job seekers should keep in mind that employers rely on job interviews to evaluate interpersonal and communication skills, and despite AI algorithms’ impressive ability to use data and identify patterns, it is not good at understanding the complexities of being human and building relationships. Humans still do that better, and a skilled employment counsellor/coach can do a much better job at helping you figure out how to impress an employer in interviews.

4. Personalized Learning and Skill Development

AI-powered learning platforms (LinkedIn Learning, for example) facilitate personalized skill development by recommending relevant courses, certifications, or workshops based on individual job seekers’ career goals and aspirations. These platforms use machine learning algorithms to analyze user behaviour, assess skill gaps, and provide tailored learning recommendations.

By leveraging AI, job seekers can continuously upskill, often at their own pace, to stay competitive and adapt to the ever-changing job market. LinkedIn Learning is free through many educational institutions and public library systems.

5. Networking and Building Connections

To help you expand your network to people who might be helpful in your career, LinkedIn’s AI-based platform analyzes information (data points) in your and others’ profiles and identifies shared interests and locations. It then suggests connections to people with similar backgrounds or shared professional goals. This can help you expand your network, strengthen relationships, and tap into hidden opportunities. It also enables automated follow-ups, reminders, and personalized messaging to nurture and build professional connections that could help you with your job search.

So, to conclude, it is important to recognize that AI will become an integral part of the job search process as technology evolves. Your challenge as a job seeker is to use the tools available with care but be aware of the risks. Using too much AI to write your resumes and cover letters and prepare for interviews can make you sound more like a machine than a person and won’t necessarily help you stand out. As we face new technology, we all must strive to find a balance between using machines and keeping the human touch — after all, employers are still (for now) human.

Navigating the various things that come with employment search, including understanding the role AI could play in this, can be an intimidating experience. JVS Toronto offers free workshops that can help ensure that you have a resume and cover letter that can beat out AI-driven templates. Not only that, but our 1-on-1 personalized employment services can also help you use AI to your advantage, overcome gaps in your experience history, and help newcomers secure their Canadian experience, among other things! Contact us today to see how we can help you in your job search.

March 18, 2019 Leave a Comment

How to make the most of a virtual job fair

successful businessman celebrating his victory raising arms, in front of a laptop

How to make the most of a virtual job fair

Technology offers new and inventive ways for employers to find qualified candidates. The latest innovation is a virtual (or online) job fair where job seekers have the opportunity to apply for job postings and speak directly with multiple employers from anywhere in the world.

What is a virtual job fair?

Virtual job fairs allow job seekers and employers to meet online and discuss employment opportunities. Just like in-person job fairs, these events are scheduled at a particular date and time. They utilize a range of technologies, including written chat or messaging, and may include video or teleconferencing tools.

Preparing for a virtual job fair.

Online job fairs require job seekers to register for the event in advance. Registration may require submission of a resume and a series of qualifying and information questions that will help employers decide on the suitability of the candidate. Once registered, job seekers will receive a username and password to log into the event. They may even have an opportunity to review the positions advertised by each company before the event, and decide which positions they would like to apply for.

Preparation for a virtual job fair isn’t that different from an in-person one. Prior to “meeting” with employers, job seekers can research companies and learn about their values and the work that they do.

Just as with in-person interviews, job seekers need to be ready to talk about themselves with the employer, to demonstrate their strengths and accomplishments. Here are some sample interview questions and answers to help you prepare.

Before the event begins:

Complete the registration as required
Find a quiet space where you can focus on the interviews
Make sure your computer, microphone (if needed) and other equipment are working
Research the companies you want to speak with, and review job descriptions for each position you want to apply for
Prepare a short introduction (an “elevator pitch”) targeted at each company that you can use when you first connect to a representative
Prepare 2-3 questions to ask each interviewer
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and accurately describes your skills and experience
Check your social media accounts and make sure your online presence is up-to-date and professional
Prepare a folder of information (paper or electronic) that you can refer to during the interviews; include your resume, answers to interview questions, questions you want to ask, and company research

What happens at the virtual job fair?

At the designated start time, log in with your username and password. The website will direct you to chat rooms or booths where you can talk to the employers of your choice. Depending on the sophistication of the platform’s software, some job fairs look like a live in-person fair complete with booths. Other simpler virtual fairs might just include a list of companies which you can click on to review and start a chat.

Tips to maximize the opportunity.

Type slowly and have spellcheck on; review what you write before pressing send/enter
Use formal language – don’t be too casual; stay away from typical text abbreviations (e.g. don’t use “u” instead of “you”)
Keep your answers short; long blocks of text can be overwhelming to the reader. Use paragraphs to break up blocks of text
Choose your words with care; have your resume ready as well as scripts that you can copy and paste from (e.g. your elevator pitch)
Answer one question at a time and only include the relevant information asked for
Avoid redundancy; do not repeat information
Be polite and avoid trying to be funny; humour, such as sarcasm, is hard to communicate online

At the end of the interview…

Thank the interviewers, express your enthusiasm about the job, and ask about next steps in the process. Ask for contact information from your interviewer so you can send a thank you note and follow up if you don’t hear back.

After the job fair…

Send a brief thank you email (same day)
Write down some of the questions you were asked in order to review later and learn from
If you don’t hear back from an employer, call or email them to check on your application status after the deadline set by the employer

Remember, everyone is learning how to use these new technologies and everyone is bound to make mistakes. If you make a mistake, apologize, correct yourself, and keep going. Don’t let the technology intimidate you. By using it, you are showing the employer that you are adaptable and able to learn new skills.

Now that you’re ready, put your new skills to use at JVS Toronto’s Virtual Employment Connections Fair happening tomorrow! Register online at jvstoronto.vfairs.com

January 14, 2019 Leave a Comment

Worried about being laid-off? Here are some strategies.

Close up of a man carrying his belongs out of the office in a cardboard box.

Recently, a former client of mine anxiously called me. Her present employer of two years had begun restructuring. Some staff and a manager had already been laid-off. The company rumour mill said that her job was next. Understandably, she asked my advice on how to handle the rumours.

Unfortunately, job security is an on-going concern in today’s labour market regardless of any imminent threat. Taking these important steps will give you a plan and a sense of control in your career.

Clarify the situation.

My first suggestion to my client was to reach out to her supervisor and address the issue directly. This private conversation allows you to ask if changes are coming? How would those changes affect my position? What can I do to protect my job?

In situations like this, be prepared for vague responses. Management are often asked to keep such details confidential, or have not been provided with the details. It may be that various manager positions will also be affected. In my client’s case, her manager did not deny the rumours but did not have any details. However, my client was reassured that her performance was not an issue and was encouraged to continue to do her best.

Opening up communication with your manager will put the rumours into context and reinforce your commitment to your company. If you work in a unionized position, in addition to your manager, you can also approach your union representative about the rumours. Your goal at this stage is to understand the nature of what may be happening.

Create a back up plan.

If you find that rumours of company restructuring are true, consider this advanced notice as an advantage. While you still don’t know if your position will be affected, you can take positive action with a back up plan. I advised my client to update her resume, review and update her LinkedIn profile, and discreetly gather references. At this point, you may want to invest in upgrading any outdated skills. For example, my client discovered that her software skills are outdated and she decided to pursue a Salesforce training course in the evenings.

During times of uncertainty, and while you’re still working, take these proactive steps:

Update your resume
Review and revise your LinkedIn profile
Review and gather your references
Consider updating outdated skills

You may consider starting a job search to see how competitive the job market is. This will give you a sense of job vacancies earning potential, and what updated skills you will need to be more employable. Of course, employers prefer employed candidates, so if you feel you are at risk during a company restructuring, you can take this opportunity to look for work while you are still working. Taking action will ease your mind during uncertainty in the workplace.

Evaluate your finances.

Examine your financial situation. Figure out whether you be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) if you were laid off, how much you might be able to collect, and whether you could live on that income. That will help you decide when to start a job search. Keep in mind that if you find a new job while you are working, even if you have received a lay-off notice, resign the job, you will not be eligible for EI or a severance package.

If you are laid off…

During a lay-off, you will be given notice, usually through a meeting and a letter, outlining your termination notice. This is outlined in the Employment Standards Act of Ontario, and for unionized positions, in the Collective Agreement between the union and the company. This will outline what you are eligible for in terms of notice, pay in lieu, vacation pay and other benefits. Your employer will issue you a Record of Employment, that will indicate the reason you left the company. You will need this to apply for Employment Insurance. This is also the time to gather reference letters from your current employer.

Importantly, work as hard as you can to end your job on positive terms. The benefits of this are especially important for your job search by informing the next employer that, despite being laid off, you have a positive relationship with your former team members.

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