British Columbia mentoring program assists skilled immigrants

Every year, Canada opens its doors to more than 40,000 new immigrants classified as skilled workers. With the current shortage of skilled labour in this country, it is undeniable that we must entrust the future of our economy to dynamic, highly-educated professionals who have left their extended families and the stability of their home countries to pursue a better life in Canada.
But even with this shortage, most landed immigrants in British Columbia are getting tired of knocking on doors that never open.

Although employers and big business associations are continually professing that, in a globalized world, international experience gives an employee a competitive advantage, Statistics Canada reports that these internationally trained professionals are less likely to find work in Canada than their Canadian-born counterparts.

Even if they’ve been educated at North American universities, Canadian businesses are more likely to hire someone who represents what they already know and trust, largely due to a newcomer’s perceived lack of familiarity with Canadian workplace culture.
With a long history of helping new immigrants build a future for themselves and their families, Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) has expanded its services by launching Mentoring Connections, a dynamic new community initiative that matches skilled immigrants with established professionals in career-focused mentoring relationships.

By offering industry-specific advice, mentors help equip new immigrants with the knowledge they need to find meaningful, professional work more quickly.

“Newly arrived individuals have a very diverse skill-set and work experience, which can result in numerous benefits to employers,” says Patricia Woroch, executive director at ISSofBC. “However, they lack familiarity with the Canadian workplace and culture. That’s where our Mentoring Connections program steps in.”

Through a mentorship, newcomers develop networking skills, job search strategies and learn more about the Canadian context of their profession, all with the help of an insider’s knowledge.

By taking into consideration professional experience and the new immigrant’s goals, Mentoring Connections matches individuals in a flexible, three to sixth month mentoring relationship. “Anyone who has already mentored knows that it can be incredibly rewarding to see your mentee progress and succeed,” says Laurie Sing, Manager at Mentoring Connections. “A mentor can save a newcomer years of struggle in returning to his or her profession, and can make a tremendous difference in the life of a mentee and their family.”

Mentoring Connections is accepting applications from potential mentors and mentees. If you are an established Canadian professional with more than two years of experience, or you are a skilled immigrant who wants to learn more about your profession with a mentor, please contact Mentoring Connections at 604.637.1307 or mentoring.connections@issbc.org. To find out more about this initiative, visit www.issbc.org/employers/mentoring

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