Career Planning and LMI Research for Newcomers to Canada

1. Career Planning for
Newcomers to Canada
By Silvia Di Blasio

2. Newcomer Common
Scenarios
After sending dozens of resumes, you have
neither job offers nor calls for interviews
If you need a job right away, you take
whatever comes
You get stuck in that job
Frustration and resignation settle in

3. Some Newcomers Fight this
by
Going back to school –
(Is this really necessary?)
Changing careers –
(Is it worth? Who advised you?)
Going Back Home –
(Is this what you really wanted?)
Make a Career Plan – Way to Go!

4. What happens when you don’t
plan
Waste of Money
Waste of Time
Mistakes (wrong choices)
No guarantee of employment

5. Reasons Why Newcomers Don’t
Find Work (or Professional Work)
English Level
Fail to do LMI Research
Lack of (local) Soft Skills
Lack of General Planning

6. Unavoidable Steps
Improve English –
(Professional)
Engage in serious LMI
Research
Read/Observe/Practice/Learn
Soft Skills
PLAN!

7. Where to Start
Skills Abilities
Take
inventory
Knowledge Education/Training

8. Create a Chart
Skills
• Facilitating classes for children
• Use of computer applications for teaching/admin
• Design: websites/databases/newsletters/brochures
Attributes/ Abilities
• Highly analytical and excellent problem solver
• Organized and detail oriented
• Proactive and goal driven
Knowledge
• Instructional design
• Assessment strategies and tools
• Teaching theories and approaches
Education/Training
• Master in Sociology
• Bachelor in Arts and B. In Education

9. Consider...
Time – how much do you have?
Money – you have /you will need
Energy you are willing to invest
Dependants – children/ old parents/ spouse
Life Style –back home Vs Canada
Commitments – Back home? Other?

10. Consider Barriers/Challenges
Financial – Debt – Savings – Needs -
Wants
Transportation – License – Car/bike –
Public Transport routes/fares
Housing – Location – Relationships –
Rent/contracts
Daycare – Family decisions/children
needs/Quality/Fees
Health – Body / Mental - Family
Isolation /lack of support networks

11. Research the LMI
Regulated?
• Who?
• Process?
• Requirements?
Employer Requirements
• Education and experience
• Licenses, designations, certifications...
• Skills specific to the job/market
(technologies, processes, etc.)
Work Environment
• Where, what (services/products), how, who...
• How much?

12. Where to do LMI Research
(websites) (1)
 Working in Canada
 N.O.C.
 Local Library
 Industry Canada
 Job Databases
 Essential Skills Profiles

13. Where to do LMI Research
(II)
Informational Interviews
Professional Associations
Specialized publications
(Newsletters/Magazines)
Forums and Social Media
Groups

14. Start your Plan – what would you
need? (Remember: from LMI Research)
Credential
Assessment?
Any Job?
Training?
Which?
Test
Internships?
Challenging?
Volunteering?

15. Make Your Plan S.M.A.R.T.
Specific: what (define with details)
Measurable (Criteria)
Achievable (Resource-wise)
Realistic (based on what you
have)
Time-bound: deadline!

16. Write it down
What By When Resources
ICES/WES Application
Form
Credential Evaluation April 2012 Fee
Transcripts
Regulatory Body Application package
Application June 2012
Fee
Credentials
Training July 2012 Course Fees and time
Volunteering March 2012 Time/Transportation

17. Put your Plan into Practice!
You Are In Control!
Good Action Plans are Flexible
Good Action Plans have a Plan B or Exit
An Action Plan will work if you monitor yourself
Get around Items, go to next step – Don’t get Stuck!
Action Plans work better if you have a Coach or a Pal to keep
you motivated

18. Where to go...
If you need further help
Immigrant Agencies
Government Agencies
Local Community (School, Library, Rec
Centre, Religious Centre, Neighbours

19. Credits
The processes and ideas described were developed and written by Silvia Di Blasio
(Career/Employment Counsellor and Facilitator for Immigrants at Skills Connect
for Immigrants ISS of BC)
The images used come from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/ :
 Checking: Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Asian Child Reading Book: Phaitoon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Stir Fried Thai Rice with Shrimps: John Kasawa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Woman Buying Salad Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Kid Stealing Muffin from Table: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Construction Worker: taoty / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Contemplate: Evgeni Dinev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Business lady doing yoga: Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Busy at Phone: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Businessman Reading a Document: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Travel – Map of the World: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Asian woman in computer: Image: vudhikrai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Coffee and office space: Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

20. Credits
The processes and ideas described were developed and written by Silvia Di Blasio
(Career/Employment Counsellor and Facilitator for Immigrants at Skills Connect
for Immigrants ISS of BC)
The images used come from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/ :
 Checking: Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Asian Child Reading Book: Phaitoon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Stir Fried Thai Rice with Shrimps: John Kasawa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Woman Buying Salad Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Kid Stealing Muffin from Table: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Construction Worker: taoty / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Contemplate: Evgeni Dinev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Business lady doing yoga: Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Busy at Phone: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Businessman Reading a Document: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Travel – Map of the World: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Asian woman in computer: Image: vudhikrai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 Coffee and office space: Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net