Skills for Change

Bridges Gap

Between Business

and New Canadians

by Susan Coates

 

For over 6,000 new Canadians each year, Skills for Change is the first step to paid employment in their new home. Skills for Change is also a vital link between these workers and potential Canadian employers.

 

Clients of Skills for Change receive all the tools they need to be successful in the Canadian business environment. The programs they offer range from English upgrading, communicating in the workplace, computer training programs, resume and interview skills development, workshops on such things as labour market trends, individual and group counseling, to mentoring, co-op placements and employment support for foreign-trained professionals.

 

"They hear about our programs through Citizenship and Culture when they arrive at Pearson," says Kamal Asgharinia, Employer Outreach Specialist at Skills for Change. ‘We’ve been in existence since 1982 50 word of mouth is an-other important way for our clients to learn about us. We also get referrals from other United Way agencies. Daily we receive numerous inquiries through our web site from all over the world."

 

‘Within 3 months of graduating from our various programs, more that 50 per cent of our clients are working, after 6 months 75 per cent are employed," comments Asgharinia. "Over 80 per cent of these are in their chosen profession."

 

Since 1998 and until just recently, Skills for Change has been the only organization in Canada offering an intensive six-week sector specific employment preparation course for foreign-trained professionals.

 

Grouped by profession, the participants learn about licensing requirements, occupational terminology and everything else they need to know about their profession in Canada.

 

Developed in partnership with the Access to Professions and Trades Unit of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and with funding from Human Resources Development Canada, the program served more than 300 foreign-trained engineers, accountants and health care professionals (including nurses and doctors) in 1998-99. Plans are under way to expand the program to include other professions.

 

Each year, Skills for Change receives thousands of calls from businesses looking for qualified workers. With a pool of over 500 resumes on file at any given time, the staff can turn a job order around in 24 hours and fax suitable resumes to the potential employer.

 

"Our system is modeled on other recruitment agency practices, but the advantage we have is that our service is free - - for the employer and for the client," says Asgharmnia.

 

Companies that have made use of their services include Ontario Hydro, Transamerica Life, CanCare Health, Canada Post, Hilton Toronto and Estee Lauder.

 

Since 1996, CFDS Limited, a record keeping service for the mutual fund and insurance industries, has worked with Skills for Change by sharing information, offering clients interview practice and providing co-op work placements. They have also hired over 25 graduates.

 

"Our relationship benefits the company, Skills for Change and the individuals involved," says Alan Hogeboom, Human Resources Client Relations Manager. "We have had co-op placements and direct recruitment from Skills for Change. The co-op placements are here for an eight-week program. Frequently, they prove themselves so dedicated and hard-working that they get rolled into longer term employment which often extends to full-time. Some have even been promoted. One individual started off in the co-op program in 1996 and is now our manager of finance."

 

Each year Skills for Change recognizes the achievements of new Canadians and their contributions to this country through the presentation of the New Pioneers Awards. The awards honour individuals who overcome barriers to achieve success in a specific category (arts, entreprenuership, science and technology) and who have made a significant contribution to the community.

 

Awards are also presented to a graduate of the Skills for Change program and an outstanding young person.

 

This year’s New Pioneers Awards will be presented on Wednesday, March 22 and present an ideal opportunity for potential employers to have an introduction to Skills for Change.