We are pleased to introduce a new guest blogger to The Wave.
Mia Isabela Deleanu, is an Application Analyst Assistant at Catholic Social Services in Edmonton, Alberta. She shares her advice and experience from her own personal journey as an immigrant to Canada. Each month she will cover different topics on what worked for her.
The ERIEC Team
Should I Upgrade my Education?
- If you are educated outside of Canada and your job experience seems not to be relevant for specific jobs that back home you where qualified for, don’t give up! You might need to take some additional classes and/or upgrade your skills. Ask yourself why would it be good to take those classes? You may find yourself becoming more familiar with the Canadian culture or you decide that you need to learn new skills. This can be a great strategy to undertake but you will need to learn how to communicate those skills to the potential employer.
- Taking additional training or classes may help you to get referral from your instructor and even get tips for potential jobs. I landed my first professional job with the help of one of my instructors at NAIT. Her recommendation to an employer opened the door for me.
- Be visible in the class, participate in discussions, do your homework, diligently think outside the box! The classroom is like the job market, if you don’t talk, they don’t know you exist and you risk not being noticed or miss an opportunity.
- Communicate or inform your instructor; ask them for advice if you’ve landed an interview. Some of them are willing to take the extra step and coach you for an interview. There are people out there with a lot of heart and compassion: you just need to reach out and ask for help. I had another instructor at NAIT who had graciously coached me for a job interview and verified my resumes for various positions. You cannot expect all instructors to do the same but as I said, you can ask!
- Additional training or going to school can be costly. Ask program advisors regarding information about the program and what are some of the financing options? There could be bursaries, loans, grants etc. Again, just ask! I myself had to take a loan from one of the major banks; many actually have loans designed just for students. The money you are going to invest now will pay off over time. This investment will be an investment in your future!
Tips for searching for funding in Alberta: