Immigrant IT professionals gain a second chance

Ottawa, 29th March: A special course in language training has enabled thousands of immigrant IT professionals to find new jobs in Canada’s Ottawa city after they lost jobs due to layoffs in the technology industry. 

Nearly 80 percent of those who lost jobs in Canada due to global meltdown agree that they have gained significantly from this specialized enhanced language training (ELT) program. 

The training program is being run for the immigrants in Canada by the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre for the last two years. 

Around 240 immigrants in Canada have participated in the program and have enhanced their language ability and business culture. 

A function was organized to give recognition to those who gained from the ELT program, stated program manager for employment support at Ottawa’s community service center, Ying Xie. The center aims to help skilled professionals in business and technology from nearly 28 different nations. 

Xie also informed that the aim of the program is not only to teach business language to the immigrants in Canada but also helps them face interviews and meetings with clients successfully and become exposed to the culture of their prospective workplace. 

During the ELT program, the participants are given classroom training for 12 weeks and another four to eight weeks of placement to get them apprized of the Canadian workplace. 

Presently, communication skills and language requirements are the key to landing a job in Canada, especially after the global economic slowdown in Canada. 

Moreover, having such skills guards them against firing from the jobs in Canada.

The program helps the immigrants in Canada integrate successfully into the local job market of Canada and to know the way followed by Canadians to operate in a business environment. 

Some of the things taught in the ELT program include writing a resume, facing an interview and so on. 

The programs run at Ottawa’s community center are funded by private fundraising, Ontario’s Ministry of Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Trillium Foundation.