Immigrant professionals require soft skills to succeed

Canada, 10th September: The greatest challenge faced by many new skilled professionals immigrating to Canada is the soft skills to find a job in Canada.

A large number of immigrants coming to Canada are forced to take up jobs which are far below what they are qualified for. This is especially true following the global economic slowdown which has significantly reduced demand for the skills and work experience possessed by immigrant workers.

Prior to the recession in the year 2006 and 2007, it was quite easy to find suitable jobs in Canada.

However, after the recession, those jobs were lost leaving the immigrants with no choice but either to seek employment in lower-paid or menial jobs in Canada or stay without any jobs, says head of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta, Lionel Larouche. Hence, the majority have opted for the former alternative.

Larouche is working to help immigrant engineers in Canada get jobs in the professions they are qualified for. Recently, a seminar in joint collaboration with Bow Valley College and the association was organized in Calgary to help immigrants integrate smoothly into their new workplace in Canada by equipping them with skills related to job finding and interviewing.

The seminar is also followed by a couple of sessions relating to personal coaching to enable the immigrant participants get job in Alberta.

Many foreign professionals including engineer immigrants often state that cultural differences are a major hindrance for many professionals in their Canadian workplace. Although, striking a rapport with neighbors and finding friends is quite easy than getting the jobs in the chosen fields, feels Larouche since social network does not prove helpful professionally.

The total number of Canada skilled worker visas made available by the government of Canada is nearly 20,000 each year. However, before foreign professionals can become eligible for work in Canada, they need certification from any professional bodies like APEGGA.

The eligibility for getting work in Canada is an offer of job in Canada or a minimum of one year work experience, proficiency in French or English and a university degree.