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Skills Connect for Immigrants
A BC Skills Connect for Immigrants project
IMMIGRANTS . . .
Are you looking for work in Canada?
Skills Connect for Immigrants participants receive:
- Assistance finding work in your field of expertise
- Professional job search techniques
- Individual assistance and ongoing support
- Introductions to employers in your field
- Courses to improve your qualifications
EMPLOYERS . . .
Are you looking for skilled employees?
Skills Connect for Immigrants participants have:
- Advanced English language skills
- Extensive training and experience
- International expertise
- Current qualifications to work in BC
- Professional work ethic
If you are a skilled immigrant with health care training, go to Skills Connect - Health
Program Information
- What is Skills Connect for Immigrants?
- How to register
- What do we do?
- Who can join?
- Skills Connect - Health
- Where is Skills Connect for Immigrants offered?
- Success Stories: What our Clients say
- The Skills Connect for Immigrants Team
- Why choose Douglas College?
What is Skills Connect for Immigrants?
We assist immigrants find employment in their field of expertise.
New! We can also help immigrants who lack certification or essential skills in their current field in Canada.
You will meet with experienced Career Consultants for on-going meetings and workshops. Our career development workshops provide hands-on exercises and role-plays which prepare you to network with employers and make connections in the community. In addition, we will assist you to prepare 'leads lists', customized resumes and cover letters and ensure that your job search and interview skills are up to date.
How do I register?
This program is free!To register for an information session in your area, e-mail skillsconnect@douglascollege.ca or call:
Surrey/Langley: 604.588.7772
Burnaby: 604.438.3045
Abbotsford/Chilliwack: 604.866.1645 or 604.866.0257
Applications are now being accepted.
Skills Connect for Immigrants is fully funded by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation. Participants may also receive funding toward the costs of further training and advanced English language courses.
What do we do?
Skills Connect for Immigrants participants receive:
- information about your trade or profession in Canada
- a career plan
- a professional resume
- "Canadian-style" job search skills
- introductions to employers and professionals in your field
- Canadian work experience
- job interviews
- language and credential assessments
- individual assistance and ongoing support
- short term courses to improve your qualifications and English language skills
Who can join?
Skills Connect for Immigrants applicants are:
- immigrants with certification
OR - 5 years experience in a profession/trade or high skill occupation from outside of Canada
OR - employed immigrants lacking high school, Essential Skills or recognized certification
- individuals who are unemployed (and non-EI) or employed in a job outside their field
- individuals with an English proficiency at a high intermediate to advanced level
- immigrants who are motivated to find work in their field
- Permanent Residents living in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia
If the above statements apply to you, then Skills Connect for Immigrants is the program for you.
Skills Connect - Health
- Work one-to-one with knowledgeable Career Consultants who will assist you to upgrade your qualifications to practice in Canada.
- Get support in finding work in a Canadian health-care setting.
- Get government financial support toward the cost of required courses and training.
- Meet with other immigrant health professionals to form study and network groups.
What Categories of Health Care Providers are served by this program?
There are 12 professional categories supported by Skills Connect- Health:
1. Licensed Practical Nurse
2. Medical Laboratory Technologist
3. Medical Radiation Technologist
4. Midwife
5. Occupational Therapist
6. Pharmacist
7. Physician
8. Physiotherapist
9. Registered Nurse
10. Registered Psychiatric Nurse
11. Speech Language Pathologist and Audiologist
12. Ultrasonographer
For details about Skills Connect - Health call:
604.438.3045 (Burnaby)
or
604.588.7772 (Surrey)
Where is Skills Connect for Immigrants offered?
Services are offered out of Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford. However, you can live anywhere in the Lower Mainland to join our program.
Our Skills Connect for Immigrants delivery partner in the Fraser Valley is Abbotsford Community Services.
Success Stories: What our Clients say
. . . YES, I have a job again. I have restarted my career here in Canada because people at Skills Connect have given me what I need the most: Hope. (Vasile, Engineer)
. . . I found Skills Connect for Immigrants a great program for helping new immigrants upgrade their skills to fit in the Canadian market, and find jobs in their field of study. It's not only an excellent program, but also an excellent source of information coming from people who CARE. I was very impressed by the staff who was very professional, competent, passionate and always there to help along the process. I have been fortunate enough to find this program, and it definitely sped up my career in Canada. Thank you for your great support! (Bogdan, Economics)
. . . I believe I am one of successful immigrants who found his appropriate way through guidance of this program and its consultants. I sincerely appreciate them helping me through to my current success. (Parviz, Architect)
. . . I came to Canada as a geologist who had left his home, family and friends with no support or knowledge about the culture of Canada. Thanks to Skills Connect and the consultants, I am improving my shortcomings and I am beginning to feel at home. My feeling of being alone has changed; although I left my family behind I feel that I can also belong here, with another, larger family that respects and supports me. (Ebi, Geologist)
. . . In summary, my experience in the program was first attending some workshops: such as orientation, hidden market, interview I and II. It was in a very friendly environment. All the instructors are experienced. They took care of all the students, who immigrated from different countries with different English levels. They were well prepared for the presentation and brought a lot useful information. The most valuable service was attending face to face meeting with my Career Consultant. (Eric, Field Engineer)
. . . I really appreciate a lot all the feedback that Skills Connect program gave me to start my career and job search in Canada. I got more confidence about how to show my professional skills to Canadian employers. Before I started the program I wasn't sure how to demonstrate that my capabilities and my country's experience can be valuable for a local company, the program showed me how to do it, by the job search workshops, your personal assistance and the economic support. This has really been important to make the big step in my career development. I want to thank you again for all your help, advice and commitment to my career and job search success. (Elva, Property Management Assistant)
. . . Thank you Skills Connect, Thank you Douglas College and big Thank you for the bureaucrats who initiated this pilot project, which gave me my life back. (Nishan, Business Administration)
The Skills Connect for Immigrants Team
Our qualified and experienced employment specialists have helped over 1000 new immigrants find work. We will help you get what you need to begin your career in Canada.
Why choose Douglas College?
Douglas College is the largest college in British Columbia and a respected public educational institution with a 40+ year history.- over 20,000 learners a year at 5 different locations
- high rates of job placement success
- qualified and experienced staff
- state-of-the-art facilities with computer and Internet access
The Skills Connect for Immigrants program is part of the WelcomeBC umbrella of services, made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
