Every Success is Unique and Individual

Oluwaseun, a skilled professional from Nigeria, brings with him an impressive background in the banking sector, accumulating over 10 years of valuable experience. His expertise in finance has led him to his current role as a Financial Analyst at one of the universities in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia.

Although it took Oluwaseun 5 months to get his first job in Canada, we always remind our clients that success is not limited to achieving specific goals or reaching a certain level of status. It can be found in small victories and everyday accomplishments. It can be seen in personal growth, overcoming challenges, and making a positive impact on others. As newcomers striving for success is natural, yet let’s not forget to celebrate small steps towards your goals.

For Oluwaseun his small accomplishments started before he even came to Canada. Oluwaseun completed two of SOPA’s self-guided courses ‘Working in Canada’ and ‘Canadian Workplace Integration’ courses, and an instructor-led (facilitated) course on ‘Job Search Strategies’ and two ‘Soft Skills’ courses. He discusses the insights he gained from the self-guided courses, highlighting he learnt that ‘Working in Canada’ is not just about getting employed and getting paid. The course entails much more, like learning and studying organizational culture and knowing your rights. He attributed his success to the job search strategies he developed with the help of his instructor and the soft skills he enhanced during our online courses.

But let’s hear from Oluwaseun in his own words.

“My name is Oluwaseun. I have over 10 years of experience in the banking sector from back home in Nigeria. When I immigrated to Canada, my short-term goal was to get employment in the banking sector in Canada, and my long-term goal was to transition into the tech space. It took me about 5 months to get a job after landing in Canada. 

Before I came to Canada, I registered with SOPA, I attended intake counselling, employment counselling, and several online courses including two ‘Soft Skills’ courses and ‘Job Search Strategies’. SOPA changed my approach to seeking employment in Canada in the sense that I gained useful information and insights into things I can do to make job search a profitable venture.

Thanks to Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) and the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) who worked with me every step of the way.  SOPA enrolled me in the Job Search Strategy (JSS) course which taught me how to prepare Canadian-style resumes, cover letters, and targeted job applications.  After arrival, I worked with employment counsellors, employment specialists, and job development specialists in ISANS to narrow my job search to specific roles and companies and prepare interviews. I also worked with my job development specialist to improve my resume and cover letter and make them more marketable. The specialist sent my resume to several companies looking to hire me in my desired role.  They landed me several interviews, and I eventually got my current job.

The most I have learnt is how to prepare Canadian-style resumes and cover letters which is quite different in my home country. I now understand it is very important to tailor my resume and cover letter to any job application and how to do it.

The tips that I would like to share with other newcomers are:

1. Have a positive approach towards job search and settling in your new country.

2. It’s advisable to register with settlement agencies. They help newcomers to settle down much easier by sharing information and tips.

3. Moving to a new country can be hard sometimes. Have a support system that can help cushion the effect of change.”

We thank Oluwaseun for sharing his story with us and we wish him continued success in his career and his new life in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Story prepared by Cynthia Wang, Atlantic Facilitator, Job Search Strategies & Cultural Communications

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