Preparation Meets Opportunity: How Adan Built Her Canadian Career
Adan Younus’s journey from dentistry in Lahore, Pakistan, to a growing career in healthcare in British Columbia shows how pre-arrival preparation can make a difference. Since arriving in Canada at the end of 2023, Adan has made significant progress in her professional goals. After starting as a medical imaging clerk with Northern Health, she quickly secured a permanent part-time position as a Registration Clerk at a local hospital in the same network. This move supports her goal of obtaining dental licensure in Canada within the next 2-3 years.
Before coming to Canada, Adan enrolled in the Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) program recommended by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. She took full advantage of SOPA services, including Employment Counselling, Soft Skills training, Canadian Workplace Integration, and the Job Search Strategies Express course.
What did you learn from SOPA that helped you understand Canada better?
“Before SOPA, I had no idea about the practical side of the Canadian job market. The first session with my employment counsellor really opened my eyes. I thought I’d be stuck working at diners or as a cashier. However, my facilitator showed me that with my skills and experience, I could find work in my field pretty quickly. The Job Search Strategies course was amazing – I learned how to adapt my resume for each job and found great job-hunting websites like Job Bank Canada. It showed me so many opportunities I didn’t know existed.”
How did you find a job in your field?
“I started by looking at jobs that the SOPA employment counsellor sent me and through LinkedIn. I joined the SOPA LinkedIn group and studied job posts from other newcomers to understand what skills I needed. My relatives in healthcare gave me great advice about trying for clerical roles. I applied to every clerical job on health authority websites – this helped me practice interviewing. My counsellor said volunteering would help me get Canadian references, so I volunteered at a Toronto distress center. That became my first Canadian reference.”
“Adan was an outstanding client who brought enthusiasm and positivity to every session. She completed assignments promptly and wasn’t afraid to ask questions. It’s been wonderful watching her grow and succeed in her job search.”
Josephine Wang, Employment Services Advisor, SOPA BC
What tips do you have for other newcomers?
“Do your research before coming to Canada. Start looking for jobs before you arrive. Be ready for the fact that getting settled might take a couple of years – just arriving in Canada is only the beginning. When you see a job you want to apply for, customize your resume to match what they’re looking for. Research the company thoroughly and try to connect with people who work there to understand their values. Look for similar jobs at different companies and check for other openings at companies you like.”
“Adan showed incredible dedication to preparing for her Canadian career. She actively used every resource we provided and took initiative in her learning. Her positive attitude and motivation were truly impressive.”
Anna Romaniuk, Employment Services Advisor, SOPA BC
Which tradition from your culture would you like to bring to Canada?
“I miss the strong family and social connections from back home. I feel these close bonds aren’t as common in Canadian culture, where it’s harder to build strong support networks.”
What has surprised you most about Canada?
“The strict rules surprised me. For example, I recently learned that to drive my brother’s insured car, he needs to add me to his policy – and the premium will go up because I’m a new driver. I thought if a car was already insured, anyone could drive it, but that’s not how it works here.”
Through SOPA’s guidance, Adan learned to navigate the Canadian job market with confidence. Her story shows how preparation, determination, and the right support can help newcomers build their careers in Canada.
Story prepared by Anna Romaniuk and Josephine Wang, Employment Services Advisors, SOPA British Columbia Team
