Preparation and the Right Support: Keys to Starting a New Life in Canada
Francesca’s Inspiring Journey
Francesca’s story shows how important preparation and the right support are when starting a new life in Canada. As a professional working in disability services with a focus on autism and neurodiversity, Francesca was determined to continue her meaningful work after immigrating. SOPA made her move easier and helped her achieve an amazing result: landing her dream job before even arriving in Canada.
Discovering SOPA
After getting her Permanent Resident (PR) visa, Francesca was encouraged to explore pre-arrival services. While looking for programs that matched her destination, she found SOPA. The program’s fast response and helpful support impressed her right away. “Within a few moments of registering, an appointment was arranged, and the whole process onward was so helpful and invaluable,” Francesca recalls.
SOPA’s Comprehensive Support
Francesca used many SOPA services, such as orientation sessions, one-on-one employment counselling, and the Canadian Workplace Integration and Working in Canada courses. These resources gave her useful knowledge about the Canadian job market and effective job search strategies. She especially valued improving her interview skills and LinkedIn profile with her employment counsellor’s help.
Start your job search as soon as you can, create a resume and cover letter, and tailor them to each job you want to apply to. Meet with your SOPA counsellor and follow their guidance! Their insight is invaluable.
Achieving Career Success Before Arrival
With Francesca’s hard work and SOPA’s guidance, she achieved excellent results. Just two months before arriving in Canada, she got a job offer in her field. Francesca credits her employment counsellor, Mar, for being a key part of her success. “Mar guided me from getting an interview invitation right through to the job offer!” she shared.
Advice for Newcomers
Looking back on her experience, Francesca highlights the importance of SOPA’s online courses in learning about workplace culture in Canada. She encourages other newcomers, “Start your job search as soon as you can, create a resume and cover letter, and tailor them to each job you want to apply to. Meet with your SOPA counsellor and follow their guidance! Their insight is invaluable.”
Thriving in Canada
Now two months into her new life in Canada, Francesca is thriving as a disability case manager. Her story shows how pre-arrival services like SOPA can make a big difference for newcomers. As Francesca puts it, “I am very grateful to Mar and SOPA for helping me in what could have been a very daunting move. I love my job and would recommend SOPA’s services – 10/10!”
An Employment Specialist’s Perspective
Mar Smaili, a SOPA employment specialist in Ontario, shared his thoughts on working with Francesca:
“Francesca is a wonderful role model for newcomers and an inspiring success story. I was impressed by her strong commitment to her career goals and her dedication to being prepared for Canada. Her excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism made her a standout client. It was no surprise when Francesca emailed me to share that she received a job offer after the interview. After our mock interview, I was confident that it would be the company’s loss if they chose another candidate. I’m sure Francesca will have even more amazing opportunities in the future! I wish her all the best.” – Mar Smaili, SOPA Employment Specialist in Ontario.
Story prepared by Mar Smaili, SOPA Employment Specialist in Ontario
Mar Smaili is a SOPA Employment Specialist. Mar is passionate about the confluence of employment counselling and intercultural dynamics in organizations. He enjoys exploring and reflecting on best practices pertaining to career development and newcomers’ integration in the labour market. In order to further his expertise in the field of career counselling, Mar is currently preparing for his Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) designation in Ontario. Mar received his Master’s in Business Administration in the United States and is fully eligible for the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) designation in Canada.
