From Sri Lanka to a Full-Time Career in Education: Fathima Nuha’s Journey with SOPA

With more than nine years of experience in education, Fathima Nuha arrived in Canada ready to begin a new professional chapter. Through determination, thoughtful career planning, and personalized support from the Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) program, she secured a summer job just three weeks after arriving — and soon after, a full-time Educational Assistant position with the Vancouver School Board.

A New Beginning in British Columbia

Moving to a new country brings exciting possibilities, but it can also mean navigating an unfamiliar job market, learning new employment practices, and understanding how years of professional experience can translate into opportunities in a different environment.

For Fathima Nuha, originally from Sri Lanka, education has been at the heart of her professional journey for more than nine years.

Her background includes teaching in schools and universities, English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, communication skills training, teacher education, curriculum development, and project work with the Ministry of Education.

As she prepared for her move to British Columbia, Fathima hoped to continue building a meaningful career in education. She was interested in opportunities in adult language instruction and elementary education but wanted to better understand how to navigate the Canadian employment landscape.

Discovering SOPA: Finding Direction Before Arrival

While researching employment and settlement resources before moving to Canada, Fathima discovered the Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) program through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

Like many newcomers preparing for an international move, she encountered a great deal of information about employment, settlement, and career opportunities. What she was looking for was personalized, occupation-specific guidance to help her make sense of the available resources and identify practical next steps.

As Fathima explained:

“I was feeling quite overwhelmed by everything, and seeing that SOPA offers occupation-specific support, I felt it would help me better understand the Canadian job market, and make a smoother transition into my profession.”

Through SOPA British Columbia, delivered by MOSAIC, Fathima connected with Employment Services Advisor Anna Romaniuk for one-on-one employment counselling.

Their session focused on career planning, job search strategies, and resources relevant to Fathima’s professional background and employment goals.

Anna shared practical information, useful websites, and recommendations to help Fathima explore opportunities and approach her Canadian job search with greater clarity.

Reflecting on their conversation, Fathima shared:

“My employment services advisor Anna Romaniuk was so well-prepared during our video chat with resources as well as websites that I could look into in order to start my journey to employment. That helped so much!”

Fatima said: “It’s so easy to feel lost and overwhelmed by everything out there, so having someone streamline exactly what you need to know, where to start etc, really helps with the process of understanding the next immediate steps.” For Fathima, this guidance helped turn a large amount of information into a more manageable plan.

From Arrival to Employment in Just Three Weeks

After arriving in British Columbia, Fathima began putting her preparation into action.

One of her first steps was refining her résumé using the feedback and recommendations she had received during her SOPA employment counselling session.

She continued exploring employment opportunities, applying what she had learned, and taking an active approach to her job search. Her efforts soon led to an encouraging first milestone.

Just three weeks after arriving in Canada, Fathima secured a summer job.

This opportunity gave her an early start in the Canadian workforce while she continued working toward her longer-term professional goals in education.

And her journey did not stop there.

In August 2026, Fathima shared exciting news with Anna: she had secured a full-time Educational Assistant (EA) position with the Vancouver School Board, with plans to begin the following month.

For someone who had spent more than nine years working in education, this was a particularly meaningful achievement.

It represented an opportunity to continue contributing her skills and experience in a field she cared about while building her professional future in Canada.

Her progress from an initial summer position to a full-time role in education reflects the value of preparation, persistence, and openness to different opportunities.

Exploring New Career Pathways with SOPA

For Fathima, one of the most valuable aspects of SOPA employment counselling was gaining a broader understanding of her career options.

Building a career in a new country does not always mean following exactly the same professional path as before.

Sometimes, it involves recognizing transferable skills, exploring related occupations, and identifying opportunities that can contribute to longer-term career goals.

Through her counselling session, Fathima was able to consider different pathways within the education sector and better understand how her previous experience could support her next steps.

She shared that SOPA helped her see the bigger picture and recognize alternative avenues she could pursue if one career path did not work out as expected.

This flexibility was especially relevant to her interests in adult language instruction and elementary education, where her background offered experience across several learning environments.

Her story highlights an important part of career planning: success does not always come from finding one perfect opportunity immediately.

It can also come from understanding the options available, making informed decisions, and continuing to move forward as new possibilities emerge.

Fathima’s Advice to Other Newcomers

When asked what advice she would share with other newcomers preparing for Canada, Fathima emphasized the importance of seeking guidance and finding a structured way to navigate the many resources available.

Her experience illustrates how personalized support can help newcomers organize information, identify priorities, and approach their employment goals one step at a time.

Fathima also shared that she wholeheartedly recommends SOPA to friends and family members who are preparing for their own journeys to Canada.

Her appreciation for the program was captured in a few simple words:

“Just very thankful that SOPA exists.”

A Message from Her Employment Services Advisor

Anna Romaniuk, Employment Services Advisor, SOPA British Columbia (MOSAIC)

“It was a pleasure to support Nuha as she began her professional journey in Canada. She brought valuable experience in education, a positive attitude, and a willingness to explore new opportunities. I was delighted to see her take action on the guidance provided and secure a summer job just three weeks after arriving, followed by a full-time Educational Assistant position with the Vancouver School Board.” – Anna said.

“Her journey is a wonderful example of how thoughtful career planning, practical job search strategies, and openness to different pathways can help newcomers move toward their goals. I’m truly happy for Nuha and wish her every success in this exciting new chapter!”

Your Experience Can Be the Beginning of Something New

Fathima’s journey is a reminder that moving to a new country does not mean starting from zero.

The knowledge, professional experience, and skills newcomers bring with them remain valuable. Understanding how to apply those strengths in a new labour market can open the door to opportunities they may not have initially considered.

Fathima combined her extensive background in education with practical career planning, personalized guidance, and a willingness to explore different possibilities.

Her achievements are the result of her own determination and efforts, supported by the information and resources she accessed through SOPA.

Congratulations, Fathima! We are delighted to have been part of your journey and wish you continued success as you build your career and future in British Columbia.

Preparing for Your Own Career Journey in Canada?

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, the Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) program can help you prepare before you arrive.

SOPA offers free online pre-arrival services to eligible newcomers, including personalized employment counselling, job search resources, and guidance to help you better understand the Canadian labour market.

Whether you are exploring opportunities in your profession, preparing your résumé, or developing a career plan, SOPA can help you identify practical next steps.

Arrive prepared. Explore your options. Take your next step with confidence.