Information for newcomers
Guest Post: Moving to Canada | A short guide to Post-arrival
This second part of this guide will walk you through the basic post-arrival experience. The guide will also list, explain and give tips on what post-arrival steps you’ll need to take as part of your settlement process. This guide has been divided into two parts: Part 1 is covering the essential steps before leaving for…
Read MoreCultural Talks: Small Talk and Professional Communication
It is common for a person in Canada to say to a colleague, “How are you?” The other responds, “Fine, and you?”. This happens even between strangers on the bus, in the shopping mall, and between parents who are waiting to pick up their young children at school. It happens between people in the Canadian…
Read MoreGuest Post: Moving to Canada | A Short Guide to Pre-arrival
When I finally got my COPR, my first reaction was disbelief, followed by exultation, and then, total panic. It was finally happening. It was real. This is what I wanted but, now, the ball was in my court. What to do? Where to begin? How to begin? It was scary. I was terrified and overwhelmed.…
Read MoreSOPA 2022 Highlights and 5 Most Read Stories of the Year
It’s that time of year. We are about to say goodbye to 2022! What are your plans for the New Year? For many of our clients, the fact of moving to a new country indicates a new and fresh start. Nothing better than starting a new life right by making new year’s resolutions? Whether it’s…
Read MoreHow To Create A Strong LinkedIn Profile That Is Pleasant To Employers’ Eyes and Ears
Did you know that 122 million people received an interview through LinkedIn? 35.5 million were hired by a person they connected with on the site? If this made you wonder why let’s learn about the power of LinkedIn! In this blog post, we’ll cover how to make a great profile, how to make new professional…
Read MoreGuest post: Falling in love with Calgary’s Parks
Hold on to what is good, even if it’s a handful of earth.Hold on to what you believe, even if it’s a tree that stands by itself.Hold on to what you must do, even if it’s a long way from here.Hold on to your life, even if it’s easier to let go.Hold on to my…
Read MoreCultural Talks: Diversity in Working
Canada is a wonderful place if you like diversity. There are people from all over the world in every major Canadian city, including Winnipeg. Travelling through Winnipeg shows our history of immigration. When Winnipeg was first settled by European settlers, it was not known as Winnipeg. It was known as Red River, for the soil…
Read MoreCultural Talks: Workplace Communication and Fit
We at SOPA want our clients to feel prepared before arriving in Canada. Whether in job searching or in acquiring a job, if that is all that is achieved, there is still one piece missing. After receiving the job, we want people to be able to keep the job. Career coaches working with newcomers send…
Read MoreThe Top 3 Newcomer Misconceptions When Preparing to Move to Canada
#1 – “No rush! I can wait and prepare for my move closer to my landing date” Be it work or family commitments, many newcomers manage completing priorities on their lists to do in their home countries before moving to Canada. These commitments delay the need to learn about the Canadian job market, workplace culture,…
Read MoreJob Scams and How to Avoid Them
Most newcomers to Canada are eager to find employment soon after arriving. When looking for a job, it is important to be aware that scammers may take advantage of that eagerness. Employment scams can be posted on legitimate and well-known job sites and can be made to appear like real job postings. Scammers would even…
Read More
