Posts Tagged ‘Pre-Arrival’
Small Community of People That Rallied For Me
I can vividly remember the excitement when I finally received an email confirming the approval of my permanent resident visa application after three long years of waiting. Shortly after that, panic set in because I had no idea where to start looking for a job and a place to stay. I was acutely aware that…
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 MoreYou Need to Have A Focused Job Search Strategy
As an established finance and accounting manager from India, Hemamalini has over eight years of experience in manufacturing, retail, banking, financial services, and construction. She has completed CPA & CGA in Canada, holds ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) from the UK, and earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Madras, India. Received…
Read MoreHow I Aced My First Canadian Interview
I am Adeshola Afolabi, a Permanent Resident who recently relocated from Lagos, Nigeria to Toronto, Ontario. I learned about SOPA when I got my passport request letter email from IRCC in December 2020 from the pre-arrival services section. I signed up for the courses on the SOPA platform and the Job Search Strategy course was…
Read MoreBeat the odds: Settling in Calgary During the Pandemic (Part 2)
I apologize that the second part of my blog is coming much later than anticipated. It’s been a year since the first part of my guest post was posted here, and you might be wondering why it has taken me so long to write the second one. I will mention the reason later below, but…
Read MoreSidra Mobin: Learning Opportunity
Sidra Mobin is originally from Karachi, Pakistan. She landed in British Columbia on June 28th, 2020- during the pandemic. Sidra was all alone and did not know anyone in BC as opposed to back in Pakistan, where she has family and friends who were always there for her. With her positive attitude, Sidra wanted to…
Read MoreSOPA Courses Hit the Nail On the Head
Lydia Ogunoye joined the SOPA program while still in her home country as she was getting ready for her immigration to Canada. When you are moving to a new country, you need to think about many things in advance to be prepared. At times, people leave learning about job search and work culture to the…
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 MoreFarhad Ahmad: You need the right tools to prepare for the Canadian job market
Farhad Ahmad immigrated recently from Afghanistan to Vancouver, British Columbia. Farhad is an experienced professional. He worked in the field of management consulting and strategic planning. Before coming to Canada he used SOPA services to a great extent and he is grateful for the help he received. He is now working as a Member Service…
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…
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