How to Promote Yourself to Employers

A piece of advice you will hear often when you job searching in Canada is to learn how to “sell” yourself, market yourself or promote yourself to employers. In the beginning, this could be an uncomfortable thing to do, as many people have the instinct to be modest and not stand out. However, the opposite…

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How Are Your Power Skills?

Interpersonal skills, communication skills, social skills, power skills. Soft skills may be called many different names, but the importance of good soft skills to find and keep work in Canada is undeniable. Making yourself aware of the different aspects of workplace culture should be a part of your immigration preparation. SOPA is offering four different…

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Beat the odds: Cruising through COVID-19 in Calgary (Part 1)

While the entire world was (is) panicking about COVID-19, we were preparing for our travel to Canada. A lengthy travel, with overnight stays at empty airports and multiple transits. Yet our hearts were full of hope and positivity. Till this day, I believe that our journey was a miracle, orchestrated by the almighty. In spite…

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Soft Skills in the Canadian Workplace

Are you are planning to move to Canada? Are you are looking for work? Do you have an up-to-date resume and have you practiced answering interview questions in front of your mirror? Great start! However, keep in mind that Canada is a very multicultural country. Because of that, you will also need to be aware…

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Take it like a pro – Tips on how to receive feedback

There is no way around it. No matter how successful you are, you will eventually face feedback. After all, nobody’s perfect! It may be from customers, colleagues, employees, management, family, or friends. This could be in the form of a casual conversation about a project you are working on together or a scheduled performance evaluation. So…

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You Can Network Your Way to Success in Canada

Prior to moving to Alberta, Canada, Chinwendu Okereke- Azike had built a successful career as a banker in Nigeria. She had eight years’ experience under her belt – developing innovative and ground-breaking customer service solutions for her employers. Even though she was confident in her skills and extensive experience, Chinwendu knew that approaching and navigating…

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Small Talk 101

It’s a Monday morning and the office is full of employees arriving for a new work week. All across the office, small groups of people gather to take part in a very common Canadian custom – the weekend de-brief. If you took the time to listen in, you would hear things like, “What did you…

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The Importance of Soft Skills

For many newcomers to Canada, writing a resume that fits Canadian standards is the first small step towards the search for employment. A lot of effort is put into making sure that technical skills are highlighted properly. These skills (also called hard skills) refer to the technical competence of a professional in their own field…

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Interview Strategies: How to Prepare for an Interview

You have made your move to Canada. You have gotten settled, perfected your resume and are applying to jobs. You even get an interview! What next? Preparation is key and there are many ways to prepare for your interview. Here are a few to consider: The first thing you should always do is set up…

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Olayemi Olaleye: A CPA’s Journey

We talked to Olayemi “Yemi” Olaleye, from Nigeria, about how SOPA helped him in his journey to getting his CPA accreditation in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Yemi first landed in Canada on the 21st of February, 2018 and made his final arrival on the 24th of September, 2018. Let’s read his story: Q. How was your employment…

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