New Year 2 (CIM January) Minto Roy
Featuring Career Development Expert Minto Roy
Happy New Year! Many countries have far more community-driven and deeply held beliefs and traditions around the New Year than Canada does, but most Canadians have two things in common at this time of year. We make wishes for what we would like life to bring to us, and resolutions for what we would like to bring more of to our lives.
Minto Roy:
A new immigrant to Canada might dream up a wish list something like this one:
1. Foreign Credentials Recognized
For some of you it can happen – check out a credential evaluation service such as the one at BCIT www.bcit.ca/ices).
2. International Work Experience Accepted
Another tough one. But if you have been paying attention to some of our resume tips, you are learning how to communicate your record of achievement and transferable skills.
3. HRSDC Counsellors Are People Like You
Wouldn’t it be cool of the government hired people who had immigrated to Canada 7 – 15 years ago, secured stable private sector employment, been promoted and enjoyed the success you are seeking to advise you? Might be too much to hope for.
4. Global Banks Treat Credit Histories as Truly Global
How is it that we have multi-national companies and multi-currency accounts but an outstanding credit rating in almost any other country (even, believe it or not, Great Britain and the United States) is almost meaningless in Canada? Vancity has a better track record on this than some other companies – give them a call and maybe this wish can come true.
5. Corporate Commitment to Immigrant Recruitment
Companies are only too willing to target their marketing and sales efforts on various ethnic communities to attract immigrant dollars. I think it’s time they made a commitment to hiring the same fraction of employees from a culture as that culture represents in their customer demographics. If 3% of the buyers of X make of cars in Canada are from South Asia, then 3% of their employees should be South Asian.
Keep dreaming big and working hard. 2006 promises to be a great year.
Minto Roy
President
CareersToday Canada
www.careerstodaycanada.com
www.mintoroy.net