by Nesreen Melek

My office desk separates me from my client. Eighteen years ago, I was sitting in the same chair, puzzled, depressed and not knowing what my options were. How did I make it? How did I move from being a client to an employment counselor? How did I make it? How do I look at those years? Please allow me to share my story with you.

It was a hot summer day; we had an interview with the Canadian consulate in Egypt to review our immigration eligibility to enter Canada. The immigration counsellor asked a few questions about my work history, education and skills. I talked about my work passionately. I worked as a teacher assistant in a Medical Institute for almost eight years. I told her that I had a Bachelors degree in Science and I studied Teaching Methods in England for one year. I also told her that I held two managerial positions in Egypt, managing a company of 50 employees. She looked at me and said: we would be proud to have you as a Canadian.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, leaving everything behind and immigrating to a country where we didn’t have even a distance relative or friends.

We arrived in Canada on November 27, 1989. I started looking for work the second week of our arrival. I looked at the job postings in the newspapers and was surprised to see many job postings. I thought finding a job in Canada would be an easy task, but it wasn’t.

I decided to start my job search, but I didn’t have a resume as I used a CV all my life. I had to pay a company to help write my resume as I didn’t know there were programs to help new Canadians in their job search. I decided to take the task on my shoulders.

I wasn’t told that I could drop my resume to companies but I did it. I dropped my resume to different companies downtown. I called employment agencies and they were able to get me three interviews. The first and the second interview didn’t go well as I didn’t know what I was expecting so I decided to borrow books from the library and read about interview skills. I was prepared for the third interview.

I wanted to get a job so much. I went to the company on time. My interviewer was kind to me, she asked me a few questions which I was prepared for, then she looked at me ant told me “Sorry we can’t hire you because you don’t have any Canadian experience.” I was surprised so I asked her to clarify. I believe the interviewer was very patient, so she told me that I hadn’t worked in Canada and that’s why she couldn’t offer me the job even though that she was impressed with my work history. My new challenge started that moment; I presented the interviewer with examples of my skills. I didn’t know what the difference was between hard skills and soft skills. I told her that I was willing to learn, willing to accept new challenges and that I was flexible. I guess the interviewer had no choice but to offer me the job.

A year after my first job, I asked the my supervisor: “So why did you hire me and not offer the job to someone who had the Canadian experience?” She told me that she offered me the job because of my attitude and that she could train an employee to gain skills but she can’t teach them how to change their attitude.

Since then I’ve been working, from one job to another.

I believe all new Canadians will make it too. They will look at these hard days and it will become part of history.

I use my experience as wisdom which I share with my clients today. When I meet new Canadians that are experiencing hardship, I always provide them with some tips that have always worked for me in the past.

• If you made the decision to immigrate then don’t look back. It is a new beginning and you have to start looking at your options in your new environment. Don’t expect to have the same job you had back home, because there is a ladder ahead of you, you should take one step at a time, if you try to jump to reach the top you will fall
• Have a realistic career goal; don’t ask for a job which you can’t get.
• Study as much as you can. Learn new skills, improve your English, and attend job search workshops. The more you learn, the more opportunities will be waiting for you.
• Blend into society, don’t isolate yourself and try to talk to people from other cultures. Expand your networking circle and don’t be scared to ask for things.
• Use the employment resources which are available in your neighborhood. There are so many free services offered by the government. Don’t stay home and look for work, as no one will knock on your door and offer you a job. Get out of the house when you are job searching. You can attend workshops, seminars, job fairs. The more you do, the shorter the route to employment will be.
• Don’t think that you are the only one facing these challenges. Thousands of people before you faced the same challenges and they were able to make it
• Take care of yourself and your family. These are resources which you depend on.
• Remember, life is a challenge. Immigrating to Canada was a decision you made, so let this challenge motivate you to improve your life.

I made it, others made it and you will make it too. Remember Canada is a generous country, people are willing to give, but you have to approach them. I sometimes ask myself, how did I do it? But I always remind myself that I was assertive, willing to learn; willing to accept new challenges and always have a smile on my face.

Nesreen has been working as a Case Manager for vpi since March 2005. She has worked as a Job Search Workshop Facilitator for four years and Assessment Counsellor in a shelter for abused women for six months. Nesreen has a Bachelors degree in Science from Baghdad, Iraq and a Teacher Certificate from England. Her work experiences prior to immigrating to Canada in 1989 include teaching at a Medical Instituate in Iraq for seven years, and management in Egypt for eight years.