Global Skills Conference 2012

Ramyapradha Soundararajan is a Quality Assurance Analyst at Intellitactics. She is a Software Engineer by profession and studied and trained in Chennai, India before immigrating to Canada. With the support of YMCA, Focus for Ethnic Women, The Working Centre and Conestoga College, she is able to share her experience as a successful Canadian Immigrant.

ADVICE: Use the programs offered by service providers for newcomers; they are here to help you.

Angelina Candotti was hired as a Secretary in the Languages and Literature Department at the University of Guelph. She was trained in Switzerland as an Administrative Assistant and is fluent in 12 languages. With the support of Conestoga College and Lutherwood she is able to share her experience as a successful Canadian immigrant.

ADVICE: There are two ways to face a challenge. One is to worry about it and the other is to do something about it and win. I attended Job Search Workshops (JSW) to refine my interviewing and job search skills - I recommend JSW to all newcomers.

Jenny Zhang is an Accounts Receivable Clerk in the Finance Department at the Corporation of the City of Kitchener. She educated in China and continued her studies in Accounting at Wilfrid Laurier University with only one credit left. With the help of the YMCA, Focus for Ethnic Women, the support of KW Multicultural Centre and the use of her transferable skills, she is able to share her experience as a successful Canadian immigrant.

ADVICE: Improve and practice your spoken English - even just by reading children's books out loud. Make use of your transferable skills and explore related professions if you can't find the exact job you want. Participate in Job Search Workshops (JSW) and use the programs offered by service providers in the community; there is even Settlement Counsellors in the libraries to help you now.

Ebru & Ibrahim Hacioglu own and operate Esta Chocolates in Waterloo. They make the best truffles and ship them across North America. Ebru & Ibrahim both graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Istanbul, Turkey. By reaching out in the community, volunteering and learning about resources Service Providers offer, they are able to share their experience as successful Canadian immigrants.

ADVICE: Get out of your house and participate in programs that service providers offer to newcomers. Take advantage of these resources and actively participate in your new community.

Sospeter Gatobu is a Ph.D student in Health Communications at the University of Waterloo. He is educated in Kenya, Africa and is internationally experienced having held several posts in many places in the world. After immigrating to Canada, he landed at the KW Multicultural Centre where he attended the Job Search Workshops (JSW) and was able to learn how to market himself, improve his resume and educate on related professions before making an informed decision about what career to pursue in Canada. With the help of the KW Multicultural Centre and JSW, he is able to share his experience as a Canadian immigrant on his journey to success.

ADVICE: Newcomers should prepare themselves psychologically before coming to Canada. Benefit from the programs service providers offer and participate in the JSW.