If you like the idea of volunteering as a way to build your resume, be strategic when searching for the right volunteer position. Try asking yourself a few questions before starting... [Continue]
"As an FTN, you must be prepared to embrace the BC system, and to forgo some of what you are familiar with. One of the primary challenges is a lack of fluency in spoken English. This can cause a lot of miscommunication between professionals, clients and FTNs. While undergoing accreditation or training, try and get as much work experience as possible that allows you to practice and demonstrate your people and communication skills." [Continue]
Many important professional contacts can be made through informal social networks like sports teams, hobby groups and cultural associations. So why not mentoring programs? The Mentoring Connections team is organizing a World Cup Contest to give our participants a chance to network socially through a common love of the beautiful game. Bragging rights and prizes will be awarded, including a GRAND PRIZE of a Vancouver Whitecaps game pack which includes... [Continue]
The safe thing to do would have been to stay in the same place for my whole life, and enjoy the familiarity of my surroundings. The decision to move away from home would certainly lead to huge changes in my life. But wasn’t it my dream to live a life of personal independence, in a free environment like Canada? Yes! However, dealing with the change has not been as easy as I first thought it would be... [Continue]
For those of you who are new to this, the Childcare Subsidy is money provided by the Ministry of Children and Family Development otherwise known as MCFD, used to help pay for licensed or non-licensed child care. This means the daycare, a babysitter, a relative who’s babysitting, or by other means which is further explained on their website. So who, you might ask, can avail of the subsidy? The following can apply... [Continue]
You have heard some of the ideas written here before. You may have even tried them. I want to take a look at it from another perspective. Using some of the ideas put forth in the Gladwell article, I would like to discuss the successful tactics of underdogs from other time periods, in other places and in different situations. [Continue]
If you’re looking for a professional job right now, chances are you spend a good part of your day dissecting your resume and cover letter, trying to make it perfect. I encourage you to put down the red pen for a moment, and follow me in a slightly different direction. Why not consider volunteering? The more time you spend in Vancouver, the more you’ll notice that career-focused volunteerism is on the rise, and is a growing way for job-seekers to leverage their free time and gain valuable industry experience. [Continue]
You may begin to notice a reoccurring theme in our blog: Networking is important in this city. But connecting with your community and the people in it doesn`t have to follow the standard formula. Yes, attending a professional networking event is important, but so is connecting with your community in a more relaxed, social setting. One of my favourite events is happening this Saturday, April 17th. It`s RECORD STORE DAY in Vancouver! [Continue]
“You can’t just stop contributing cold turkey when your whole life has been around making a difference,” says Paul Kjekstad, a recently retired elementary school teacher. After teaching for 33 years in the Coquitlam School District, Kjekstad now volunteers his time mentoring two newcomer teachers at Mentoring Connections. “Having been in the profession for so long, you think you don’t have anything left to share, but you do. You have a lot to share,” adds Kjekstad. [Continue]
Mentoring Connections is an ISSofBC community initiative that brings together Vancouver-based professionals (mentors) and talented immigrants (mentees) from the same professional area. The goal of our program is to ease the transition of skilled immigrants into the Canadian workforce with the help of an experienced mentor. Volunteer mentors are not expected or required to find employment [Continue]