604-684-2561 ext 2123 
How Can Skills Connect for Immigrants help you reach your full potential?
Upgrade qualifications
Skilled immigrants can upgrade their existing credentials through skills training at educational institutes. This enables them to get the Canadian credentials they need to work in Canada.
Soft Skills for the Canadian Workplace
This one of a kind course is specifically offered to ISSofBC Skills Connect for Immigrants clients and helps you learn how to adjust to cultural differences in the Canadian workplace. This enables you to build stronger relationships with Canadian employers, and increases your chance of starting your career in Canada.
“Most professionals vastly underestimate the impact of cultural differences in their work…Professional recent immigrants are often passed over at some stage in the recruitment process, not because of a lack of technical skills, but rather because of cultural disconnects or misunderstandings.”
- Lionel Laroche
renowned immigrant professional and public speaker
Find out more about this unique Soft Skills course here.
Job Search Assistance
Free innovative workshops provide clients with the tools needed to take charge of their job search. Clients have access to an Employer Relations Specialist who provides one-on-one coaching and leads to relevant employment opportunities.
Mentoring opportunities
Through ISSofBC’s Mentoring Connections Program, skilled immigrants are given access to experienced Canadian professionals in their fields. Through this connection, they will get industry-specific advice and insights into the Canadian labour market and workplace.
English training
ISSofBC provides extensive language training for immigrants. Our Language College offers multi-level English classes as well as computer, business, grammar and pronunciation courses.
Who is eligible for Skills Connect for Immigrants?
You are eligible for Skills Connect for Immigrants if:
- you became a permanent resident of Canada within the last 5 years;
- you are unemployed or underemployed (you preferably are certified in or have at least 3 years experience in a profession, trade or skilled occupation); and,
- you have an intermediate to advanced level of English language proficiency.
If you are eligible for the Skills Connect for Immigrants program and would like more information about services in Vancouver, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Richmond, please contact us at 604-684-2561 extension 2123 or skillsconnect@issbc.org.
For Surrey clients, the Skills Connect for Immigrants Program is jointly offered by Back in Motion and ISSofBC. For service in Surrey, please contact us at 604-590-4021. More information is available at www.skillsconnect.ca.
Contact Skills Connect for Immigrants
E-mail:
Vancouver
#501-333 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver, V6A 2L7
PHONE: 604-684-2561 (ext. 2123)
Richmond
#110-5751 Cedarbridge Way, Richmond, V6X 2A8
PHONE: 604-684-2561 (ext. 2123)
Coquitlam
#240A-3020 Lincoln Avenue, Coquitlam, V3B 6B4
PHONE: 604-684-2561 (ext. 2123)
New Westminster
#200– 620 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, V3M 1J2
PHONE: 604-684-2561 (ext. 2123)
Surrey
#303– 7337 137th Street, Surrey, V3W 1A4
PHONE: 604-590-4021
Skills Connect for Immigrants Client Success Stories
Helen, Sri Lanka
Lab Analyst is on track to career success
With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a special degree in Chemistry, Helen brought with her more than eight years work experience in Research Project Management including an additional three years in Quality Analysis.
Helen came to the Skills Connect program because she wanted to continue working towards her long-term goal of returning to her profession. She had taken it upon herself to contact employers in the field to gain information as to how to return to her field, and was advised to pursue the Assayer Certification training program at BCIT.
Helen was soon enrolled in the Assayer program at BCIT, and at the end of the first part of the training, she was offered an entry-level position by a mineral-analysis laboratory. After four months, she was promoted to Lab Analyst! She plans to obtain her BC Assayer license and eventually enter into a management position. Her advice to other new immigrants is:
“Do not give up your hopes for a good future with the prevailing competitive job market and start even with a survival job and plan your career enhancing your skills matching to the Canadian job market. There are a lot of agencies like ISSofBC to help you in directing you to achieve your goals.”
Dindo, Philippines
Quality Control Technician overcomes personal and job search challenges to achieve his goal
Dindo immigrated to Canada with both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Philippine universities. His work experience encompassed 15 years in the industrial and manufacturing sectors where he was involved in process control, operations and quality assurance.
During the dark days of the West Coast winter, Dindo experienced two types of challenges that newcomers to Canada sometimes face: a pervasive sense of isolation due to having left family, friends and colleagues back in his country of origin; and limiting financial constraints. He remarked to his Employment Counsellor that he felt a strong sense of being uplifted from their meetings, as if by rays of sunshine, and that those encounters really enabled him to keep going when he felt discouraged by a sense of isolation and the lack of response to his job applications.
After a frustrating period of getting no response to his numerous applications for posted jobs, Dindo revised his approach to the job market at his Counsellor’s suggestion, and began to network with previous colleagues. This shift in focus quickly paid off when only three months after entering the Skills Connect program, Dindo was offered a full time job as a Quality Control Technician for a food manufacturing company in Abbotsford. Preparation plus networking were the keys to his new employment, and the Skills Connect program was the catalyst.
Gabriela, Brazil
Early Childhood Educator gets promoted to manager after six months on the job!
Gabriela immigrated to Canada from Brazil with her family in December of 2009. In Brazil she completed courses in Montessori Education. Her work experience includes five years as a children’s program coordinator followed by four years as a teacher’s assistant in a pre-school.
Upon her arrival in Canada, Gabriela was determined to establish her career. Shortly after joining ISSofBC’s Skills Connect for Immigrants program, she participated in all of their in-house workshops. Given the vast differences in finding a job in Canada compared to Brazil, Gabriela was happy to be under the professional guidance of the program. She is particularly grateful for the resume writing and interviewing skills workshops as these helped her to “Canadian-ize” her resume and cover letter and improve her interviewing skills. In addition, she found her employment counselor to be detail-oriented and caring in guiding her though the process of understanding the local labour market, planning and executing her job search, and selecting courses that would best help her upgrade her skills and qualifications. Finally, the financial support provided by Skills Connect enabled Gabriela to earn Certificates in First Aid and Montessori Education, and continue her studies in Early Childhood Education.
In November 2010, six months after starting the Skills Connect program, Gabriela was happy to announce that she was offered a full time, permanent position as a teacher’s assistant at a pre-school. In March 2011 she informed us that she will be promoted to manager of the pre-school!
Some Skills Connect for Immigrants Client Testimonials
"This program is like our passport to success. The financial help provided is of great help to new immigrants like me. The counsellors are very well trained and prompt. They support us sincerely in our journey."
- Rajeeta, India
"When I decided to migrate to Canada, all I had in mind was a rosy future... but it was hard and difficult. I struggled for many months and did not have anyone to turn to. I thought I was alone, but thanks to the services offered by Skills Connect, it lifted my spirit and [I] regained my self-confidence. Now I am on my path to success."
- Clarita, Philippines
"I got tremendous help from Skills Connect...acquiring the useful tools which empowered me to accept and face all the challenges and look for the opportunities whenever they appeared. This help is more important than getting a job directly as it teaches us a skill which is valuable for our entire life."
- Ravi, India
"Soft Skills course really helps to understand the Canadian workplace and the correct way you should behave to be successful in Canada."
- Alma, Mexico
"Now I am confident that I can handle different people and situations."
- Josefina, Philippines
