CANNEXUS 2013January 28th – 30th, 2013

Mohja AliaManager, Employment and Bridging

Mission Statement

ISIS is a leading community

organization that welcomes

immigrants.

Working in partnership,

ISIS offers services and creates

opportunities that enable

immigrants to participate fully in

Canadian life.

• Over 300 pre-arrival clients per year

• Pre-arrival clients currently live in over 30 countries

• Top three source countries: India, Philippines and China

• Post-arrival clients live in over 40 Nova Scotian communities

ISIS Numbers

Pre-arrival services have proven to be an invaluable asset in

– setting expectations

– preparing immigrants for the challenges they will face in Canada

– speeding up their integration

Why Pre-arrival?

• Supportive Online Learning Environment

• Employment & Career Counseling

• Business Counseling

• Language Counseling

Pre-arrival Services at ISIS

Online• Job Search Workshop 

• Interview Skills Workshop 

• Working in Canada Workshop 

• Practice Interview Program

• Mentoring program

• Workplace Communication Skills

• Email Writing

• Professional Writing Skills

• Idioms for the Workplace

• Listening Practice Activities

• Interpersonal Communication Skills

• Introduction to Business in Canada

• Evaluating Your Business Idea

Employment & Career Counseling

Business Counseling

Language Counseling

• Facilitated • Individualized follow-up• Self-paced activities• Timely feedback• Peer interaction• Discussion groups• Customized activitiesSupportive

Online Learning Environment

Set goals, make plans, build skills…

- Provide individual pre-arrival employment counseling

- Assess transferrable skills and work experience

- Help clients understand Canadian labor market realities (be Job Ready)

Employment Counseling

For clients in regulated occupations…

- Self assessment tools (i.e. healthcare professions, engineering, law)

- Pathway to licensure diagrams

- Access to information and online resources

- Referral to regulatory bodies and professional associations

Employment Counseling

Begin links to workforce integration…

- Help to identify and research potential employers

- Refer to specific employers

- Pre-arrival interviews with employers

Employment Counseling

Pre-arrival / Distance Employment Counselling

When did you get a job offer?

Pre-arrival clients Non Pre-arrival clients

Before arriving in NS 13% 0%

Less than 3 months in NS 47% 31%

3-6 months in NS 33% 23%

More than 6 months in NS 6% 46%

Outcomes

Pre-arrival

91% Employed in field

Benefits of

Pre-arrival

Services

• Get started earlier and arrive better prepared

• Build realistic expectations

• Complete assessment of credentials and preliminary exams

• Identify essential and employability skills (self assessment)

• Ready to start other profession specific bridging programs immediately on arrival

• Identify and explore alternative careers

• Connect strategically with employers

• Boost newcomers’ employment rate and pace!

Integrating Faster: Post-arrival supports & programs

• Work Placement

• Wage Subsidy

• Work-based Competency Assessment for Engineers

• Professional Bridging Programs (IMG, IPG, IEDP)

• Observerships (ITL, IMG)

International MedicalGraduates Video

• International Pharmacy Graduates Video

International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs)

Success Rate- 2012

• 16 IPGs participated in the pharmacy Bridging Program at ISIS and sat for the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada exams

• 14 IPGs passed exam/exams• 9 IPGs are fully licensed and started practicing

pharmacy in NS

The success rate of IPGs attending the IPG Bridging Program in Nova Scotia is 88%

IMGs’ Success Rate- 2011

IMGs in NS: 2011

Pass rate – 83%

IMGs in NS : 2011

Pass rate – 70 %

Success Story

“I am writing to share with you and thank you and everyone at ISIS for all the support and aid that has allowed me to successfully find a remarkable employment opportunity that will kick off my career here in Canada to an amazing start!!! I have been accepted as a Research Associate at Capital Health/IWK. I will forever be indebted to you and ISIS for providing me with the essentials of successful settlement and job finding mainly pre-arrival as well as post arrival, without which I would have been completely stranded and more than likely unable to find a job as perfect and as relevant to me as the one I have now. Thank you.”

Pre-arrival client

Services Received:

Pre-arrival:

• Employment

counseling• Pre-employment

workshops• Pathway navigation• Employer connections

& referral

Post-arrival:

• Practice interview• Introduction to the IMG

Bridging program • Employer connections

& referral

Halifax, NSLast word: Pre-arrival services are an essential part of our strategy to help newcomers succeed

Moving forward

• Group occupation-based orientation sessions

• E-recruitment tool (in process)

• Expanding professional mentor program

• Live-streaming (trial phase)

• Online access to profession specific information sessions,

educational resources, and courses (www.online.isisns.ca)

• Connect regulatory partners with pre-arrival initiatives

(i.e. Nova Scotia Start)

Questions?

THANK YOU

Mohja AliaManager, Employment and Bridging ProgramsImmigrant Settlement and Integration Services (ISIS)(902) 406-8840malia@isisns.ca