{"id":8785,"date":"2018-08-18T10:46:20","date_gmt":"2018-08-18T14:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ioadvisory.com\/?p=8785"},"modified":"2019-04-11T09:26:12","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T13:26:12","slug":"successful-newcomers-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioadvisory.com\/blog\/successful-newcomers-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Some Newcomers More Successful than Others?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"newcomers<\/a>It takes incredible courage to leave one\u2019s home country and come to Canada. It most often takes several years of planning and preparation. Applications to immigrate to Canada can take literally years to be reviewed before being approved. Once the application is approved and it\u2019s time to actually travel, the journey has really only just begun. You see, once you arrive in a new country, a whole new set of challenges begins.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all heard the anecdotes. Doctors driving taxis; engineers working in call centres. Newcomers to Canada often find it incredibly difficult to find employment that is commensurate with the skills and credentials obtained in another country.<\/p>\n

Naturally many newcomers decide to focus on self-employment, instead of trying to get back into their professions. In some ways, self-employment can be less risky than finding a traditional job (read this two-part article<\/a><\/u> to understand what I mean).<\/p>\n

Then again, self-employment and entrepreneurship can be extremely difficult, especially in the first few years. Early-stage entrepreneurs need support to develop sustainable business plans and business models. Then there\u2019s the challenge of growing a professional network<\/a><\/u>. All of these issues can be compounded for newcomers who are still adjusting to life in a new country with few social or professional connections.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult to determine why some newcomers become very successful in Canada while others don\u2019t fare very well. A visit to any Tim Horton\u2019s or Wal-Mart will show you where many immigrants start their Canadian careers, despite having earned diplomas or degrees from post-secondary institutions. Stories of foreign-trained physicians, lawyers, and other professionals who successfully navigated the steps necessary to obtain a license to practice in their chosen fields in Canada are much rarer.<\/p>\n

Working with Employment Counsellors <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Sadly, what I\u2019ve seen over and over again is newcomers spending three to six months, or even more, enrolled in career planning programs, only to end up underemployed and stuck in menial jobs. Part of the problem is that the newcomers receive bad advice. Often this advice is well-intentioned, and through government-sponsored employment programs, the counselling is free. But as an employment coach and HR specialist, it can be painful to hear stories about the consequences of this well-intentioned free advice when applied to people who really are high performers.<\/p>\n

\"when<\/a>Newcomers who want better outcomes need to find ways to gain access to good, solid advice. Ideally, this means that they need better access to some of the information that other Canadians have so that they can make better use of their skills and abilities.<\/p>\n

Here are a few ways newcomers to Canada can accelerate his or her understanding of this new employment and business climate:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n