I come from a society where almost everything is totally different from that here. Luckily, thanks to the broad-minded upbringing provided by my parents (particularly my mother) I was able to adjust rapidly to Canadian value systems.

I did a little factory work initially but quickly realized that I was not suited for it at all. After that I hit upon the idea of going through a co-op program for doing volunteer work. Doing volunteer work is important for a variety of reasons. It gains you an entry in your own field and acclimatizes you to working conditions here. It was voluntary work that ultimately opened doors for me in other areas related to my life. However, Canadian society is highly personalized and individualized, so what holds good for one may not (and usually will not) apply to another. These are only guidelines … you will ultimately need to experiment with your own path.

In the workforce here, soft skills are more important than hard skills. No matter how brilliant you are if you cannot work as part of a team and don’t have the correct attitude you will not find suitable employment. It is also very important to constantly network. A sound knowledge of English is of course essential, but (other things being equal) a strong command over French/Spanish is definitely advantageous from the employment perspective.

In conclusion, I can only say that I am of the firm opinion that “if you believe in God He does half the work for you … as to the other half He helps those who help themselves."

Good luck!

(name withheld)