Job Opening: Food Counter Attendant.

Employer prefers candidates from Mexico, but qualified candidates from other countries can apply as well.

Café in Dryden is looking for two (2) permanent full-time Food Counter Attendants to start immediately.

The starting wage is $14.00 – 14.25 /hr with Dental, medical and disability insurance after 3 months probationary period.

Your wage will be reviewed regularly, and potential increases will be based on performance and absenteeism.

Job Location: Dryden, ON

Start Date of Employment: As soon as possible

Hours of work: 32-40 per week

Job Type: Full-time, permanent position

Experience: Experience is an asset, on-the-job training will be provided

Requirements:

• Completion of a secondary school
• Ability to communicate in English
• Ability to deal well with a variety of people: customers, fellow employees, and management
• The initiative, good judgment, and ability to make quick decisions under sometimes stressful conditions
• Responsible, reliable, honest
• High standard of cleanliness and hygiene
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, available for overtime if required.
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Able to do some heavy lifting
   

Duties and responsibilities:

• Take customers’ orders
• Clean, peel, slice and trim foodstuffs using manual and electric appliances
• Use deep fryer, grill, oven, dispensers and other equipment to prepare fast food items such as sandwiches, hamburgers, fries, salads, ice cream dishes, milkshakes, and other beverages
• Portion, assemble, and wrap food or place it directly on plates for service to patrons, and package take-out food
• Use equipment to prepare hot beverages such as coffee and tea specialties
• Stock refrigerators and salad bars and keep records of the quantities of food used
• May receive payment for food items purchased
• Wash work tables, cupboards, appliances, dishes, glassware, pots, and pans
• Perform other duties as required

- Please send us your resume in English to nexuscanadavisa@gmail.com.

Limited positions.

Career Counselling and Microloans in Canada

by Gavin Au-Yeung

Why do so many skilled immigrants have a hard time finding jobs in Canada?

Some newcomers struggle to understand and navigate the labour market. Other people might be doing everything right, but employers simply won’t recognize their international experience. Then, there is a group of people who know they need to continue their training in order to thrive; however, they might not be able to afford the costs of these professional development tracks.

Luckily, there are solutions for these challenges. You can overcome each of these roadblocks with one of the following solutions:

• Career counselling
• Credential evaluations
• Professional microloans

Continue reading to learn more about the common barriers for internationally trained workers. Plus, find out what sort of help is available.

Career Counselling

When skilled immigrants move to Canada, they often expect to find work right away that is equivalent to the job they held in their home country. Instead, individuals who were working as successful dentists, accountants, or mechanics in their home countries may find themselves working survival jobs in order to put food on the table.

“Many highly trained newcomers to Canada are not living up to their full potential,” says Claudia Valenzuela, a career counsellor who has helped migrants enter the Canadian workforce for more than 17 years and now works for Career Loans.

She describes a high-level banker who was once her client: He had more than 14 years of experience in South America, but he worked on an assembly line to support his family once he moved to Canada.

Why are these highly trained professionals having so much difficulty integrating into the Canadian workforce?

While every situation is unique, Claudia says there are some common reasons that prevent skilled immigrants from reaching their true potential.

For example, newcomers often take a while to grasp workplace culture in Canada. She provides career counselling on topics like:

• Email etiquette
• Small talk
• Body language
• CV formatting
• Interview skills

Cultural differences can be deal-breakers that prolong or even ruin a newcomer’s job search.

Employers are generally looking for individuals who will be a great addition to their teams—not just in terms of their talent, but also in terms of their social skills. Finding a worker who can build great rapport with other colleagues, and other professional contacts, is important. But newcomers might not be aware of subtle traits that are valued in Canada.

“Cultural differences may prevent employers from hiring internationally trained individuals,” says Claudia. “For example: In South America, it is common to interrupt conversations to demonstrate engagement. However, that might come across as rude when participating in a Canadian interview.”

Free E-Guide

Professional Development Strategies

Credential Evaluations

Another problem is that employers do not recognize degrees from international colleges and universities. In some cases, all you need is a credential evaluation

You can start by learning what your degree might be worth in Canada using a Degree Equivalency Tool; then, you can start an application to receive a verified credential evaluation that employers trust and value from World Education Services.

However, experienced professionals might still need to take bridging courses, pass accreditation exams, or earn certifications to get back on their original career track.

These processes take time and money to complete. These are both things that may not be available to recent migrants who are trying to support their families. Securing money to help fund accreditation and examination fees can help individuals expedite their career trajectory. However, newcomers can face obstacles when they apply for traditional bank loans because they lack credit history in Canada.

This is a major reason that many immigrants are forced to work survival jobs—often for years at a time—when they first arrive in Canada.

Much like the high-level banker who found himself working on an assembly line, many newcomers do not have the resources to access the programs that will help them return to their desired career fields.

Professional Microloans

If individuals have pursued career counselling, and if they already have a reliable degree equivalency report, they might be in a position where the only thing holding them back is additional training and development. In this case, microloans might be able to help them return to their desired career.

“It is important for us to assess each client on a case-by-case situation, because we need to determine the barriers preventing them from returning to the workforce,” says Claudia. “By understanding each unique situation, we can develop a personalized strategy to help clients succeed in their careers—whether that be through career counselling, getting a microloan, or both.”

Microloans are small sums of money that qualifying individuals can borrow at a low interest rate in order to help them achieve professional goals. There are several ways to obtain this type of loan in Canada, even if you are a recent immigrant.

In Alberta or Saskatchewan, two of Canada’s provinces, you can reach out to Career Loans. Funded by the Canadian government, Career Loans specifically aims to help newcomers reintegrate into the workforce. One of the greatest benefits is that clients can schedule one-on-one career counselling appointments with professionals like Claudia. Together, they discuss the client’s educational background, employment history, and goals to determine how microloans might help them succeed in Canada.

However, there are several options available across Canada. In Ontario, individuals might be interested in one of many Foreign Credential Recognition programs, such as the one available through The Centre for Education & Training. It also provides career counselling and loans, and is supported by the federal government.

One more organization to explore is Windmill Microlending. A WES Expert Ambassador recently wrote all about the programs that are available through this microloan option for immigrants and refugees for the WES Advisor Blog.

In British Columbia, newcomers might want to consider S.U.C.C.E.S.S. FCR. It offers similar programs to the two listed above.

Just be sure to research microloans carefully and be sure you’re making the right choice before you commit!

Continue Your Path to Professional Success

Integrating into the Canadian workforce is a long process. In order to compete in the labour market, immigrants must take advantage of every resource available to them.

While this might seem difficult at first, there are many success stories to prove that newcomers can return to their field of work. Or, they might choose to finally pursue the role of their dreams. With the right support, it is possible to achieve higher levels of success than ever before.

And how about the banker from South America?

Claudia is happy to report that he is now working as a successful financial advisor for one of the major banks in Canada.

It can happen for you, too.

“Don’t wait for things to happen,” she says. “Take action and make your dreams a reality.”

Source: WES.org

Canada makes it possible for employers to apply for Labour Market Impact Assessment online

By Shelby Thevenot

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application through an online portal.

The new pilot project comes after many calls from Canadian business leaders to improve the current LMIA process for employers.

The online pilot will allow Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) employers to register for online access to manage their accounts, conduct transactions and correspond with Service Canada, the government’s website says.

The portal will be accessible using the same login credentials employers use to access the Job Bank for Employers. It will include an electronic questionnaire guiding the user through the completion of the LMIA application and tracking its progress. Users will be able to upload supporting documents, return to their saved LMIA application at any time and view Service Canada decision letters.

For years the Canadian business community has been calling for the government to reduce red tape and processing times around hiring temporary foreign workers. Business development groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), have put forth numerous recommendations for improvements.

One of the first changes the Canadian Chamber of Commerce recommended to the federal government in 2017 was to modernize LMIA applications by “increasing the use of online applications with streamlined forms.”

This past month the CFIB released its own report on the concerns of small to medium-sized businesses with hiring foreign talent through the current TFWP process.

Corinne Pohlmann with CFIB described the process as “lengthy, complicated, and expensive.” She told CIC News that there are still many improvements to be made but the online system is some “good news.”

“I think this will be an improvement to what is in place, and hopefully we’ll get some clarity and answers in a much better way,” Pohlmann said.

Without the online system employers are not able to track the applications, and wait times are on average anywhere from three to twelve months. Many business owners find it difficult to get answers to their questions.

The LMIA is required in most cases where an employer wants to hire foreign workers. It proves the business tried recruiting Canadian workers before looking abroad for talent. It costs over $1,000 to submit the application for each position that needs to be filled, a fee that is not refundable even if the application is denied. Employers are often not informed of the reasons for the rejection and therefore cannot assess whether or not it is worthwhile to re-apply.

For Pohlmann, reducing wait times and improving communication are some of the most important revisions the government needs to implement.

“We’re calling for a full review of the LMIA process to understand: where the bottlenecks lie…reduce the complexity of the application, as well as make sure the government’s service is better in terms of replying and feedback,” Pohlmann said.

Source: CIC news

Post-Graduation Work Permit applicants now allowed to work after travelling outside Canada

International student graduates who are waiting on a Post-Graduation Work Permit decision may now leave Canada and maintain their eligibility to work full time once they return.

by  Shelby Thevenot

International student graduates will no longer need to remain in Canada while their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is in process.

As of February 21, graduates who are eligible to work full time without a work permit will be able to maintain their ability to work legally in Canada even if they leave and re-enter the country.

International students must apply for their PGWP before their study permit expires in order to be allowed to work full time.

It can take upwards of 90 days for a PGWP decision to go through.

In order to work in Canada without a work permit, PGWP applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• They held a valid study permit at the time of the PGWP application.
• They have completed their study program and obtained a degree, diploma or certificate.
• They were full-time students enrolled at a designated learning institution in a post-secondary, vocational or professional training program of at least six months in duration.
• They did not work more than 20 hours per week during their study program.

If the federal government refuses the application for a work permit, the graduate must then stop working as soon as he or she is informed by the immigration ministry.

PGWP and Canadian permanent residence

After completing a study program, certain international students may be eligible to stay and work in Canada with a PGWP.

If their application for a work permit is approved, international student graduates can work in Canada for a period of eight months to three years.

If the ultimate goal is to settle in Canada, work experience gained through a PGWP can greatly facilitate a graduate’s path to Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Express Entry is an application management system for Canada’s three main economic class immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Immigration candidates who are eligible for an Express Entry-managed program are ranked according to factors deemed to determine their success in the Canadian labour force. A candidate’s age, official language proficiency, education, and work experience all go towards their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Those with high CRS scores are more likely to be selected for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence through regular Express Entry draws.

Canadian work experience is highly valuable towards a candidate’s overall CRS score.

Source: CIC news

Get this course by clicking in the following link:

https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-get-a-job-offer-and-work-permit-in-canada/?referralCode=A12C7C8F453C0CFB507B

No more Guaranteed ITA Scores and a lot of B.C. Tech Pilot draws

B.C. provincial nominee program round-up for February 2020

By Mohanad Moetaz And Shelby Thevenot

The month of February was a popular time for the B.C. Tech Pilot, and the province also nixed their Guaranteed ITA Scores.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued a total of 221 invitations through its Tech Pilot so far this month.

Immigration candidates who are applying for Canadian immigration through one of B.C.’s existing streams, and who have job offers in one of 29 eligible occupations may be considered for an invitation through the Tech Pilot program.

So far B.C. has sent out 806 invitations to Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC candidates this year.

“The BC Provincial Nominee Program Tech Pilot is a priority initiative that supports economic growth and helps the tech sector recruit top international talent,” a spokesperson from B.C.’s economic development ministry wrote to CIC News in an email. “We continue to support the tech sector’s continued growth through weekly draws.”

The BC PNP said that the frequency of invitations is based on the annual nomination allocations from the federal government and the program’s processing capacity.

The Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 to provide the technology sector in B.C. the ability to attract and retain international talent. This was due to the fact that demand in the tech sector was continuously increasing. The initiative was extended to June 2020.

In order to qualify for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Tech Pilot, candidates must be enrolled in a BC PNP immigration category such as Skills Immigration, or Express Entry BC.

No more Guaranteed ITA Scores

As of February 19, candidates who score over certain points thresholds on the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) are no longer eligible to be guaranteed an invitation for a provincial nomination.

Candidates in the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC immigration categories are ranked based on economic factors and human capital factors. Points are awarded based on the skill level of the job offer, wage, and the regional district of employment, as well as a candidate’s work experience, education, and language ability.

The Skills Immigration pathway is for skilled and semi-skilled workers that are in high-demand occupations within the province. Hopeful Express Entry BC candidates must qualify for one of three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.

Source: CIC news

Get this course by clicking in the following link:

https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-immigrate-to-canada-as-an-it-professional/?referralCode=41D1B9E900DDFDF1AB8C

6 Tips to Improve Your IELTS Academic Writing Score

by Roshan Patroo

For many students, the writing section of the IELTS test can be one of the most challenging. The good news is that careful preparation will go a long way in helping to get the band score you need. Use the six tips below to maximize your chances of success in the writing section of your upcoming IELTS test.

1. Plan your time effectively.

Since the number of words you need to write for part two of IELTS (250 words) is longer than part one (150 words), make sure you plan your time to reflect this. This is particularly important because approximately two-thirds of your mark is given to task two. Therefore, you want to spend about two-thirds of your time (approximately 40 minutes) in this section.

2. Read the question carefully.

Many test-takers rush into answering the writing question without reading it carefully. Do not do this! For part one, the task usually asks you to summarize, select, and make comparisons. If you see these words, underline them—they are important! When you are completing the task, go through your work and make sure you have summarized the information, selected key points and made comparisons.

For task two, cover all parts of the task.  For example, if the task asks you to give advantages and disadvantages, ensure that you have given both. Similarly, if you are asked to give your opinion, make sure you have done so and that it is clear.

3. Include an “overview” in part one.

An overview is a summary of information that doesn’t include every single detail. For part one of the academic writing section, you are usually required to write an overview (that is, summarize the information). This is an important part of the task and can be included at the beginning or end.

4. Keep it simple in the part two essay.

Grammar and vocabulary are important factors in assessing your writing band, but some students believe they must write extremely long sentences or use very complicated vocabulary in order to get a higher band. This is not true! The important thing is that your ideas are easy to understand.

Don’t try to use complicated words that you may spell incorrectly; replace these words with ones that you are more confident using.

Also, remember that the quality of your English is what is being assessed. Don’t spend too long thinking about whether your ideas are “smart” or “intellectual” enough. Think of ideas that are easy to explain; then concentrate on the grammatical forms and vocabulary you need to express these ideas on paper.

5. Be realistic.

Becoming proficient at any language takes effort and time. If you score a band or two lower than you would like (for example you need a band 7, but you get a 5 or 6), it is not advisable to take the test again immediately because you will most likely score a similar band. Take the time to practice your writing skills before you take the test again.

You can even take a practice test (for a small fee), which will be marked by an official IELTS examiner. Your practice test will include a band score and detailed feedback. This exercise will help you know how ready you are to take the test and get the band score you need. This service is called IELTS Progress Check.

6. Help is available.

In preparation for your IELTS academic writing, you need to have a plan. There are a host of free online practice materials to help you practice. If you need more help, invest in a teacher who will be able to tell you where you may be going wrong and what to improve on.

Practice for the test as much as you can. You can never be too overprepared.

For information on IELTS practice materials and courses, visit the British Council IELTS Canada prepare page. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!

Source: WES.org

Finding Canadian Education Programs and Scholarships

by Kevin Kamal

Contrary to some perceptions, Canada is not equal to the winter season! Actually, all Canadian cities experience four seasons throughout the year. With its vast, beautiful geography, rich history of indigenous people, and a national policy for multiculturalism, Canada is a gem for prospective international students.

Canada has a formalized immigration policy and annually welcomes approximately 250,000 immigrants. Canada is one of the few countries with a well-established pathway from being an international student to becoming a permanent resident and a Canadian citizen.

Canadian international student tuition fees and living expenses are one of the lowest among popular English-speaking countries. Additionally, the country has many internationally renowned universities. According to one report, a total of 26 Canadian universities ranked within the top 800 universities worldwide. Of these, three top universities in Canada are ranked within the global top 50, and a further 10 in the top 300.

These numbers must be looked at based on the total number of universities in Canada. With about 36 million in total population and 13 provinces and territories, there are about 100 universities and over 125 publicly funded colleges to choose from.

If you are considering studying in Canada, you should familiarize yourself with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and its Student Centre. You will find CBIE’s Search Canadian Programs and Scholarships tool very handy for gathering essential information on universities and colleges in Canada.

This online tool allows you to search Canadian universities and colleges by name, the program of study, undergraduate- and graduate-level programs, and, yes, available scholarships. Just like the country itself, the tool is bilingual and it is available in French and English.

Source: WES.org

The IELTS Test Day Experience

by IDP

In the final installment of our three-part series we will share what to expect on the day of the test.

Following the International Education Language Testing System (IELTS) overview and IELTS preparation information we shared in parts one and two, we want to make sure you are ready for the big day. Keep in mind that the purpose of IELTS is to measure your English language level. If you have gone through the necessary steps to prepare for the test, then your experience should go smoothly with the support of the professional test day staff and examiners.

What can I expect when I arrive to take the test?

IELTS is a high stakes test and the staff who administer it take it very seriously. The test day staff have been trained to make your IELTS experience as comfortable as possible. Because the results are highly regarded by so many institutions and organizations, it needs to be very secure. There are many security protocols to follow which includes:

• Personnel have been specifically trained in facial feature recognition, so they will carefully examine your face with your identification photo.
• Finger scans will be taken at the entrance of the test room and will be matched each time you leave and return.
• Your photograph will be taken by IELTS test day personnel and it will be shown with your test report form to receiving organizations

The reason for such high-security measures is to maintain the validity and integrity of the test scores by ensuring against fraud and cheating. Images of the finger scans are not stored and photographs will be used only for the purpose of the IELTS test. You can be assured that the security procedures are in place for your benefit as they allow for test results to be highly regarded by the receiving organization.

What do I need to bring on test day?

• The exact same valid ID you used to book the test—your passport or permanent resident card
• Your confirmation email
• 2 HB or #2 pencils
• Clear bottle of water with the label removed (optional)

What items are not allowed into the test room?

• Any electronic device—watch, calculator, etc.
• Your cell phone—even if it is turned off!
• Additional pieces of paper
• Food
• Any item that is not on the approved list

Am I allowed to leave the test area?

Yes. You will be allowed to go to the restroom during the test. You will also have a break before the speaking part of the test. The length of the break will vary depending on the scheduled time of your speaking exam.

Who will be with me during the test?

• The test-day personnel are there to support you if you have any questions on test day.
• The listening, reading, and writing portions of the test are conducted in a group setting.
• The invigilation staff (those staff members who are there to watch those taking the exam) will give you instructions and lead you through these sections.
• The speaking portion of the test is done one-on-one with a professional speaking examiner (the speaking examiner will give you instructions and ask you questions during this portion of the test).

What can I expect during the speaking portion of the test?

• Professionalism—speaking examiners have undergone a rigorous training process.
• Friendliness—speaking examiners will be neutral, but will be polite and friendly.
• Your speaking interview will be recorded for monitoring purposes.
• The speaking section is 11-14 minutes long—examiners are required to adhere to the time limits for each of the three sections.
  • In part one, you will be asked questions about yourself.
  • In part two, you will be required to speak for two minutes on a topic chosen by the examiner.
  • In part three, you will have a conversation with the examiner.
• Examiners will remain neutral about your performance and cannot give you feedback about how you did.

How will I get my results?

• Unofficial results are available online 13 days after the test.
• Centres will also mail your results 13 days after the test.
• Test results may also be picked up in person with your passport or permanent resident card.
• If someone is picking up the results on your behalf, they must have your original identification and a letter from you specifying that they are authorized to pick up the test results.
• Results are listed on a Test Report Form (TRF).
• TRFs list sub-scores for listening, reading, writing, and speaking as well as an overall score which is the average from the four sections.
• You will receive one TRF, but you may request a second copy if you are using the results for immigration purposes.
• For tests that have taken place within the last 30 days, up to five additional TRFs may be sent to recognizing organizations at no cost.
• A fee may be charged for additional TRFs to be sent out if the test occurred outside of the 30-day limitation.
• TRFs may be sent by courier at an additional cost (contact your centre for more info).
• You may request a review of your scores within six weeks of the test date at an additional cost.

The IELTS test is exactly the same around the world. There should be no surprises as long as you have a good grasp of the English language, prepare well in advance, and follow the instructions for test day.

Reading this blog post series, checking the links, and visiting the preparation section of ieltscanadatest.com indicates that you have a great attitude toward success.

Good luck on test day!

Source: WES.org

Vernon, British Columbia launches Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

North Bay is finally in the immigration game.