Challenges faced by New Immigrants in Canada
Each year, thousands of immigrants come to Canada in search of better opportunities. Many of them are educated professionals with years of relevant experience in their home countries. They have the potential to make significant contributions to the Canadian workforce but unfortunately, numerous professional or educated immigrants are underemployed, many supporting themselves and their families by working in low-paying positions.
There are various reasons why new immigrants face challenges in obtaining meaningful and rewarding employment in their areas of expertise. Many Canadian employers are hesitant to consider immigrants’ foreign qualifications and experience. Immigrants often have communication difficulties as they learn to speak English or French more fluently, while getting used to a new accent! Many employers are also unsure as to how to embrace and benefit from multiculturalism in the workplace.
As immigrants work to improve their language skills and get their qualifications assessed, they often overlook an equally important area: their image. People are quick to make first impressions based on various factors such as an immigrant’s appearance, behaviour and communication.
Newcomers may have a basic idea of what business attire is in Canada but they have difficulty in putting that into practice. They may know to wear a suit and tie in certain situations but fail to pay attention to details such as the fit, the style and the colour. Putting together an outfit for an important interview is not easy for those that are already struggling with the challenges of living in a new environment. Behaviour and communication can also play a key role in being successful in their job search. Business etiquette varies significantly across cultures and it is important for newcomers to be familiarized and comfortable with Canadian etiquette.
Cachet Image, a Vancouver, BC based image consulting firm helps immigrants improve their chances of obtaining meaningful employment in their chosen field by working with them to create a work and interview appropriate wardrobe. Instead of offering a one size fits all service, we tailor our products and services to each newcomer’s unique needs. It is imperative to us that they feel confident and comfortable in wearing the outfits that we create for them. We also provide them with coaching on business (and/or social) etiquette so that they are able to have that strong handshake and converse with potential employers with the confidence that will get them the job!
About the Author
Smita Ramphul, Personal Image Consultant
