Strategies for Acquiring, Upgrading & Transferring Skills
Strategies of Acquiring, Upgrading and Transferrin Skills
Developing labour market skills is essential in a competitive environment like Canada, where in-demand skills greatly enhance employability. This is crucial not only for native Canadians but also for immigrants, students, and refugees who must identify and acquire sought-after skills to improve their job prospects. Lifelong learning remains vital across all fields due to the evolving nature of today’s diverse, technologically advanced, and dynamic labour market, which requires adaptability to new technologies and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural setting.
As a newcomer to Canada, understanding which skills will be in high demand is key to securing future employment. The Future Skills Centre Canada offers resources to help make informed decisions about essential skills for job security. Numerous opportunities exist to acquire these critical skills, and this guide provides direction for individuals eager to succeed in the Canadian labour market, empowering them to thrive in an interconnected and continuously changing work environment (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2018).
The following are the programs that can help you to develop your skills in the Canadian Labour Market.
Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) is a transformative initiative that leverages the expertise and collaboration of prominent institutions across Canada. At its core, Quick Train Canada is a dynamic program designed to swiftly respond to the evolving demands of Canada's workforce and economy.
What Quick Train Does
Quick Train Canada is a forward-thinking project created by C2R2, an alliance of distinguished colleges, cégeps, institutes, and polytechnics in Canada. Its primary objective is to address the urgent need for skill development in the context of a rapidly transitioning economy. It achieves this by offering fully funded, high-impact, and flexible training courses that are easy to access.
Quick Train Canada is a collaborative effort, bringing together fourteen founding education partners across Canada These partners are at the forefront of sustainable practices and innovation in various sectors.
How Quick Train Benefits Learning New Skills
Quick Train Canada's programs offer an array of courses designed to update participants' skills promptly. These multi-week training sessions can be conducted virtually or in-person, providing the flexibility necessary to meet the diverse needs of Canadian workers and employers. The primary focus of these courses is to enhance job security and encourage active participation in an economy that is increasingly shifting toward sustainable practices.
By collaborating with these prominent institutions, Quick Train Canada ensures that participants have access to the latest knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing job market. As the economy transitions to a low-carbon future, Quick Train Canada stands ready to equip individuals and businesses with the expertise required to thrive in this new landscape.
Quick Train Canada, an integral part of the C2R2 coalition, is a beacon of opportunity for those seeking to learn new skills in a fast-paced, sustainable, and ever-evolving economy. Through its collaboration with respected partner organisations, Quick Train Canada is poised to make a significant and lasting impact on Canada's education and workforce development landscape (QuickTrain, n.d.) .
Newcomer students and refugees are encouraged to visit Quick Train to learn more about the courses, resources, and times offered by the program. Quick Train offers an extensive range of microcredentials designed to enhance your career prospects. These microcredentials can be your stepping stones to a rewarding job. To discover the available options, schedules, and the requirements to achieve your career goals, we encourage you to visit their website for more information.
The Youth Education and Employment Program (YESS) is designed to empower young individuals aged 15–24 with essential skills, knowledge, and support to foster their career development and access to employment opportunities. YESS focuses on several key components:
Program Components:
Skill Development: YESS equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify their career goals. In addition to providing them with work-related training, it enhances their job readiness skills. This includes practical aspects like creating resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, and cultivating appropriate workplace and school behaviour.
Supportive Services: Alongside skill development, YESS offers vital support services. Program staff provide guidance, follow-up assistance, and a variety of other support mechanisms aimed at helping youth achieve and sustain employment.
YESS Program Goals:
Employment and Education Foundations: YESS seeks to lay a strong foundation for youth in terms of both employment and education. This includes basic skills such as resume and cover letter creation, interview preparation, and fostering suitable workplace and school behaviour.
Life Skills Foundations: YESS aims to build life skills, including emotional regulation, conflict resolution, anger management, and self-care. These skills are essential not only in the workplace but also in daily life, enhancing personal growth and well-being.
Industry-Specific Foundations: YESS provides training for specific industries by offering certifications. These certifications might include First Aid, WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), Pro-Serve (responsible beverage service training), food safety, fall protection, and more. By doing so, YESS ensures that youth are prepared for various industry requirements.
Structured Training: The program comprises a 3-week in-class training component where youth build knowledge, identify the skills necessary for their chosen path, and engage in job shadowing to enhance their employability.
Employment Practicum: YESS offers a 12-week employment practicum and work experience. This hands-on experience is a crucial part of youth development, as it allows them to apply their acquired skills in real-world settings, thereby increasing their employability.
Financial Support: For qualified applicants, YESS provides wages and living allowances during their program participation. This financial support helps alleviate financial barriers that may hinder young individuals from participating in the program.
The Youth Education and Employment Program (YESS) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at providing youth with the knowledge, skills, and support required to embark on a successful career path. YESS focuses on skill development, offers essential life skills, industry-specific certifications, structured training, real-world experience, and financial support, ensuring that participants have a well-rounded foundation for both employment and personal growth.
Training Inc. is an organisation dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals through lifelong learning, personal growth, and skill development.
For over three decades, their team of experts has been helping Albertans graduate from programs, find fulfilling employment, and connect with their communities. They offer a unique blend of occupational training and career services tailored to each person's strengths and goals, providing one-on-one guidance to uncover potential and explore uncharted opportunities. Training Inc. operates with a mission to promote honesty, excellence, creativity, integrity, and community service. Their commitment to education and employment support has made them a valuable contributor to the communities they serve, with a genuine desire to help individuals succeed in today's ever-changing job market.
Palette Skills is an organisation dedicated to facilitating career transitions and upskilling for individuals aiming to enter innovative sectors. They accomplish this by collaborating with prominent companies and industry associations to create fast-track training and upskilling initiatives that equip individuals with high-demand skills, leading to swift employment opportunities (Palette Skills, n.d.).
They provide tailored upskilling programs and resources, equipping candidates with essential skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in the ever-evolving job market. Additionally, Palette Skills serves as a bridge between talent and organisations, ensuring a seamless match that benefits both job seekers and employers.
They are committed to facilitating business potential through their partnerships with leading companies and industry associations. Furthermore, Palette Skills collaborates with their partners to establish a national upskilling network, aiming to strengthen and fund industry-led upskilling programs that address the skills needs of employers across Canada, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in six key growth sectors (Palette Skills, n.d.).
LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) is a program funded by the Government of Canada that offers language classes to permanent residents or protected persons. These classes are available for individuals arriving in Canada and aim to help newcomers improve their language skills, including English and French.
The classes are taught by qualified teachers and can be taken online or in a classroom setting at various locations, offering flexible schedules.In addition to language instruction, these classes provide information on important topics such as housing, banking, citizenship, and employment. The curriculum is based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) standards, and certificates are awarded upon completion of specific CLB levels, which can serve as proof of meeting the citizenship language requirement.
Various class types, including general language classes at different levels, literacy and language classes, and job-specific language skills classes, are available to cater to the diverse needs of newcomers. Assessment is required before registering for a class to determine the individual's current language skills. To register for these language classes, newcomers should contact organisations that assist newcomers in their respective areas, as these organisations can provide information on assessment and available language training programs (Immigration, 2014).
If you're a permanent resident in Canada or a refugee student, looking to kickstart your career in technology fields, Google Career Certificates are a promising pathway for you.
These professional certificates offer training in fast-growing and high-demand sectors such as IT, user experience design, project management, digital marketing, and more. Developed by Google, these programs are taught by industry experts and designed to equip you with essential skills and hands-on experience.
The best part? You can access all the learning materials online, allowing flexibility to study anytime and anywhere. The program not only focuses on skills but also offers support for your job search, including interview tips, resume building, and career coaching. What's more, these certificates are recognized by employers in Canada, offering you a credible advantage in the job market (Google, n.d.). Whether you're new to these fields or looking to advance your knowledge, Google Career Certificates are an accessible and affordable choice for those eager to succeed in the technology sector in Canada.
Introducing Skills in Action: an online training program aligned with Canada's evolving labour market. It offers a suite of Skills for Success training programs designed to enhance essential skills for success in the workplace. The program, developed in collaboration with various partners, focuses on increasing access to these training tools for rural communities, small and medium-sized businesses, and training providers.
problem-solving, communication, collaboration, adaptability, and creativity and innovation, with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity (Skills in Action, n.d.).
Skills Council of Canada (SCC) is an organisation in Ottawa that focuses on providing skill development resources and support for all Canadians, including those from vulnerable and underserved groups such as racialized youth, students, the underemployed, and the unemployed, along with their communities.
SCC collaborates with a network of partners to help individuals access:
Learning facilities, resources, and support.
Online, self-paced skill development assessments and courses.
Tutors and career coaches.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities.
SCC's goal is to break down barriers to education and training, making it easier for people to gain and sustain meaningful employment. They serve various groups, including youth, unemployed and underemployed individuals, new employees, businesses, entrepreneurs, employment and training centres, and trades workers. With the SCC's help, people can develop the skills needed to succeed and thrive in the job market. It's an excellent resource for those looking to enhance their abilities and pursue a successful career in Canada (Skills Council of Canada, n.d.).
The Skills Council of Canada (SCC) is a charitable organisation with multiple centres. SCC offers free government-funded programs to support individuals at various stages of life, such as youth, job seekers, second career seekers, and newcomers to Canada.
They provide one-on-one job search coaching, workshops, settlement services, language courses (LINC and ELT), academic upgrading, and pre-apprenticeship skilled trades programs.
SCC also collaborates with employers to provide recruitment and training services. They annually serve over 20,000 people in the Halton Region and Mississauga. SCC's vision is to promote meaningful employment, and their mission is to offer equitable access to programs and services that prepare individuals for the labour market (Center for Skills, n.d.).
Skills for Change serves as a valuable partner in helping individuals, including refugees, enhance their job opportunities and career prospects. This organization offers a diverse range of programs specifically designed to facilitate success across various professions. Whether one is a newcomer, has experienced job loss, or is entering the job market for the first time, Skills for Change provides free programs that focus on skill development and employability.
Their program offerings encompass:
Bridge2Work: This program targets the improvement of knowledge and employability in fields such as Health Informatics, Accounting, and Finance.Skilled Trades Pre-Apprenticeship: It offers opportunities to explore hands-on careers in areas like Horticulture, Plumbing, Welding, and Carpentry.
Employment Preparation: Designed to swiftly enhance one's work profile and job-seeking abilities.
Skills for Employment: This program equips newcomers and job seekers with the tools they need for an efficient job search.
Better Jobs Ontario: It provides support for various groups, including gig workers, youth, and individuals relying on social assistance.
Workplace Career Connections: Focuses on the power of networking to excel in chosen careers.
Cybersecurity Talent Pod: Offers foundational education in cybersecurity and related technical skills through experiential learning.
Skills for Change's programs not only provide essential resources and referrals but also offer career workshops and assistance with job placements. With over four decades of experience, Skills for Change has a track record of successfully guiding individuals towards achieving their career goals. For refugees and others seeking to elevate their career prospects, Skills for Change is an opportunity not to be missed.
The Canadian labour market is a highly competitive and dynamically changing landscape that necessitates individuals to continually develop their skills. This imperative extends beyond native Canadians and encompasses newcomers, students, and refugees. In today's interconnected and technologically advanced world, embracing lifelong learning is fundamental to stay relevant and thrive in this demanding job market. For newcomers to Canada, gaining insight into the skills currently in high demand is paramount for ensuring future job security.
The wealth of programs presented in this document illustrates how a diverse range of initiatives can significantly contribute to skills enhancement and foster success in the Canadian labour market. This is particularly relevant for students, especially those with a refugee background, and newcomers seeking to establish themselves in the Canadian job market.
Fortuitously, there is an array of programs available to facilitate the development of essential skills and boost employability. These programs collectively aim to empower individuals to not only survive but excel in the Canadian labour market by equipping them with in-demand skills, thereby greatly improving their prospects of securing employment. Among those who stand to benefit the most from these programs are refugees, offering them a solid foundation upon which to build a prosperous career in Canada.
Tips for Acquiring Skills for a Successful Career in Canada
As a newcomer to Canada, embarking on your career journey in this diverse and thriving country is undoubtedly an exciting prospect. However, finding your first job can be a challenging process, but with a well-defined strategy, you can make the transition smoother and increase your chances of success. Here's a comprehensive strategy for acquiring and upgrading skills in the Canadian labour force:
References
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Employment and Social Development Canada. (2018). Future Skills - Canada.ca. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/future-skills.html
Google. (n.d.). Work, teach, and learn from anywhere. Grow with Google; Google. https://grow.google/intl/ALL_ca/
Immigration, R. and C. C. (2014, July 4). Language classes funded by the Government of Canada. Aem. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/new-life-canada/improve-english-french/classes.html
Linc Career Services. (n.d.). Services. LINC. Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://www.linc-lv.org/services/
Palette Skills. (n.d.). Home. Palette Skills. Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://paletteskills.org/
QuickTrain. (n.d.). Microcredentials – Quick Train Canada. Quicktraincanada.ca. https://quicktraincanada.ca/microcredentials/
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Skills Council of Canada. (n.d.). Who We Are. Www.skillscouncil.ca. Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://www.skillscouncil.ca/about-us-2/who-we-are
Skills in Action. (n.d.). About the project - Skills in Action. Skillsinaction.ca. Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://skillsinaction.ca/en/about/about-the-project
Training Inc. (n.d.). About Us | Training Inc. Vocational School. www.traininginc.ca. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.traininginc.ca/about-us