The
Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council is well-known for its
Mentoring Partnership, which pairs new immigrants with mentees in their sector to help them adapt to the Canadian workforce.
With the launch last month of its new Connector pilot project, TRIEC is highlighting the importance not just of skills and attitudes, but of networks, in getting new Canadians onto their career path.
An answer to the fact that most job openings are never widely advertised, Connector matches a new Canadian with an established “connector” in their sector so they can better tap into who’s hiring. After a conversation about the sector’s job market and the participant’s background, skills and areas of expertise, the connector refers the participant to at least three people in his or her own network. Then each of those three people makes at least three more referrals.
“There are so many people who have fantastic skills but they’re unemployed or underemployed who cannot find the jobs that are commiserate with their experience,” says Margaret Eaton, TRIEC’s executive director. “That speaks to the need for this program.”
The idea is adapted from a similar program in Halifax. “What they found was that by the time you get to your 13
th cup of coffee or meeting, 42% of the people have found jobs in their field. We think that’s tremendous success from a simple but compelling concept. It’s quite brilliant,” says Eaton.
Being a connector is less time-consuming than being a mentor—a commitment of an hour a week over four months. So Eaton figures the program will tap into a wider range of volunteers, including senior people who can squeeze a coffee date and a few emails into their tight schedules. “I sometimes call it mentoring light,” she says. “Sometimes mentors don’t understand just what a rich resource they can be to a newcomer. This gives than an opportunity to put their toe in the water to see if they like it.”
The pilot project of 50 pairings runs to September. If it’s helping people get good jobs in their field, TRIEC will look at ways to grow the program.
Writer: Paul Gallant
Source: Margaret Eaton