A new series of great workshops will be open to the community in September, thanks to the Immigration and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) in Williams Lake.
“We’re offering 10 employment workshops to new Canadians and to any community member wanting to improve their job-seeking skills,” explained IMSS employment and settlement practitioner Eva Navrot.
Navrot has been at IMSS since June, with a nearly 20-year career history helping people find work.
“It’s been my biggest focus,” Navrot said.
“It’s so satisfying to see people leave with more confidence in their skills and more courage to go out there and present themselves.”
Offering the upcoming employment workshops to both IMSS clients and the community at large has benefits to all, not only because the information is valuable but because it gives participants the opportunity to network and make good connections, Navrot said.
“We opened it up so new Canadians can make connections with our community members and vice versa; a big part of our settlement process is the social aspect,” she continued.
“It also benefits local business owners. Some of them offered to come in and help with the mock interviews — a benefit to them and the participants.”
Whether you’re a new Canadian or a long-time community member, you’ll have something in common with others at the workshops, she added.
“When it comes to work search we all struggle at times with things like tweaking a resume and understanding the labour market. We all struggle with the same things,” Navrot said.
The workshops give people the opportunity to gain confidence in their English language skills.
Navrot noted that people learn how to greet the first person in a job search, maybe the receptionist, and how to present themselves and highlight their qualifications and skills.
“People leave these workshops knowing this is a safe place to come and talk about their concerns, use the computers and photocopiers,” she said. “We can help connect them with who they need.”
IMSS recently held resume writing and job search workshops, with good attendance and great feedback.
“People really appreciated it,” she said. “These workshops are always fun: games, snacks and getting to know each other.
“I believe from the bottom of my heart that nobody’s unemployable. There’s no one we can’t help find work.”
Also coming soon to IMSS is a monthly drop-in in partnership with Meera Shah, Canadian Mental Health Association multicultural co-ordinator. “It’s a social event,” Navrot said.
“Come and share some snacks, enjoy some different cultures and some great conversation. Everyone is welcome.”
The workshops begin on September 21 and run through June 2017.
For more information about events and services available at IMSS phone 778-412-2999, visit www.imss.ca
Or stop by the office at 118C North First Avenue (Village Square) in Williams Lake.