When you are a newcomer in Canada, you leave your familiar surroundings, cultures, networks, and important contacts behind to start a new life. Therefore, many newcomers struggle to start a career in Canada even though they have experiences from their home country. As a result, we often see underemployed new talent who have the potential to become great assets to the nation’s labour pool.
Many organizations offering career development programs address this issue, and they also play a crucial part in the journey toward success in Canada. They provide an individual with resources, guidance, and tools to systematically explore the complex job market in Canada.
If you are living in Ottawa, then great news for you: there are plenty of these organizations throughout the nation’s capital to support you in your career journey. They have a wide range of programs to support newcomers, recent graduates, and existing talent. If you are living in Ottawa and are seeking a career boost, leveraging the expertise and resources of these organizations will surely enhance your employability and make better career decisions.
To help in your career development, we are publishing a series of career development and employment support-providing organizations in Ottawa.
In the first installment of the series, we are featuring five prominent career support organizations: Mindtrust Leadership, Youth Services Bureaus, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization, Active Newcomer Women of Ottawa, and World Skills Employment Centre.
Mindtrust Leadership
Mindtrust is an Ottawa-based leadership development non-profit. Since 2005, it has delivered youth leadership development programs and community leadership networking events to youth leaders from across the National Capital region.
Mindtrust VISION: The next generation is inspired to lead, prepared to grow, and motivated to strengthen their communities. Mindtrust MISSION: Mindtrust equips youth with the skills to lead through self-discovery and shared learning experiences, while building life-long relationships.
Mindtrust delivers a suite of five programs focused on youth leadership and support of youth development through mentorship, career planning and networking and community events. The core youth leadership programs – Mindtrust Leadership Development Program (MLDP) and Youth Development Program (YLP), target youth ages 16 to 29. These programs are intended for young, impact-driven, and demonstrated leaders with an interest in the future of leadership.
Mindtrust believes that leadership is a skill – and like any skill, it needs a foundation based on experience, practice and mentorship. Our leadership experts and partners who support Mindtrust have many years of working with youth, specializing in leadership communication skills, conflict management, and balancing different leadership styles.
Contact
123 Slater St. 6th floor, Ottawa, ON K1P 5H2
[email protected]
Visit Mindtrust Leadership on LinkedIn.
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa / YSB Employment Services
The Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of Ottawa’s largest and most dynamic non-profit agencies serving our community. From providing essential mental health services to offering crucial employment programs, housing and community services, and justice initiatives, YSB works with upwards of 3,000 clients and their families every month. With a team of 350 passionate professionals spread across 21 locations in Ottawa, YSB’s impact is both wide-reaching and deeply personal. Together, we’re not just changing lives, we’re building a brighter tomorrow for people in our community.
YSB’s Employment Services supports job seekers of all ages in preparing for the job market and finding employment. Their services include one-on-one employment counselling, access to the hidden job market, coaching and mentoring, resume and cover letter preparation, and interview simulations.
For further details on their full range of services, visit YSB’s Employment Services at www.ysbes.ca.
Contact
703-1355 Bank St. Ottawa ON K1H 8K7 / 203-301 Moodie Dr. Bells Corners, ON K2H 9C4
[email protected]
613.236.8244
Connect with the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa on LinkedIn.
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
One of the most prominent organizations for newcomers in Ottawa, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization directly serves more than 10,000 immigrants and refugees every year. They have been providing comprehensive settlement and integration services to the Ottawa community since 1978. The organization has multi-faceted programs and services that are offered in 50 languages to clients from 120 countries.
Among many resourceful programs offered by OCISO, the RAISE program supports refugee and immigrant clients with limited official language proficiency and work experience interested in obtaining and maintaining employment in the trades, hospitality, sales and service, childcare, health services support, and manufacturing sectors. Other programs include settlement and immigration programs, mentorship, community connections, and youth services.
Contact
959 Wellington Street West, Ottawa ON K1Y 2X5 Canada
[email protected]
613-725-0202
Connect with the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization on LinkedIn.
Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
Founded in 1988, the Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO) provides immigrant and racialized women and their families in the City of Ottawa and the surrounding area with the support and tools to achieve their full potential as members of Canadian society and participate in the elimination of all forms of abuse against women and children.
IWSO provides settlement and immigration services, which include orientation to Ottawa, immigration and employment services for immigrant women, language training and computer literacy classes, education support, and community programs. These services are open to newcomer women who are permanent residents, convention refugees, and live-in caregivers.
Contact
219 Argyle Avenue, Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario
[email protected]
613-729-3145
Connect with Immigrant Women Services Ottawa on LinkedIn.
World Skills Employment Centre
For over 25 years, World Skills Employment Centre has been a leader in accelerating the successful integration of newcomers into the Ottawa economy. It is a registered charity and its services are free of charge to clients and employers alike.
World Skills works exclusively to support the employment needs of newcomers. These supports include employment readiness building, job search training, personal branding, employment counselling, entrepreneurship, and workplace language training. It also provides staffing services to employers that match qualified clients with their talent needs.
To better prepare clients to achieve their goals and compete successfully in the Ottawa labour market, World Skills has a number of targeted programs, for example the Empowering Racialized Newcomer Women (ERNW) Program, the Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program, the Credential Recognition Program(CRP), as well as a program to help newcomers start their own businesses (ONE Hub).
Contact
237 Argyle Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1B8
[email protected]
(613) 233-0453 ext. 300
Connect with the World Skills Employment Centre on LinkedIn.
In summary, newcomers and job seekers in Ottawa need to know the available resources that can help them boost employability, develop skills, and facilitate meaningful connections within the job market. Explore these organizations and leverage their resources to navigate your career path with confidence.
Whether you are new to the country or looking to advance your career, Ottawa’s career development organizations are here to support you in contributing to the dynamic and thriving workforce in Canada’s capital.
If you are a tech talent seeking a job in the tech sector, alongside all these resources, you can also explore Invest Ottawa’s talent program. Visit our website to discover transformative opportunities.
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