Healthy Communities • Y Stories • YMCA Employment Programs • YMCA Newcomer Programs
Integrating into the Canadian landscape: Pratik’s Y Story
01 May 2018 - by YMCA of Greater Toronto
By: Yonatan Kiflu
Receiving more than one job offer at the same time may sound like a dream come true, but there are many important factors that have to be considered. This can be a challenging situation for anyone, but even more so for newcomers to Canada who already have to work through the complexities of adapting in their new country.
That’s why Pratik, who recently arrived in Canada from India, is grateful for the support he found through YMCA of Greater Toronto Immigrant Services. His first connection was with the Y’s pre-arrival program, Next Stop Canada, where Pratik received information on service providers for financial assistance and learned about the YMCA’s Newcomer Information Centre (NIC).
Once he arrived in Canada, Pratik visited the Scarborough Finch Avenue YMCA Centre. There, with the help of Tahereh and Shahpar, his employment and resource counsellors, Pratik worked on his interviewing skills, improved his LinkedIn profile, and participated in career-building workshops to help with his job search.
All that hard work soon paid off: Pratik received two job offers within weeks of one another. Though his initial reaction was to accept the first offer he received, the YMCA staff helped Pratik consider all of his options and understand the intricacies of accepting one job offer over another, including how it would affect future prospects.
Pratik says. “That is very vital as a newcomer.”
After weighing his options, Pratik decided that it would be in his best interest to choose his second offer.
It has been a few weeks since Pratik started his new job. It has been a new learning experience, especially in this completely new role, in his new country, but he receives constant encouragement.
Pratik attributes the confidence that he feels at his new job to the support and guidance that he received from YMCA staff. He feels that he made the right decision because he had all of the information that he needed to do so.
If you or someone you know would like to receive help in navigating the current employment landscape, you can visit one of our Employment and Community Centres found at YMCA locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Receiving more than one job offer at the same time may sound like a dream come true, but there are many important factors that have to be considered. This can be a challenging situation for anyone, but even more so for newcomers to Canada who already have to work through the complexities of adapting in their new country.
That’s why Pratik, who recently arrived in Canada from India, is grateful for the support he found through YMCA of Greater Toronto Immigrant Services. His first connection was with the Y’s pre-arrival program, Next Stop Canada, where Pratik received information on service providers for financial assistance and learned about the YMCA’s Newcomer Information Centre (NIC).
Once he arrived in Canada, Pratik visited the Scarborough Finch Avenue YMCA Centre. There, with the help of Tahereh and Shahpar, his employment and resource counsellors, Pratik worked on his interviewing skills, improved his LinkedIn profile, and participated in career-building workshops to help with his job search.
All that hard work soon paid off: Pratik received two job offers within weeks of one another. Though his initial reaction was to accept the first offer he received, the YMCA staff helped Pratik consider all of his options and understand the intricacies of accepting one job offer over another, including how it would affect future prospects.
“That helped me make an informed decision of letting go of this first opportunity, and take a hold of this great offer,”
Pratik says. “That is very vital as a newcomer.”
After weighing his options, Pratik decided that it would be in his best interest to choose his second offer.
It has been a few weeks since Pratik started his new job. It has been a new learning experience, especially in this completely new role, in his new country, but he receives constant encouragement.
Pratik attributes the confidence that he feels at his new job to the support and guidance that he received from YMCA staff. He feels that he made the right decision because he had all of the information that he needed to do so.
If you or someone you know would like to receive help in navigating the current employment landscape, you can visit one of our Employment and Community Centres found at YMCA locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
