Employment

I usually stay home and look after my children but this month I found a job as a Storefront at Tim Horton’s.

I feel very happy because it is a great start for me in a new country. I haven’t worked for 9 years since I left my home country. I have been looking for a job for a couple of years. As a result I have learnt all about the job hunting process and even had a couple of unsuccessful interviews.

In my opinion in order to became a full member of Canadian workforce you have to be willing to adjust to Canadian norms. You have to be able and willing to improve your soft skills. Additionally, teamwork is very important for Canadian employers. Nowadays a lot of projects have to be completed by a team and you have to be able to communicate with your team members, be friendly with your co-workers and customers. Also, you have to be able to speak in public and give presentations to a group of people.

Now when I look back I think that I was too ambitious and was trying to get a position that would match the one I had at home. I have a Master’s degree in Financial Law from Ukraine and I was working as a lawyer at Fiscal Service of Ukraine. I came to Canada expecting that I will get immediate employment with my technical skills. Subsequently, I realised that Canadian employers would be reluctant to hire someone without any Canadian work experience. You can’t really expect to come in the new country and get same status that you used to have in your homeland. I have learnt that sometimes it is good to take a step back and start from the beginning or you will be left with nothing except your pride.

I took a couple of steps to learn about the Canadian workforce. First, I registered with the Association for New Canadians and with their help I learnt how to search for jobs, how to apply for jobs and how to write a cover letter and resume. Second, I signed up for webinars where I learned how to prepare for the interview and how to conduct myself at the interview. Third, I decided to volunteer for a local school and hospital because it is a great way to gain experience, make new connections and get a references for a future job.

I am excited to start working and be a full member of Canadian society. I don’t intend to stay in the same position forever. I view this as an opportunity to grow. After I gain experience and understanding of Tim Horton’s business side, I am planning to go back to school and obtain a degree in Business Administration. I would like to become a manager of the restaurant and possibly one day I would like to open a Tim Horton’s restaurant in Ukraine.