Immigrant
Professionals' Employment Assistance, Assessment and Internship Centre
Success Skills Centre has operated since 1985 as a community-based,
not-for-profit organization, working in partnership with the federal
and provincial government, as well as the City of Winnipeg. The
Centre works exclusively with professional/skilled immigrants who
have had their education and experience from outside of Canada.
As a
result of its experience with immigrants, the Centre has developed
into an independent assessment and internship workplace resource
centre, providing employment and counselling assistance to immigrant
professionals. Advice and guidance to employers and others working
with immigrant professionals is another service provided.
The
Centre's main objective is to help remove barriers immigrants encounter
which interfere with their ability to utilize their skills and training
in Canada. Also, the Centre acts as a broker and advocate to access
programs, courses and employment training.
Immigrant
professionals come to the Centre by agency referral or word-of-mouth
to receive help ranging from employment search, introductory computer
applications practice, (hands-on self-help) résumé
preparation, job interview skills, and provide workspace for their
job search. Individuals may attend the Centre for varying lengths
of time, based on their initial assessments, ranging services from
one-time visits to participating in scheduled workshops, to a workplace
internship arranged by Centre staff, to requiring a combination
of initiatives in their individualized plans of action.
Training
host employers play a valuable role by taking the Centre's program
interns into their workplace according to their occupational background;
and thereby provide positive proof and reinforcement that immigrant
professionals contribute concretely to Canadian operations.
The
process of the employer on-site work placement includes having program
interns observe, discuss and gain Canadian on-the-job perspectives
in a normal, every day work setting. This may be done in several
ways with agreed upon learning objectives, for example, by job shadowing,
by carrying out assigned tasks or projects, by investigating specific
markets, methodologies, and/or assisting in various tasks or operations.
Very often, once the interns have had an opportunity to demonstrate
their knowledge and skills, employer hosts are most interested in
hiring or recommending the individuals to other employers. Some
of the interns may qualify for wage subsidy programs under Employment
Insurance, or under the provincial Immigrant Credentials Recognition
Program.
The
Centre is funded by the provincial Department of Education and Training
(Employment and Training Services Branch) and the Department of
Labour and Immigration.
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