AXIS Career Services

Opportunities in tourism industry

aleksandra@nfld.net — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:55:00 +0200

Believe it or not, summer is soon coming to Newfoundland and Labrador! What does this mean for job-seekers? It means that employers are looking for friendly, out-going individuals to become part of the exciting tourism environment.

The economy of Newfoundland and Labrador relies heavily on the tourism sector. A job in tourism can lead you into any of these five areas:

- Food and Beverage Services
- Accomodations
- Recreation and Entertainment
- Transportation
- Travel Services

Eight enthusiastic participants are motivated and focused on learning Tourism Essential skills to help start them on their path in this field. AXIS Career Services has partnered with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver the Ready-to-Work training for internationally trained workers with education and experience in the field of tourism. The sessions are well underway with our third week of training almost complete.

With a constant demand for qualified workers and many opporunities for growth, why not look into a career intourism today! And what better way to learn more about our beautiful province.

For more information on the program or any other related information, please visit Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador at www.hnl.ca.

Harnessing Technology Skills for Growth Conference in St. John's

aleksandra@nfld.net — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0200

Harnessing Technology Skills for Growth Conference was held in St. John's in October 2011. Organized by Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) and Canadian Technology Immigration Network (CTIN), it addressed issues and challenges related to emerging skills shortages facing technology industries in Newfoundland and Labrador. The participants also discussed strategies for employers searching out the best talent both locally and internationally.

The conference program included keynotes and panel presentations by industry and government leaders, including: Ed Martin, President and CEO of Nalcor Energy; Emad Rizkalla, President and CEO of Bluedrop Performance Learning; Ron Taylor, Executive Director of Newfoundland and Labrador Technology Industries; Nellie Burke, Executive Director of the Office of the Immgiration and Muliticuluturalism, Government of Newfounland and Labrador; Eileen Kelly-Freake, Director, Employment Programs and Career Services, AXIS Career Services; and Pam Toope, Director, Advanced Education and Skills, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

For more information on CCTT or CTIN, please visit http://www.cctt.ca/ and http://ctin.ca/

Happy Holidays!

aleksandra@nfld.net — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:12:00 +0200

Foreign Credentials Recognition Office Showcases IQN Website

a.r.abtahi@gmail.com — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:18:00 +0200

On September 26, 2011, the Association for New Canadians through its AXIS Career Services Division hosted the International Qualifications Network (IQN) Early Adopter Information Session, presented by Citizenship and Immigration`s Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO). The International Qualifications Network Website is a new initiative spearheaded by FCRO to support the Pan-Canadian Framework for the assessment and recognition of foreign credentials. The website has been developed to provide a platform for showcasing international qualifications assessment and recognition promising practices from across Canada and internationally. It provides an opportunity for subject-matter experts to share information, knowledge and lessons learned with anyone having similar interests in this area. Finally, the IQN Website helps organizations involved in foreign qualifications recognition to exchange innovative practice and build cooperative networks.

A number of stakeholders from St. John`s, including government and business representatives, regulatory bodies, sector councils, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations, attended the session led by Allain Lauzon and Alexandra Normandin from the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (CIC).

The IQN Website will be officially launched later this Fall.

For more information about the history of the IQN, please visit www.credentials.gc.ca/partners/outreach/outreach.asp.

Breakfast of (Immigration) Champions

dyetman@nfld.net — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:30:00 +0200

When it comes to promoting diversity and integrating more immigrants into the local workforce, support is needed from a wide range of stakeholders. On April 12, AXIS hosted a Breakfast and Information session in collaboration with the Conference Board of Canada and The Alliance of Sector Councils on ‘Enhancing Your Competitiveness with Internationally Trained Workers’.

We were pleased to see how many people came out to the event. The audience was comprised of a cross-section of representatives from government, sectors, and local employers, each with ties to a different industry and with different knowledge of immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador. The presence clearly demonstrated investment within all levels of the province to improve the recognition of immigrants’ skills and experience in the workforce..

Following breakfast and opening remarks by Eileen Kelly-Freake, the Director of Employment Programs and Services at AXIS, presentations began outlining the national and local benefits of hiring internationally trained workers. Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador's Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Nellie Burke, provided a context for the history of immigration in the province, before outlining current strategies the province has employed in recent years to increase and improve local immigration, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, participating in international Immigration Fairs, and Mutliculturalism Week.

Dr. Michelle Downey from the Conference Board of Canada next provided a federal outlook on immigration, particularly the positively projected economic advantages to hiring and retaining immigrants. Her presentation of the Conference Board’s Employer’s Toolkit - A Roadmap for Employers offered great tips on how employers can navigate some of the supposed barriers when considering hiring newcomers. The employer panel, which closed off the morning, gave this Toolkit particular relevance, as we were able to see these tips in action. Two of AXIS' employer partners, BoomI.T. and Power Vac–BELFOR, presented on their experiences hiring internationally trained workers. They discussed the benefits diversity has brought to their businesses and how their employees have grown within their respective companies.

“Internationally trained new hires are loyal and dedicated workers” said Kyron Laffan of PowerVac-BELFOR. “They are quick to learn and are interested in using their skills to advance in their job.”

Sean Kwekkeboom of BoomI.T. spoke on his participation in AXIS’ Internship Placement Program, particularly noting the quality of AXIS referrals, and how the assessment and verification of intern candidates skills have proved especially valuable in his unregulated industry.

The breakfast and information session was a chance for invested and interested individuals to explore the next steps for continued progress with regards to immigrant integration and retention in the workplace. Immigration is a cornerstone of Canada’s economic development, yet the presentations and comments from the session reminded everyone that equally important are the intangible benefits of diversity.

Dress for Success: a Big Hit!

dyetman@nfld.net — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:41:00 +0200

It was cold, it was raining, there were no buses, but clients of AXIS braved the weather and were rewarded on Thursday, November 18 at AXIS’ Dress for Success Social. Clients walked away with bags full-to-the-brim with clothes to protect them against the unmerciful St. John’s weather, and keep them looking sharp at the same time.

Several weeks ago we told you about the generous donations of professional clothing we received thanks to Memorial University’s Kindness Friday. Last week, AXIS was transformed from a career centre to a fabulous shopping destination. Racks of clothes lined the hallways and desks could not been seen for the stacks of clothes. And we certainly weren’t sorry for having to put our paper work on hold, because we had a great time socializing and catching up with our clients.

The team at AXIS is exceedingly grateful to those who came out for the event, as well as to everyone who donated. Much of what was contributed has been given a second life, and many deserving newcomers have added wonderful articles of clothing to their wardrobes, which will help them to take their first steps into the Canadian workforce with confidence.

Dress for Success: An outpouring of generosity from MUN's Kindness Friday

dyetman@nfld.net — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:24:00 +0200

Citizens of the metro area came out in droves on Friday, October 28, and they brought their work clothes with them.

The goal: to Stuff-a-Bus with gently used professional clothing such as blouses, trousers, blazers, shoes, and more.

Kindness Friday is one of many events organized as part of I♥MUNDays. Students and staff of Memorial University, the Confederation Building, the Marine Institute, as well as the general public came out to show just how big their hearts (and closets) are by donating their business wear to clients of AXIS Career Services Division of the Association for New Canadians. Donors were greeted by some very special volunteers including Zach Goudie of CBC, Miss Newfoundland and Labrador: Rebecca Dawe, and Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador: Kora Leigh Russell. Metrobus donated the use of one of their buses for the day, as well as the patience of their driver, Tom, whose smile never faltered despite being asked to pose for picture after picture.

Everyone experiences nervous anticipation before an interview, and the last thing you want to worry about is your clothing. Confidence is a key component of a successful interview, and feeling good about what you’re wearing certainly helps. Immigrants may be especially nervous before an interview because of a lack of familiarity with Canadian customs, and this includes fashion. By donating these clothes to immigrant job seekers, the community is assisting their transition into the Canadian workforce by helping them feel more self-assured.

All the team at AXIS and staff of the Association for New Canadians are exceedingly grateful for the generosity that helped Stuff-a-Bus this Friday. We’ll soon be organizing a 'free shopping spree' for our job seeking clients, so watch for updates in the next few weeks.

Reaching out: AXIS Internships make a difference in the local and global communities

dyetman@nfld.net — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:01:00 +0200

In the summer of 2008, AXIS Career Services began developing the Internship Placement Program as part of the federal Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program. Since then, AXIS has been working closely with local newcomers and employers to make mutually beneficial matches, helping newcomers gain experience in their field of expertise and employers fill their human resource requirements. As a result of the program’s success, the provincial Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment continues to offer support for the program.

AXIS clients have been placed in a variety of fields: engineering, accounting, information technology, and even in the non-profit sector. In January of 2010, Martin Osuru, a Community Studies graduate originally from Sudan, was matched with the Canadian Red Cross in Corner Brook in the role of Community Development Promotions Officer. One of his main responsibilities was promoting the Red Cross’ Malaria Bed Net Campaign. Mr. Osuru visited various schools in the district to discuss the causes and impacts of malaria in developing nations and his presentations were met with great response from the students who asked interesting and insightful questions. Mr. Osuru was personally touched by the response of both the students and general public to the Malaria Bed Net Campaign—in fact, he exceeded the bed net sales goal set at the beginning of the placement just several weeks into the internship.

Young children are especially at risk of contracting the illness. The World Health Organization reports some interesting statistics on malaria:

· There are approximately 250 million cases of malaria each year, leading to 1 million deaths

· One in five childhood deaths in Africa is malaria related

· Every thirty seconds, a child dies from malaria (WHO 2010)

Mr. Osuru’s presentation resonated in the community, and particularly with students from Grandy’s River Academy. Following Mr. Osuru’s presentation at their school, a group of students committed to going door-to-door around Burnt Islands and Rose Blanche raising money for the Red Cross. From their efforts, they raised enough money specifically for the purchase of 108 bed nets, which will be distributed to children in various parts of Africa.

The students of Grandy’s River Academy were featured in an article in The Gulf News on June 14, 2010, which can be found here. These students have made an important contribution to the lives of children internationally.

In his internship, Mr. Osuru succeeded not only in gaining valuable new job skills, he also was able to raise awareness about issues facing the developing world, and with the help of several passionate young people, make a valuable connection between Newfoundland and the global community. The success of Mr. Osuru’s internship demonstrates not only the individual value of these placements, but also the benefit for the companies who host newcomers, and the communities in which they live.

To learn more about the Red Cross’ Malaria Bed Net Campaign, please visit malariabites.net.

Entrepreneurial Workshop Announcement

a.r.abtahi@gmail.com — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:59:00 +0200

The third in a series of Entrepreneurial Workshops has been organised. The speakers at the workshop will be;

Dolores Harvey - BizPal Coordinator

Dean Doyle - Director of Commercial Registrations

We will be hearing presentations on registering your company name from Dean and finding out information on the licences and permits your new business may need from Dolores. The workshop takes place at AXIS Career Services at 10 Smithville Crescent on Wednesday June 2nd at 6pm.

Refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there.

AXIS Career Services facilitates a Workplace Skills – BioTalent e-Portfolio Orientation Pilot

a.r.abtahi@gmail.com — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:13:00 +0200

Throughout the month of March 25 internationally educated professionals were recruited at AXIS Career Services to participate in a BioTalent e-Portfolio Orientation Pilot. As the biotechnology sector is growing many organizations are seeking foreign trained professionals to meet the demand of the industry’s skill shortage. In this regard, individuals were selected from various backgrounds such as research, business, physicians, marketing, intellectual property and more.

By participating in the innovative project AXIS clients gained the opportunity to have their skills recognized, exposure to career choices, and enriching their experience for personal development.