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This remote employment program helps skilled immigrants find fulfilling careers in Metro Vancouver and B.C.

The Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program offered by the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society assists skilled newcomers to B.C. in embarking on new job opportunities.
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Photo: Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society
Newcomers to Canada possess many valuable talents and skills that have an impact on progressing businesses and enriching Canadian society as a whole. That said, the process for new Canadian immigrants transitioning into life in Canada can be challenging and difficult to navigate on their own.

For new Canadian immigrants, having guidance and assistance when it comes to carving out their new career path can make all the difference in providing for and making a brighter future for themselves and their families. A new program funded by the B.C. Government through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness intends to help to eradicate the underemployment and unemployment of skilled immigrants.

The Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) provides support, programming, and services for new immigrants to B.C. to assist with their transition to Canada. The society’s Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants - Sales and Service Stream initiative is an employment program that assists participants with their integration into the Canadian labour market. The hands-on project provides customized services to assist skilled immigrants with previous management experience in preparing for occupations in corporate sales management, retail and wholesale trade management, and restaurant and food service management. The program’s objective is to help participants’ obtain commensurate level of employment in their field of specialization within the Sales and Services industry in Canada. 

This provincially-funded employment program is open to new landed immigrants in B.C. To qualify for eligibility, participants must be either a permanent resident of Canada (of no more than five years), a person awaiting PR status as documented by a confirmation letter from IRCC, or a convention refugee and protected person outside Canada who has been selected for resettlement in Canada by IRCC. You can view full eligibility requirements HERE.


Photo: fauxels via Pexels

Offered in locations in Vancouver and Surrey, as well as available to be conducted remotely as a virtual program, PICS Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants provides support to program participants for up to 22 months; this provides ample time to upgrade the professional skills developed in their pre-arrival work experience to meet the Canadian requirements in their career fields. Upon enrolment in the program, participants have access to a wide range of services, including:

  • Personalized career path planning
  • Occupational specific language training (OSLT) assessment and training
  • Foreign credential evaluation
  • Financial support for skills enhancement services
  • Job search assistance, mentorship opportunities
  • Networking opportunities with employers and professionals in their career industry
As Shameemah Kalaichelvan, Manager of Employment Programs at PICS, shares, the Career Paths program contains invaluable learning opportunities and mentorship at every stage: “We work with each participant in parallel with respect to their short-term and long-term employment goals. Participants of our program are also assisted with occupation-specific language training by VCC and practicum opportunities with local employers as per the need." 

With the support provided by societies like PICS for skilled immigrants in Canada, the Canadian Sales & Services industry will benefit from an expanded talent pool of skilled workers available for hire, ultimately helping organizations allocate the right people with the right skills to the right positions within their teams.


To learn more about the employment program, visit Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants - Sales and Service Stream.