Imagine...

Imagine …… that you are an educated professional moving to a foreign country to build a better life for your family – for your children. This is difficult to imagine, because where can you find a better place to raise your children than in Canada, and Edmonton has a great quality of life.

But imagine that you are doing this …. And you are doing this without a job lined up in your field, and the future of your career is very uncertain. Maybe you are an accountant, economist, engineer or banker, and you feel that will be all you need to find new opportunities.  You have to remind yourself that you are doing this to make sure there is a great future for your family.

Imagine that you move to that country, with your family, and you do not know a single person, and you find the culture to be so different.  You get a quick job cleaning offices, but that is meant to be temporary until you land in your chosen field.

Imagine how difficult it will be to find that career.  Where do you go?  You do not have a network of people or businesses to contact. No one is there to refer you.  You have to compete for these jobs with people that live there and already have that foundation.  There is not anyone to give feedback on your cover letter or resume or practice your interviewing. They seem to do things so differently than what you have been taught.

If only you had a friend that lives there – just one friend.  Imagine how much more welcoming and warm that place and experience would be.  Your friend could help you. You need help being introduced to people, understanding the culture, getting feedback on your career search strategies and getting integrated into the new community.

I have been that friend. I have twice been a mentor in the ERIEC Career Mentorship Program. In order for Edmonton to grow, we need skilled and talented people – and we compete with ‘all the world’ to attract them.  I feel that being a mentor helps ensure that we have a warm community and that we welcome these talented people into our world. I believe this will give us a competitive advantage.  People want to live in a connecting and inviting community, and that is what Edmonton is known for.

Most importantly, I have met some very wonderful and special people.  It warms me to be able to help them find their career and community attachment.  I cannot imagine what it must be like for them to be so motivated and courageous.  They shape who we are.

Imagine the reward.

Post by John Ennis, an Economic Development Officer at Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC).  John is an ERIEC Board Member and serves as Chair of ERIEC’s Employment Programs Working Committee.

John was born and grew up in Edmonton, and has a desire to see Edmontonians embrace all that is unique in Edmonton, its neighbourhoods and main streets, and pursue what is possible by building a future together. He leads an initiative that supports the role of local independent businesses in Edmonton and the surrounding region.