The Career Mentorship Program (CMP) matches newcomer immigrant professionals (mentees) in the Edmonton region with established professionals and local business leaders/employers (mentors) who share a similar occupational background and creates networks through real-life connections and experience.
Malvika Kathpal is an internationally trained marketing and business operations professional with over 2 years of administrative work experience. She arrived in Canada on December 2018 and moved to Edmonton on November 2020. Having worked in content marketing for 8 years, she was looking to find work in an administrative role in Edmonton.
While doing some online research on how to integrate while in Edmonton, she came across the ERIEC website and quickly registered for their mentorship program. Soon after the program’s orientation session, she was matched with a Senior Administrative Assistant at Deloitte.
“My mentor helped me to connect with professionals in Edmonton and guided me towards job postings that matched my interests. She gave me feedback on how I could refine my resume for administrative positions, and rehearsed interview questions with me. She encouraged me to stay positive even when things didn’t go the way I hoped, and reminded me of my long-term goals so I could see the bigger picture. She was always ready with a kind word, a happy thought and a warm smile! I always felt happier after our weekly meetings”, she recalls fondly.
Malvika’s resume was forwarded by ERIEC for Canadian Western Bank’s contract position for a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Human Resources department. “My mentor held a mock interview with me and guided me through every step of the hiring process. In a few weeks, I was offered the position with the bank”, she informs.
“I am touched by the personal attention I received by everyone at ERIEC, from enrolling me into the mentorship program to “keeping an eye” out for positions that I would be a good fit for. I am also glad I was given a mentor who is highly experienced yet so caring and considerate. I recommend every new immigrant to contact ERIEC with the hope they have experiences as wonderful as mine”, she signs off.
If you are an immigrant professional, Permanent Resident, currently in Edmonton, and interested in ERIEC’s Mentorship and/or Connector Program, please contact the Program Assistant- Gustave Gatabazi at [email protected]
If you are an established professional or business leader looking to volunteer as a mentor or establish corporate partnerships, please contact the Program Director - Azumme Degun at [email protected]