Supporting newcomers' integration into the Canadian labour market
Are you an Internationally Trained Professional? Learn how to integrate into the local labour market through this free program funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Start January 2025
Questions? Email LearnEnglish [at] mohawkcollege.ca (subject: Inquiry%20OSLT%20course%20for%20Nurses) (LearnEnglish[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca)
"Workplace Preparation Program (WPP) changed the game for me, and I successfully started a new chapter in my life by joining one of the largest electric vehicle companies in Ontario. I strongly recommend others participate in WPP courses and not miss this opportunity." Negar - Postdoctoral Researcher in Electrical Engineering.
Program highlights
- Improve your professional communication skills
- Build a professional network within your field
- Learn interview techniques that highlight your transferable skills and qualifications
- Increase your understanding of Canadian workplace culture
- Earn up to five micro-credentials issued by Mohawk College and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
- Receive one-on-one support from our experienced staff
Eligibility
- Permanent residents of Canada, protected persons (with Notice of Decision), Ukrainian temporary residents or their dependants in Canada (until March 31, 2025), and temporary residents affected by the crisis in Gaza (showing “MOME2023” in status documentation until March 31, 2027), with
- Education and work experience from another country or Canada, with
- Valid proof of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) assessment at level 7 or higher. Connect with an approved language assessment centre in Ontario to take the CLB assessment or call YMCA at (905) 662-9400 or (905) 526-8452. The test has no cost for permanent residents and protected persons.
Jacqueline - Internationally Educated Nurse from the Philippines
"At first, I decided to take the Workplace Preparation Program (WPP) to boost my confidence in speaking the English language, little did I know that I would get more than what I had hoped for. More than increasing my confidence in spoken English, the WPP program motivated and pushed me to take a big leap of faith. More than all the valuable lessons about the Canadian labour market, workplace communication, and job search technique, it was the all-inclusive environment of the entire WPP program that made me feel welcomed.
In the second module of the program, we talked about how to start and grow my network as a new immigrant in Canada. I am a self-confessed introvert and was afraid to start a conversation, more so a network. However, Aida inspired us to at least try it and told us that there's really no one who was ever so comfortable to start a talk/network. After the discussion, I was encouraged to try and be brave to start a conversation with the person I look up to in my field. I sent the person a simple message of how I was inspired by his achievements in the nursing field, and how I want to follow his career path. Then, after a short conversation, he asked me to send my resume to him, so he can set me up for an interview and help me get a job at Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. I was just trying to put into practice what I learned and to my surprise, I was offered an interview!
When I did the interview, I also applied the techniques I learned. I felt so prepared during the interview that I didn't feel like it was an interview at all! At the moment, I'm already finishing my onboarding process and will be starting as a Registered Nurse soon!
I am more than happy that I stumbled upon this opportunity to learn about the Canadian Labour Market and Culture through the WPP Program. The WPP program helped me not just to achieve my goal of gaining confidence in the language, but got me to where I am now. I will always be grateful to each and everyone in Mohawk's WPP program, and will always attribute part of my achievements to them. "
Fatima-Zohra - Communications Specialist from Morocco
"As a newcomer to Canada, I struggled to find a job in my field for a long time. I used to apply to many companies all day long but wouldn’t receive any interview requests.
That’s when I decided to join the Workplace Preparation Program (WPP) with the hope of learning more about the Canadian labour market and the suitable techniques to find a job.
I started by taking three modules, Canadian Labour Market, Workplace Communication, and Job Search Techniques, and this was the best decision I made. I learned so much new information I ignored about the Canadian workplace; the most important one for me was about networking.
As a Communications Specialist, I can say that connecting with people is a piece of cake for me, but I wouldn’t guess that networking was essential in the process of getting a job. And that’s how, while I was still in the program, I could get my first job interview.
Preparing for the interview wasn’t stressful. I was already armed by all the techniques I learned from the program. I’m now a Project Coordinator in my field thanks to the preparation I had in Mohawk’s Workplace Preparation Program, and I’m grateful for that."
Manoj - Finance and Accounting professional from India
“I was very impressed with my teachers in the Workplace Preparation Program. They are very knowledgeable, supportive, responsible, kind and very friendly. They very well understand the diverse cultures and how to deal with them gracefully, as they teach students/immigrants from different countries.
I strongly believe that only because of them, and this course, today I have got my first job in Canada, in the company and role I wanted to work.
I strongly recommend that all newcomers join the Workplace Preparation Program at Mohawk College, if they want to learn, get a job and settle down in Canada.”
Apply now to start in the next cohort
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