According to Alissa Lauriault, head of the Interconnexion program, 1.4 million positions will need to be filled by 2021 and 17% of these jobs will be filled by recent immigrants. That’s why the Interconnexion program’s goal is to put companies in Greater Montreal in contact with new arrivals by hosting various activities, including speed-jobbing sessions.
A free and effective formula
Speed-jobbing sessions are held over the course of one morning. The goal is to make it easier for companies to broaden their recruitment pool and to help immigrants find a job.
During the sessions, which last two hours and a half, each company will meet approximately 15 candidates previously selected by the Interconnexion team with the goal of pairing them with the professional sector for which they are qualified.
Each candidate will then have seven minutes to sell their skills to recruiters. It can be hard for immigrants to get past the initial resume selection process and this face-to-face meeting will allow the job seeker to showcase their personality and talk about their skills and work experience.
“Recruiting a candidate is an in-depth process and simply reading a resume is not enough,”
After every interview, the recruiter fills out a short feedback form on the participant’s candidacy and their interview performance. This information and advice will help the new arrivals better adapt to the hiring process in Quebec and help them improve for future interviews.
A networking session will then take place, allowing companies to informally meet the candidates.
Qualified, well-prepared candidates
Speed-jobbing sessions are a wonderful opportunity for companies from a variety of sectors to meet a range of qualified candidates with work experience in their native country. These new arrivals are looking for employers to give them their first professional experience in Quebec.
Participants, who have had permanent residence status for at least five years, will benefit from a day and a half of training on networking and preparing for interviews. They will also attend a conference on the current reality of their sector in Quebec. They will be fully prepared to get the most out of their seven-minute interview.
Annie Chartrand, IT recruiting advisor at Desjardins, took part in the speed-jobbing sessions and was impressed by the quality of candidates present.
“We are looking for people with IT skills and this is a great place to find qualified talent.”
How diversity can benefit a company
Since the Interconnexion program began in October 2010, more than 1,000 companies have taken part in the various activities that facilitate the integration of new arrivals in their professional sector. In fact, the program is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to benefit from diversity in their workplace.
There are many advantages for a company to hire immigrants:
- It’s a way to integrate people with experience and skills into their teams
- It creates more efficient teams
- It can contribute to the development of new foreign markets
- It can help develop markets for diverse clientele
- A diversity of perspectives and practices can foster innovation and creation
The Interconnexion program is also a way for companies to share their best practices in terms of management and diversity.
Embracing diversity
Thinking about making your work teams more diverse by hiring immigrant workers? Many companies have developed diversity management measures to make it easier for these new employees to integrate their team.
In order to allow a newly arrived worker to quickly grasp the company culture, foster communication within the team, and feel at ease in their job, some companies have created a welcome kit that describes their values, policies, and practices. Others organize integration and intercultural communication activities or welcome the new member with an employee pairing system.
For example, at Desjardins, diversity programs are a good way to bring new expertise into the team. To help them integrate, new employees are paired with a sponsor who supports them in their learning process.
This could be your chance to find that rare gem who is waiting for the opportunity to work in their professional sector. Sign up now to take advantage of this free program or contact Patricia Grzesiak, advisor for the Interconnexion program, at 514 871-4200 ext. 4061 or by email at pgrzesiak@ccmm.ca.
» For more information about the Interconnexion program