From experience to opportunity: Jowaad is growing a career in Nova Scotia

When Jowaad arrived in Nova Scotia with his family, he brought with him a university degree in Networking and Infrastructure Engineering and 19 years of professional experience in IT, including extensive leadership experience managing IT departments at colleges in the United Kingdom. Despite his strong background, navigating an unfamiliar labour market proved challenging.

Jowaad turned to ISANS for support and soon discovered a job opportunity recommended by his employment specialist that closely aligned with his experience in IT management. Through the in-person Job Search Strategies (JSS) course, he focused on refining his resume and cover letter to better position himself for the role.

“The job search strategies workshop was invaluable,” says Jowaad. “I had been using outdated resume formats and cover letter techniques. Having a professional JSS facilitator guide me through the process made a huge difference.”

When Jowaad was invited to interview, his JSS facilitator helped him recognize and articulate the depth of his experience in ways that aligned with common interview questions. He also gained important insights into Canadian workplace culture, including communication styles and professional expectations. Although he was born and raised in the UK, Jowaad found the course to be a powerful reminder of the importance of balancing cultural awareness with confidence.

“Developing accomplishment statements was a game changer. It helped me stand out for roles that matched my skills and led to interview invitations,” he explains. “However, I definitely would have struggled in the interviews without the preparation strategies my JSS facilitator helped me develop.”

Jowaad benefited from a range of employment supports, including one-on-one counselling, the JSS course, and the mock interview program. During a practice interview, he received a simple but impactful piece of advice: bring notes to the interview. He found is advice transformative.

In early March, Jowaad received the exciting news: he had been offered the position of Digital Technology Lead at Nova Scotia Community College NSCC that closely aligns with his previous experience managing IT departments in UK colleges. He also credits his employment specialist for providing valuable job search strategies and connecting him with relevant opportunities.

“I could not have done it without the support of the entire team,” he says. “The feedback from my mock interview was essential. I landed a job from the very first application my JSS facilitator helped me prepare, and I was overjoyed!”

Now in his new role, Jowaad continues to grow.  Since starting his new role, Jowaad has found that the communication techniques he learned such as being concise, using verbal softeners, and maintaining eye contact have helped him build strong relationships with colleagues.

Jowaad’s journey reflects the power of partnership. Through collaboration between teams and with the client at the centre, barriers are reduced, confidence is built, and opportunities are realized. His experience also highlights how growing together fosters more inclusive workplaces, as he now feels confident sharing his religious practices in a respectful and open way.

Together, we grow by supporting newcomers like Jowaad to build careers, confidence, and a sense of belonging in Nova Scotia.