When immigrants come to Canada, one of the first things they want to do is find a job. This requires doing job interviews, which can be daunting for anyone. Thankfully, Kent Speiran and our practice interview volunteers are here to help.
“I did a lot of interviews from both sides of the table as a candidate and as a hiring manager. So, I had a lot of experience, and I figured, why not? says Kent, who has been volunteering at ISANS since 2018. “It stemmed from knowing I had something I could give back.”
Kent always knew he was going to volunteer when he retired in 2012. He started at the Halifax Public Library as a tutor doing English Language Learning and Adult Literacy. Then he heard ISANS was looking for volunteers.
Our practice interview program perfectly aligned with Kent’s background as a professional engineer and former senior manager with the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. So far, Kent has interviewed, assessed, and provided feedback to around 75 ISANS clients.
But Kent doesn’t just work with engineers; he has worked with everyone from accountants to internationally educated medical graduates. This is because all job interviews boil down to a few key components, including the application itself.
Kent has met many clients who apply the approach of creating a cover letter that can be sent to multiple jobs, instead of tailoring them to each job opportunity specifically. “I would tell them, ‘When I was looking at your application, everything you did from reading the job posting and making the decision to apply for it, I could get a sense of that from your application.’” Kent wants the clients to understand that employers can often notice the attention given to each application.
On top of helping clients mould their resumes and cover letters to better match the jobs they want in the Canadian job market, they conduct practice interviews. “It’s getting over their shyness and getting them to speak about themselves with confidence. And the way you do that is through practice,” says Kent.
Many ISANS clients come to Canada with years of education and experience they want to continue to use in their employment, contributing to the Nova Scotia economy. Our practice interview volunteers help ISANS clients put their backgrounds into words and help them find the confidence to sell themselves to potential employers.
Kent can understand not liking public speaking, or speaking about oneself, he used to be the same way. He jokes that many engineers are introverts. But he learned the value of confidently speaking directly to people, as it helped him and his ideas be heard.
Our volunteers and clients meet for a few sessions to craft and practice answers to questions they might encounter in a real job interview. Every year more than 1000 clients go through the Practice Interview Program.
Kent says sometimes clients tend to provide short answers, so he helps them pull out more well-rounded answers from their experiences and knowledge. “You can see it over a couple of practice interviews how they improve. Even throughout an afternoon, you could see the applicants getting stronger and stronger and stronger,” says Kent. “And at the end of our time, I believe the candidate is ready to go to an interview.”
Kent often reminds clients that they have all the answers and everything they need to get the jobs they want. “I’ve heard some really amazing stories from people who got the jobs they were looking for. It’s been fun, a lot of fun.”
Sometimes, of course, our clients don’t get the job, but Kent says in that case it is at least good practice. His goal is for them to at least know they tried their best, and that they presented themselves the way they wanted to.
And Kent is excited to see our clients find employment in Nova Scotia. One reason is that Kent sees the value of adding more diversity to different industry sectors, including engineering. When he reflects on his post-secondary education, he remembers a large class he was in, only having one woman. “They were all like me; everyone looked like me, without the beard at the time,” he laughs. “The group was not diverse at all.”
He says internationally educated professionals are a great bonus to Canada in that they have chosen to bring their talents here. “They’ve got a different perspective; they’ve got a different look on things. You can’t help but think a little bit differently when you come from a different background with different life experiences.”
Kent has experienced this first-hand, working with so many clients since he started volunteering with us six years ago. He says he has become a better listener, and that he has gained more empathy and understanding of the different situations and circumstances immigrants have experienced professionally.
