Mentorship, Internship and Networking

Getting involved in local mentorship, internship and networking opportunities are a great way for you to expand your professional connections and find a great job in Waterloo Region.

Your settlement worker or employment counsellor can guide you in exploring local options.

Mentorship

The YMCA Mentorship Program is designed for internationally trained professionals (ITPs) who have been in Canada for less than 3 years and have not yet worked in their field. The program will match you with experienced professionals from Canada with similar education and work experience to provide guidance, insights and help expand your network.

You can join the program as a Mentee if you:

• Are an internationally trained professional with confirmation of credentials
• Are legally employable in Canada
• Have an English skill of level 7 or above 
• Have received employment preparation support from a Canadian employment service 

Internship  

Conestoga College's Immigrant Internship Program is designed for internationally trained professionals with a post-secondary degree or journey person status. In this program you will receive Canadian employment preparation supports. You will also participate in paid or unpaid internships with local employers to gain Canadian work experience. 

Networking

There are many opportunities to network with employers and other immigrant job-seekers in our community. A lot of jobs are filled by word of mouth and never advertised, so expanding your professional network is an important component of your job search. It is a way for you to exchange information and form relationships with others to get ahead. Some of the benefits of networking include:

• Expanding your professional and personal connections
• Increasing your confidence
• Learning new skills
• Meeting new people and potential mentors

Networking is a skill that lots of people have to practice. Here are some tips:

• Describe yourself, skills and objectives in 50 words or less
• Learn to listen and retain information
• Be aware of your body language
• Be yourself
• Do it regularly
• Have a card with your information to share
• Treat all contacts with respect and be professional
• Look for advice, not a job, and be specific

The Immigration Partnership and others host networking events each year. Subscribe to the events calendar to receive information.