Lionel Laroche - ISAP 2008 - Parte 2/4 - Legendado Portugues

Summary

The speaker discusses the challenges skilled immigrants face in Canada, particularly in transferring their expertise to relevant job opportunities. They emphasize the importance of understanding Canadian society's structure, especially in choosing the right city and profession. The journey of immigrants often involves a period of lower status jobs before eventually finding success. Cultural differences in feedback and the slow, incremental change in Canada compared to more abrupt changes in other countries are also key points. The speaker encourages immigrants to take ownership of their situation and adapt to Canadian norms to achieve career progress.

Takeaways

• 😀 Immigrants may face a professional drop upon arrival in Canada, especially when their previous experience isn't directly transferable.
• 😀 A key factor in professional success for immigrants is understanding where their skills fit within the Canadian job market and what regions are best for their career.
• 😀 Many immigrants may struggle with the emotional challenge of accepting a lower-status job compared to their previous role in their home country.
• 😀 The process of professional adaptation can take between 6 to 12 years, depending on the demand for the profession and the flexibility of the immigrant.
• 😀 Successful adaptation requires immigrants to take ownership of their professional challenges, instead of relying solely on others to help them succeed.
• 😀 Feedback is a critical cultural difference: immigrants may misinterpret feedback due to different expectations in their home country versus Canada.
• 😀 Canadian society values incremental change and a measured approach, unlike some countries that may embrace more drastic reforms or immediate results.
• 😀 The 'salami approach'—introducing changes slowly on a small scale—is a more effective method for driving influence and change in Canada.
• 😀 Settlement agencies, while well-intentioned, may not be specialized enough to guide immigrants effectively in every field, but partnering with professional associations can help.
• 😀 Immigrants often lose the ability to see themselves as others see them and the ability to influence people, which are critical to adapting to Canadian society.
• 😀 Cultural differences in feedback style can lead to misunderstandings: what is considered a mild criticism in one culture may be seen as harsh in another.

Q & A

What is the main challenge immigrants face when settling in Canada, according to the speaker?

The main challenge is the difficulty in transferring their prior experience and qualifications to the Canadian job market, which often leads to immigrants taking jobs that are below their qualification level.

How does the speaker suggest immigrants can overcome this challenge?

The speaker suggests that immigrants should partner with professional associations and learn to adapt their skills and understanding of Canadian society. This includes understanding Canadian 'soft skills' and the local job market structure.

What is the 'holy grail' for skilled immigrants, according to the speaker?

The 'holy grail' is reaching a point where an immigrant is doing at least as well in Canada as they would have in their home country, achieving success in a Canadian context.

How does the speaker illustrate the professional re-orientation process with the example of the Pakistani mechanical engineer?

The speaker illustrates how the Pakistani engineer, who had experience making missile casings, found a relevant job in Canada by reinterpreting his skills to fit the Canadian context, leading to him becoming a welding engineer after initially being unemployed for over a year.

Why do some immigrants refuse to return to their home countries, even when facing significant challenges in Canada?

Immigrants often refuse to return home due to the pride and shame they would feel, as it is seen as a failure to have to go back after moving abroad for better opportunities.

What role does flexibility play in the success of immigrants in Canada?

Flexibility is crucial because immigrants who are adaptable to the Canadian job market and culture are more likely to succeed. The ability to understand and adjust to new societal structures and professional norms is key.

What does the speaker say about feedback in Canadian workplaces, and how does it differ across cultures?

The speaker explains that feedback in Canada is generally more neutral and indirect, which can be misunderstood by immigrants from cultures where feedback is more direct. This cultural difference can cause communication challenges, especially when giving or receiving negative feedback.

What is the 'salami approach' to change, and why does the speaker recommend it?

The 'salami approach' involves implementing change gradually, starting with small pilot projects rather than attempting large, sweeping changes. The speaker recommends this method because it is more likely to succeed in Canada, where incremental change is more accepted than large-scale transformations.

How does the speaker describe the process of change in Canada compared to other countries?

The speaker describes change in Canada as gradual and incremental, with a history of slow, steady progress. This contrasts with countries like the U.S. or India, where change tends to happen more abruptly or through revolution.

What advice does the speaker give to settlement agencies working with immigrants?

The speaker advises settlement agencies to partner with professional associations to guide immigrants in understanding where their skills fit within the Canadian job market, and to ensure their messaging is not too strong or direct by Canadian standards.