Say you are from Brazil and you need to know the equivalent degree in Canada for your geology degree back home. How do you go about getting your education assessed so Canadian employers have a better understanding of your qualifications? This is a common question at the Calgary Public Library, so we talked with Simran, a career practitioner with Bow Valley’s College’s Career Connection’s downtown office.

Who will benefit from an IQAS assessment?

This assessment tool analyzes international educational credentials and compares them to educational credentials in Canada. An IQAS assessment can help New Canadians with educational and employment goals, as it provides colleges and employers with an education summary in Canadian terms and uses the language needed for a Canadian resume. For example, an industrial designer from another country might be called a project design engineer in Canada. IQAS issues three types of assessments, listed here.

There is a $100 fee for the basic IQAS assessment. Is it true that clients of Bow Valley College Career Connection can have this fee waived?

Yes. Eligible Calgarians may register with Career Connections and request that their IQAS application fee be waived. Click here for a list of Career Connections offices in Calgary.

What if a new Canadian needs to know what courses they need to take to complete a Canadian high school diploma? Does IQAS provide this type of assessment?

Yes and IQAS can send a copy the assessment directly to colleges. But be aware that this assessment application requires planning and takes time, and that processing can take anywhere from two to three months. Click here for a list of the educational institutions using IQAS

Do universities also accept IQAS assessments?

As a rule, most universities have their own assessment departments. They ask that applicants submit their credentials for more detailed assessments that are often required for advanced degrees. Professional and industry association organizations, such as APEGGA, conduct their own assessments. Click here for more information on this subject.

What about professional designations?

Yes, IQAS can facilitate licensure for professions such as Certified General Accountants, along with some other professions in Canada. It’s important to call your professional association or check the IQAS site for more details.

What advice do you have for Calgarians considering an IQAS assessment?

First, IQAS only accepts information in English and French. If transcripts need to be translated, there are several organizations that can help, such as those listed here. Also, be aware that IQAS is only an assessment service and does not provide guidance or advice. Agencies such as Career Connection or Alberta Human Resources can provide further support and answer questions.

Note: The IQAS website has a list of frequently asked questions, along with an excellent video tutorial.

Alberta Human Resources also has a list of other organizations that can offer help with international education assessments. Click here for more information.

For those looking to work in Alberta’s energy industry, industry forecasts from organizations such as the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) and The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada show that there will be a shortage of skilled oil and rig workers in 2012.

The Petroleum HR Council created an excellent website devoted to helping those who want to find information on or a job in the industry: Careers in Oil + Gas.

Careers in Oil + Gas has sections listing job boards in the Petroleum Industry, tips and tools for job seekers and a Day in the Life section that features interviews and videos of people working in the industry.

The Petroleum HR Council has also worked with the industry to create the Petroleum Competency Program to help address industry HR issues. The following video clip from their site talks about how the program works with entry level workers:

Petroleum Competency Program
INFORMATION FOR ENTRY LEVEL WORKERS

http://www.petrohrsc.ca/council-projects/project-list/petroleum-competency-program/videos.aspx

For more information about the forecasted shortage of oil workers:

Oil worker shortage forecast to hamper 2012 drilling (CBC website)

Canadian Rig Worker Shortage Prevails, Despite Innovative Training (Rigzone)

Both Rigzone and the new CAODC Service Rig Website have information and job postings for oil and rig workers.

For more information about jobs and careers in the Energy Industry, the Alberta Learning Information Services (ALIS) Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction Industry ALIS Occupational Profiles and the Petroleum HR Council Occupational Profiles are a good place to start.

Please contact the Third Floor, Central Library at 403-260-2782 or busn@calgarypubliclibrary.com if you would like more information about jobs in the Oil and Gas Industry in Calgary or Alberta.

In one of her recent articles in the Globe and Mail, career management consultant Dr. Barbara Moses pondered this question and talked with colleagues:

The Networking Gender Gap, and How to Bridge It

Moses argues that women are better at networking and build community while they work the room, while men are more likely to get right to the point. Others argue that women are less willing to actively promote their skills and often don't commit enough time to the process. While opinions vary widely on the topic, networking is still the most effective way to discover job leads, make meaningful connections and share contacts with others.

The Calgary Public Library has books, dvds, E-books and online courses to help develop these skills and collect new ideas and strategies for your next opportunity to meet and connect. And don't forget about the Central Library's Thursday night Strategic Networking sessions, where you can drop in and hone your schmoozing skills.

The Networking Survival Guide by Diane Darling

Networking for People Who Hate Networking by Devora Jack

"The purpose of your resumé is to get you an interview. A well-written, high impact resumé will help you stand out among other applicants." Alberta Work Search Online

A resume can make or break your job search. If you need help with your resume, there is still space in Tuesday's free Career Basics: Resume Development program at Shawnessey. This popular program will help you learn how to create a professional resume to put your best foot forward. Workshops are led by professional career practitioners from Bow Valley College's Career Connection.

Career Basics: Resume Development
Tuesday, November 29
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Shawnessey Library

Register online or by calling 403-260-2620

Going Pro : How to Make the Leap from Aspiring to Professional Photographer by Scott Bourne

You’ve got the gear, the training, and the technology. You’re ready to make the leap from aspiring to professional photographer. Now what?

Barron's Nursing School Entrance Exams by Corinne Grimes

A multi-part model exam plus many shorter tests in each of this book's chapters will give nursing school applicants orientation and preparation before they take an actual nursing school entrance exam.

Medical-Surgical Nursing by James Edward Keogh

This book contains 375 review questions with answers and concise explanations of all course concepts.

The Fashion Careers Guidebook by Julia Yates

The fashion industry is exciting and glamorous--but very tough to break into. That's all the more reason why ambitious young men and women who hope to succeed in that dynamic business take their first step to success by reading--and re-reading—this book.

MCAT : Medical College Admission Test by Jay Cutt

Completely revised and expanded, this book provides test takers with an in-depth, easy-to-use science review and a set of often-neglected but critical time-management strategies for test taking that cover reading comprehension, essay writing, and scientific problem solving.

Knock 'em Dead 2012 : The Ultimate Job Search Guide by Martin John Yate

For more than 25 years, bestselling author Yate has shown the way for millions of job seekers. Now readers can turn to him for a proven method to put their career on track.

Careers in Sport, Fitness, and Exercise by Shirl J. Hoffman

This book is your guide to landing your dream job in one of today's most exciting, popular, and fastest-growing industries!

The Big Book of Jobs

Whether you’ve recently earned a degree, decided to change careers, or re-entered the workforce after an extended absence, this is the guide you need to make the right decisions—the first time around.

Join us on Friday, November 18 on the Third Floor of the Central Library for a program on Training Opportunities and Employment Trends in the Energy Industry, including how to deal with the long-term labour shortage.

The program will be presented by Mr. Norbert Hollman, Manager of Business Operations in the MacPhail School of Energy at SAIT. Prior to joining SAIT, Mr. Hollman accumulated over 30 years of broadly-based experience in the Exploration and Production (E&P) and oilfield service sectors including domestic and international marketing, business development, operations, acquisitions and senior management.

Training Opportunities and Employment Trends in the Energy Industry
Friday, November 18
11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Third Floor, Central Library
616 Macleod Trail SE
Register online or call 403-260-2620

This program is part of the Career Development Speaker Series, a monthly, noon hour speaker series on a variety of topics of interest to Calgary's Career Practitioners presented in partnership with the Career Development Association of Alberta. Members of the public are welcome to attend these sessions, which are held on the Third Floor of the Central Library on the 3rd Friday of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The next session will be in January.

Mentorship: Outside the Box

Join certified career coach Brian Lambier as he defines and explores
mentorship and its role as a career development tool.
Friday, January 20, 2012

Registration starts December 19th

"You're Hired...Now What? An Immigrant's Guide to Success in the Canadian Workplace" by Lynda Goldman is a thorough and comprehensive resource that offers newcomers practical tips and strategies on how to keep their job and succeed at it once hired. Many newcomers are not aware that they are about to enter a different business culture and will most likely encounter behaviours and habits that will surprise or puzzle them. This book provides them with information on the cultural differences in the Canadian workplace and thus increase their success at keeping their job.

I would highly recommend this book for people who work with newcomers and for employers who hire workers from diverse cultures. Besides offering tips and advice on the more overt business practices in Canada, such as the infamous firm handshake, the author put a considerable amount of effort into researching and sharing minute details of the types of situations newcomers may encounter in their new Canadian workplace environment. For example, she covers how to tip porters and bellhops at North American hotels when travelling. I would never have thought of covering this detail in my workshop to newcomers on managing the Canadian workplace! In another chapter, a newcomer is made aware of the different types of outfits to wear for different industry or business events. The author also does not hesitate to cover issues such as proper hygiene, office romance, religion practices and other sensitive topics.

Each chapter highlights a specific and interesting Canadian business concept. Although the language used in the book is more geared to native English speakers, the author thoughtfully includes a section in each chapter listing buzz words that may be foreign to newcomers. Did you know that according to the Oxford ESL Dictionary there is a difference in meaning between the sounds Uh-huh and Uh-uh? Each chapter concludes with a set of questions that could be used to generate discussions on the topics presented.

Newcomers new to the Canadian workplace face many challenges, but with the information provided in "You're Hired...Now What?" they will acquire the awareness of the differences in their new workplace and hopefully be prepared to better understand and deal with these differences. I congratulate Ms. Goldman on her foresight to write a book with information invaluable to newcomers and Canadian employers alike.

Lidia Bomba-Sorbo is a Career Practitioner for the Centre for Newcomers and has been volunteering for the Career Coaching program at the Central Library for several years. Lidia facilitates workshops for newcomers on e-job search tools training and Canadian workplace training with a focus on cultural differences as well as one-on-one interventions.

On November 1st and 2nd, Calgary Public Library will take part in the upcoming Government of Alberta Job Search Boot Camps at the Holiday Inn South.

This event is an excellent opportunity for youth between 18 and 30 years of age to take part in some great, high energy, hands on activities to kick start a job search.

Interested? Register today...

Riding the Alligator, by Pen Densham

Densham, a successful Hollywood writer, director and producer, presents a genial guide to the vagaries of Hollywood screenwriting. He explores the existential desire to write for the movies and how to nurture it; outlines the basic structure and anatomy of a successful screenplay; and describes the process of networking, selling and developing one's work.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Nursing Entrance Exams, by Maryanne Baudo

This book focuses on nursing exams for US residents. It provides preparation for all five nursing entrance exams and includes sample questions in each chapter, and two full-fledged practice exams.

SAT Demystified, by Alexandra Mayzler

This book takes the mystery out of studying for the SAT by walking you step-by-step through the fundamentals of the subject.

Put Your Mindset to Work, by James Reed

In this unstable and highly competitive job market, everyone wants the best advice on how to stand out from the crowd and secure a richly rewarding, well-paying position with long-term potential. But what does it actually take to get and keep the job you want? Ninety-seven percent of employers argue that it goes beyond having the right skills--it's all about the right mindset.

GMAT Premier, 2012

The only state-of-the-art GMAT preparation program guaranteed to raise students’ test scores!

SSAT & ISEE for Private and Independent School Admissions, 2012 by Joanna Cohen

This book provides the perfect mix of strategy and review. This comprehensive study guide provides students with all of the resources they need for test day preparation, and gives advice to parents on helping their children navigate what can be a daunting experience for first-time test takers.

LSAT Logic Games Strategies and Tactics, by Glen Stohr

New from one of Kaplan’s top LSAT instructors-focused strategies, all real LSAT questions, and targeted review to help students master the Logic Games section of the LSAT!

LSAT Logical Reasoning Strategies and Tactics, by Deborah A. Katz

New from one of Kaplan’s top LSAT instructors-focused strategies, all real LSAT questions, and targeted review to help students master the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT!