Nancy

Nancy arrived in Calgary excited to continue her career in Human Resources Administration. Shortly after she arrived she heard from a friend that it was almost impossible for a newcomer to find a job in her field; but, because she had the opportunity to participate in the Making Changes Employment and Life Skills Program she was able to tell Nancy, “Yes, you can find a job in your field!”

For Nancy the Making Changes Program impacted her life in a special way. The program gave her the chance to know herself better gain confidence and become more assertive. She gained a new understanding of other people and cultures and the obstacles faced by newcomers and how overcome them. She began to think about her own dreams and how to reach these goals. While learning about Canadian culture she also practised networking, job search and interview skills. Most importantly she learned how to speak with confidence about her soft skills and to express her ideas. In addition, the free childcare for her children made it possible for her to attend.

An old friend visiting during this time told Nancy she wished that this kind of training was available where she lived and saw that Nancy was a completely different person - more positive and more sure about herself. Nancy was really ‘making changes’ in her life. She followed her dreams and found work in an HR department as a trainee in payroll. It is a new challenge for her since she has never handle payroll but she can and has a can-do attitude to achieve things with confidence and focus. She credits the Making Changes program for providing a perfect first step for her to start her new life in Canada.