Before a student is ready to gain work experience in their field of study in Canada, it is important to understand the Canadian work environment and how to acquire their job. Whilst the workplace is referenced throughout the program of study, this course summarises what students need to know to be employable in Canada.

It is important for an employee to be aware and knowledgeable about health and safety in a workplace in B.C. and potential workplace hazards; WHMIS training is provided for this purpose. Strategies are developed to set goals, how to adapt to a new work environment, using only English and having clear pronunciation, and how to help your coworkers or team by initiating, asking, speaking up, and participating.

Strategies are also re-emphasized for working with people of other cultures: respecting differences, adapting your communication, understanding power, and using Canadian time.  To find the right employer, students also learn to prepare a personal skills list, professional cv (resume), cover letters, use social networks, as well as the basics of job search, interviewing and following up with potential employers.

Upon completion of this course,  students will learn how to effectively compose a paragraph and ultimately an essay in an organized manner.

• Adapting to Workplace culture
• Finding a Job
• Workplace Standards
• Marketing Yourself
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• Succeeding in Your New Workplace
• Mock Interview

At the end of the course, students should and will be able to :

• Set goals for learning and his/her career, identifying factors that are important to one’s job, and creating a specific occupational profile. 
• Describe a typical Canadian workplace culture and how to adapt to it. 
• Determine if they are ready for work and the steps needed to reach that goal. 
• Prepare a plan for work search knowing one’s skills, accomplishments, and workplace preferences. 
• Strategise for finding employment understanding the steps of a hiring process, matching one’s skills to a job, dressing for success. 
• Conduct an information interview and effectively present oneself in a mock job interview by preparing properly. 
• Use appropriate English for the job finding process and after being hired, recognising one’s communication skills (and where they need improvement) 
• Identify the workplace standards in B.C. and recognise when an employee or employer is in compliance. 
• Market oneself through a variety of methods for finding work: traditional networking, social media/online, and direct contact, including the crafting of a high-impact resume, and professional cover letter (and other communications). 
• Participate in a workplace setting to be more inclusive through using initiative, asking and seeking clarification of the job, speaking up, and participating in all aspects of the work environment. 
• Recognize a healthy and safe work environment, and when it’s not, including procedures of an employee’s responsibility, reporting accidents and refusing unsafe work conditions, awareness of hazards (and understanding the material learning from WHMIS training). 
• Describe strategies to work with other cultures, respecting differences, adapting one’s communication, understanding power, and using Canadian time. 
• Succeed in their new workplace by preparing for the first day, participating in orientations, fitting in to the company, and understanding how one is paid. 

• Lecture/presentation
• Discussion
• Case Studies
• Individual assignments and research (facilitate)
• Slide presentation, video, and visual presentation
• Facilitated group work