Ron Wallace, owner/operator of Ace Machining in Dartmouth’s Woodside Business Park, has five words of advice for any employer not willing to consider internationally trained immigrants to fill their vacant positions: “The lazy people stay behind.”
Wallace says anyone willing to pack up their lives, their families, and everything they know to move across the world to a new country is not afraid of hard work. He believes they’re willing to put in the time and effort to provide for their family, those here and those back in their country of origin, and all they need is an opportunity.
“They’re all here for a reason,” Wallace says. “I can train you, but you have to be willing to work and learn.”
Those attributes aren’t as easy to come by as they once were. Wallace says he has struggled for many years to fill vacant positions at his operation.
“There isn’t anyone to hire,” he says. ““I’ve had nobody to hire for 17 years. People don’t apply for jobs.”
To be more specific, Wallace means Canadians aren’t applying for the kinds of jobs he has to offer. He says it doesn’t matter where he advertises, he just can’t seem to find Canadian applicants. That’s one of the main reasons he has turned to internationally trained immigrants to bolster his workforce.
Why can’t he find more Canadian applicants? Wallace says it’s because of a lack of trades training.
“In 2011 they shut the [local] machining program down,” Wallace says. “I fought it at the time but lost. Now, we’ve let trades fall across North America.”
Wallace and his machining company aren’t alone in learning the value of internationally trained immigrants. John MacDonald, human resources manager for Andy’s Tire, Miller Tire, and Fleet Retreading Ltd. group of companies, says his employer has also turned to this source of labour to improve their operations.
“We have tremendous success hiring staff through Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia,” MacDonald says. “We currently employ 19 full-time staff who are affiliated with [ISANS’] programs. I have recommended [ISANS] resources to countless new Nova Scotians which I interviewed. We operate 16 retail locations across Nova Scotia. I have had assistance from ISANS with getting many staff in Halifax, Dartmouth, Truro, New Glasgow, Sydney, and New Minas.”
MacDonald and Wallace agree it isn’t just about filling spots. There are many advantages to their companies in hiring international talent.
“I’m a better person for it,” Wallace says. “The company is more diverse, and the staff here is better for it. And everybody helps. If someone has a good idea, I’ll listen to it, take it, and run with it. They’re all Canadian in my mind.”
Of course, Wallace does admit he has an advantage in one area that other employers may not have. “A lot of our stuff is math-based, so the language issues are less,” Wallace says.
Employers like Wallace and MacDonald have already learned to look past the idea that just because a candidate doesn’t have Canadian credentials or experience, that doesn’t mean they don’t have the skills to perform in the workplace. They’re willingness to hire internationally trained immigrants helps improve retention rates in Nova Scotia, keeping newcomers from moving down the road to Ontario or further west.
They see the value these workers bring to their operations and are willing to share that attitude with their fellow employers.
Are you looking to advance your career? Would you like to get your credentials recognized in a Canadian context? The Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund (AICLF) has helped hundreds of newcomers to Atlantic Canada overcome the financial hurdles blocking them from their dream job. Visit www.aiclf.ca to see how the program can help you. Ken Partridge is the marketing and outreach coordinator for the AICLF. He can be reached at kpartridge@isans.ca.
