What Is Employment Skills Training? (EST)

Thanks to the support of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), CIES is proud to offer the free of charge Employment Skills Training Program (EST). This program equips unemployed immigrants with the skills to secure employment in Canada. Clients will make a career plan, build an effective resume and cover letter, learn effective business communication techniques, develop interview preparation skills, and soft skills to navigate Canadian business culture.

Clients with Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) of 4 and above are welcome to register for Employment Skills Training. A free monthly bus pass and free of charge childminding are eligible for clients with children aged 19 months to 6 years old who are enrolled in CIES’ Care for Newcomer Children (CNC) program.

EST Curriculum

Job Search Skills (up to 80 hours)

• Overview of the Canadian job market
• Goal setting and career planning
• Accessing the hidden job market in Calgary, Alberta
• Job search strategies, job postings and job fairs
• Canadian-style professional resume and cover letter preparation
• Secrets to success in the Canadian-style job interview
• Network building and connection
• Canadian small talk
• Understanding Canadian culture and Canadian business culture
• Understanding employers’ expectations
• Application procedures
• Using social media to find jobs and build professional networks in Alberta

Canadian-Style Business Communication (up to 80 hours)

• Presentation and public speaking skills
• Stress management and confidence building
• Conflict resolution and problem solving
• Work prioritization and time management
• Verbal and non-verbal communication
• Uses of ALIS

Computer Skills for Job Readiness (up to 160 hours)

• MS Office: Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and Power Point
• Computer Hardware and Software
• Internet Knowledge and Operation/Online Job Search
• Google and Outlook calendars

Seminars (up to 80 hours)

• Guest speakers from the corporate sector/networking opportunities