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For Immediate Release

November 21, 2007

Internationally Educated Professional Learns How to Succeed in Canada

When Gustavo Santana fled his Venezuela homeland four and a half years ago, he thought it would be relatively easy to find a job in Canada. But his 18 years of South American experience in financial services didn’t seem to count when he had limited English skills and no Canadian experience. So he and his wife signed up for English language courses at The Centre for Skills Development & Training in Oakville.

Improving his language skills allowed Santana to get a job as an Internet franchise salesman, but he wanted to get back to his financial roots. A teacher at The Centre recommended Enhanced Language Training for Internationally Educated Professionals, a program that provides advanced language training in business English, resume-writing and interviewing skills, and an introduction to Canadian culture.

"Gus brought to the class a wealth of experience in finance,” says Sharon Hall, an Enhanced Language Training instructor. “But his sense of humour, entrepreneurial spirit, and willingness to keep an open mind about career options and possibilities allowed him to apply his skills in a new direction."

The encouraging nature of the program inspired him to study for his Life Insurance license. When he passed his exams, he was successful in gaining a position with Clarica, a financial services company that eventually merged with Sun Life Financial. Two years later, he is now a financial advisor at Sun Life Financial, establishing a niche with Spanish-speaking clients.

Recently, Santana was able to give back to The Centre for Skills Development & Training by speaking about financial planning to graduates and current students of the Enhanced Language Training program.

“When immigrating to a new country, it is not only about learning a new language, a new culture, or finding a new job,” he says. “But it is also about putting down new roots, being persistent, and developing a financial plan to enjoy your life plentifully.”

Among those present, were graduates Oksana Polishchuk who found her dream job as an Education Assistant at the Halton District School Board, Bojana Pudrlja who is enjoying a design career at inVu Drapery Company, and Marisol Rodriguez who landed a position as an HR Recruiter at RBC Financial Group.

From a related program called Enhanced Language Training for Residential Construction were graduates Basem Khalef who recently passed his engineering exams and is now a Project Manager with Starland Contracting, and Nidal Sabsabi who put his 15 years of construction experience to good use as an estimator and construction coordinator at Manorcore Group.

Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, The Centre offers two eight-week, full-time programs: Enhanced Language Training for Internationally Educated Professionals and Enhanced Language Training for Residential Construction. Each program provides English language training and job search skills to give students a better opportunity of achieving their goals. Both programs are free to qualified applicants and take place at The Centre for Skills Development & Training, 860 Harrington Court, in Burlington.

For more information about the Enhanced Language Training program, call 905-333-3499, ext. 264 or visit www.thecentre.on.ca. For information about Citizenship Immigration Canada, visit www.cic.gc.ca

The Centre for Skills Development & Training is a leading provider of quality career and workforce development programs, products and services specializing in Pre-Apprenticeship Trades and Technology, Career Planning and Development and Language Skills and Academic Upgrading.