Competency Category:
Competency Series:

13.2 – Work with Immigrant Clients

Purpose & Context

Career Development Professionals (CDPs) reflect on their own values and beliefs and seek to understand those of their clients. CDPs challenge their own assumptions and avoid stereotypes that might negatively impact the well-being of the client and the outcomes of career development interventions.Career Development Practitioners (CDPs) prepare themselves to work with clients who have recently moved to Canada on a temporary or permanent basis. They understand Canada’s immigration programs, and are aware of the diverse languages, values and beliefs of the immigrant client population which may impact expectations regarding work, education and training. CDPs gather information on barriers and challenges the client may be experiencing and identify relevant resources to build a successful intervention.

Effective Performance

Competent career development professionals must be able to:

  • P1. Identify challenges and barriers, for example:
    • Acculturation and adaptation
    • Language barriers
    • Lack of Canadian work experience
    • Foreign credential recognition
    • Unemployment and underemployment
    • Inadequate housing
    • Racism and discrimination
    • Need for employment accommodation, e.g. for religious beliefs or practices
  • P2. Identify resources and tools to overcome potential barriers, for example:
    • Resources designed specifically for immigrant clients, e.g. settlement services, language and credential
      evaluation, career mentoring, internships, employment-focused programs and resources, Government of Canada website
    • General information about living in Canada, e.g., healthcare, education, cost of living, finding a place to
      live, buying or renting a home, utilities, labour market, finding a job, tax and child benefit, cultural values
  • P3. Reflect on how the career development approach may be tailored to meet the client’s needs, for example:
    • Explain legal protections relevant to the client, e.g. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
    • Use culturally relevant approaches, e.g. storytelling, community approach
    • Partner with communities and service providers to deliver integrated support programs
    • Support adjustment to Canada, e.g. communicate regularly to discover issues or challenges being faced that can
      be resolved
    • Help navigate various systems, e.g. medical, taxation, education, childcare, financial, legal, healthcare
    • Work with employers to build inclusive HR practices

Knowledge & Understanding

Competent career development professionals must know and understand:

  • K1. Legislation impacting immigrant clients, e.g. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
  • K2. Canada’s immigration programs:
    • Economic and family immigration programs, for example:
      • Federal Skilled Worker Program
      • Federal Skilled Trades Program
      • Provincial nominee program
      • Start-up visa program
      • Caregiver program
    • Refugee resettlement
    • Temporary programs, such as:
      • Temporary foreign worker program
      • International mobility program
      • International Experience Canada
  • K3. Programs and services for immigrants to Canada, e.g. provincial and territorial specific programs
  • K4. Resources and services, e.g. associations, service providers
  • K5. Application of public policies and programs as they apply to new Canadians:
    • Healthcare
    • Education
    • Legal
    • Financial
    • Tax System
  • K6. Labour market information

Contextual Variables

Competent career development professionals must be able to perform this competency in the following range of contexts:

CDPs serve clients with diverse worldviews. Clients’ worldviews may influence their career choices and decisions. CDPs must reflect on these worldview factors to develop culturally sensitive and effective interventions.

CDPs serve clients who may present with complex barriers and challenges, including those stemming from discrimination and systemic inequalities. Clients often navigate contexts where opportunities are limited due to these factors.

CDPs serve clients who may present with past experiences of trauma and exclusion that may affect clients’ trust in career services. CDPs should approach their work with sensitivity to these histories, fostering an environment where clients feel safe and supported.

Glossary & Key References

Terms

Industry-specific terms contained in the standard defined here, where applicable.

Acculturation: cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture.

Information Sources and Resources for Consideration

Shepard, Blythe C. & Mani, Priya A. Eds. Career Development Practice in Canada. Toronto: CERIC Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling, 2014. ISBN: 978-0-9811652-3-3.

Zunker, Vernon G. Career Counselling: A Holistic Approach 9th edition. Boston: Loose-leaf Edition, 2016. ISBN-10: 978-1-305-40106-8.

Context Rating Scales

Criticality

Q: What is the consequence of a professional being unable to perform this skill according to the standard?

Moderate risk: CRITICAL

Frequency

Q: How frequent and under what conditions is this skill performed?

Routinely, regular course of procedure

Level of Difficulty

Q: Under routine circumstances, how would you rate the level of difficulty in performing this skill?

Moderate difficulty or complexity

Time Required to Gain Proficiency

Q: What is the average length of time or number of repeated events that are minimally necessary for an individual to become proficient in performing the skill to the standard?

A competent career development professional requires a minimum of one year of experience with at least 40 different clients, representing a broad range of individuals, including immigrant clients.

Autonomy

Practitioners typically perform this competency without supervision, and alone.

Automation

It is unlikely that this competency will automate.

Requisite Work Aids, Tools, Equipment or Materials

None