Edmonton, Alberta – Sept 13th, 2024 – The CIPS Alberta ICT Mentorship Program for Immigrants officially launched April 1st, 2024, marking an invaluable opportunity for the province’s immigrant IT community. Funded by the Alberta Immigrant Mentorship Innovation Grant, awarded by Alberta Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism, this initiative supports immigrants in navigating their IT professional journey in Alberta.
Program Overview
The program pairs Alberta-based immigrants with experienced mentors who provide guidance and support in various aspects of the Canadian IT industry. Mentees identify their professional strengths, required skills, and learning opportunities, with the help of their mentors. The program’s innovative approach and collaborative nature is further strengthened by partnerships with associations, organizations, and businesses, including TalentC and SkillsTX, which are integral to fostering the growth and success of the program.
Benefits for Mentors
Mentors gain insights into different cultures and perspectives, in addition to enhancing their leadership and communication skills. By participating they contribute to the community and aid in the professional journey of immigrant mentees. Mentors guide mentees in developing intercultural and soft skills, creating action plans to enhance hard skills, preparing for interviews, and expanding their professional network. While mentors do not directly assist in job placements, they provide invaluable tools, knowledge, and advice.
Benefits for Mentees
Mentees benefit from being matched with experienced IT professionals who guide them through the nuances of Canadian workplace culture and the hiring process, relative to the Alberta economy. They receive tips on crafting effective resumes, complete a skills assessment to identify their current competencies and areas for improvement, and develop action plans. This mentorship empowers them to build confidence, expand their professional networks, and engage effectively with potential employers and clients.
Community and Event Support
The program is supported by various Alberta community partners including the Catholic Social Services – “Links for Success”, the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC), and the HR community. CIPS Alberta has promoted the program at various events including the TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) “Pathways to Inclusion” Conference that took place April 24-25th in Calgary, and is a sponsor and exhibitor at the upcoming BSides Edmonton Conference this September 23rd-24th and DAMA Edmonton Conference this October 30th to November 2nd.
Mentee Program Eligibility
To register for the program mentees must be Canadian immigrants living in Alberta with some post-secondary education or related work experience in IT. They must also be naturalized Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and legally allowed to work in Canada.
Mentor Requirements
Mentors are required to be experienced Canadian IT professionals, complete the CIPS skills assessment, and have a minimum of “SFIA level 4 in Business Skills” (click here for details). SFIA, the Skills Framework for the Information Age, is a global standard for describing the skills and competencies required by IT professionals, and is utilized in the program to form the mentorship relationships
Skills Assessment and Action Planning
The program includes a comprehensive skills assessment and action planning component. Both mentors and mentees complete surveys to assess their skill levels, resulting in a detailed skills assessment report. This report helps mentees identify the skills they need to develop for various job roles and facilitates effective matching with mentors who possess those skills.
Intelligent Mentorship Matching
Harnessing the power of SkillsTX’s intelligent mentorship matching, mentees are matched with experienced mentors based on their skills assessment and preferences. Mentees can update their skills profiles, specify preferences, and find mentors who match their skills gaps. Mentors receive and review mentee requests to begin the mentorship relationship.
Workshops and Webinars
The program features various workshops and webinars including an onboarding introduction, mentorship orientation, a “Working in Alberta” workshop, “Innovate your Job Application” workshop, Interview preparation, and a networking event. These events are designed to prepare participants for success and foster a supportive community.
Join the Second Cohort!
CIPS Alberta is currently accepting expressions of interest to join the second cohort of the program, which is starting in a few weeks.
For more information and to express your interest to join the program as a mentor or mentee please visit the CIPS Alberta mentorship homepage at:
https://ab.cips.ca/mentorship.