Spotlight on Success
Each of our Jumpstart clients has a unique story — professionally and personally — involving trials and tribulations, celebrations, and successes.
Our Spotlight series shines a light on the ways that refugee talent has accessed our services, and how this has ultimately uplifted them in their career journey to benefit workplaces, communities, and homes around the country.
When 18-year-old Faieza Muhammadi arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, in October 2022 she was coming from Pakistan. Faieza, her mother, and her brother came to Canada to join their sister, who had settled in British Columbia’s capital city, thanks to a local sponsorship group. After graduating from high school, in June 2023, Faieza decided to look for work during her gap year before continuing to post-secondary studies. But knowing where or how to start as a new refugee in the country was tricky.
“My brother had learned about Jumpstart from a Facebook page, and he recommended that I sign up,” says Faieza. “Jumpstart helped me write a good resume – they gave me comments and suggestions and told me where and how to start looking with that resume.”
After a couple of weeks, Faieza received a call from one of Jumpstart’s staff asking if she’d be interested in a job with The Body Shop as a customer consultant. As someone who loves dealing with people, Faieza immediately said yes.
“Jumpstart got back to the manager at The Body shop, told them I was interested in the position and referred me for the position,” recalls Faieza. “That was in October 2023. I feel really luck with my job right now as I like skin care and consultations.”
While Faieza misses her family and friends from back home, her culture and her traditions, she says she loves living here.
“The weather is nice, the people are friendly, and yes, I do love my job.”
*This article was originally published in the Immigrant Welcome Centre (Campbell River and Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC) blog and can be accessed here: https://immigrantwelcome.ca/2024-newcomers-resource-guides/.
Learn more about our Career Readiness Programs tailored to empower refugees, refugee claimants, and forcibly displaced individuals for successful employment in the Canadian labor market.