Building Skills and Confidence for Meaningful Employment
At Jumpstart, we believe that every refugee brings valuable skills, resilience, and potential that deserve to be recognized. That is why our Career Pathway Workshop Series was created — to help recently arrived refugees enhance their employability, identify their strengths, and navigate the Canadian job market with confidence.
The Career Pathway Workshop Series is a structured interactive workshop series designed to help job seekers explore, plan, and advance in their careers. Each workshop focuses on practical skills, knowledge, and strategies to navigate the job market successfully.
Guided by Experience and Empathy
Led by Certified Career Development Practitioner Maryam Nehrir, the online workshop series offers more than practical job search guidance — it provides hope, direction, and a sense of community. Having herself faced similar challenges of starting over in Canada, Maryam deeply understands the barriers and opportunities refugees encounter on their career journey.
Discovering Strengths and Exploring Opportunities
The workshops begin by helping participants uncover their unique skills and explore the best career matches using tools like the Job Bank Career Quizzes, which offer insights into wages, education requirements, and job outlooks. Once participants identify their target career paths, they learn how to set SMART goals, conduct market research, and develop essential skills for success.
Maryam guides the participants through each step of the workshop with clarity and energy. She breaks down complex concepts into simple, relatable, real life examples. As participants work through exercises, she offers personalized feedback, and encourages group led discussion, using interactive activities and group discussions to help participants connect the material to their own experiences. By the end of each session, participants consistently share that they feel more confident to apply these new skills in their career journeys.
Building Practical Job Readiness Skills
Throughout the series, participants gain hands-on experience for personal branding on LinkedIn, resume and cover letter writing, and understanding the importance of networking in the Canadian workplace. These skills empower refugees to present themselves confidently and strategically to employers.
Sharing Stories and Strengthening Connections
The sessions foster a safe space that encourage peer exchange — powerful and heartfelt discussions allow refugees to share their stories, challenges, and successes. Listening to these experiences reminds us of the deep resilience and talent within our community. It also highlights the emotional side of job searching — the frustration of doing everything right, yet still needing stronger connections with employers.
Turning Learning into Empowerment
Each workshop ends with more than knowledge — it leaves participants with renewed confidence, clarity, and a sense of belonging. Because at Jumpstart, we know that career success begins with empowerment, connection, and recognizing the the valuable skills that already exist within every refugee.