Project Introduction

Hiring newcomers can open opportunities to find hard working, loyal assets for your business. Learning a bit about workplace integration can help you avoid many common issues that employers might face. Workplace integration for newcomers means helping them adapt, connect, and succeed in a new cultural and professional environment. Newcomers often face challenges like unfamiliar workplace expectations, language  barriers, or cultural misunderstandings. When employers intentionally address these, they foster stronger teams and better retention. 

So what is a newcomer, and how can you set them up for success in your workplace?

The term immigrant isn’t widely used anymore. Instead, the term newcomer is used as it centers on experience, not on status. It is more inclusive of various immigration statuses. It also avoids political or loaded negative connotations placed on the word immigrant. Newcomer as a term can encompass a range of different interpretations, but most will agree that they are people that have arrived in Canada recently, and are still overcoming some of the challenges being new to a country entails. They could be refugee claimants, permanent residents, international students, or those working on work specific visas, among many other classifications. Each class of newcomer faces their own challenges and implications around work. It’s suggested to work with community organizations and organizations that support newcomers if you have any questions about specific implications around immigration. 

The “Community-Commerce Connect: Advancing Newcomer Employment in Edmonton” project, was funded by the Government of Alberta’s Settlement, Integration and Language Projects grant. The project was delivered through a partnership between Islamic Family, Horn Youth Services Foundation (KULAN), Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council, and the City of Edmonton. It was  designed to empower employers and service providers in Edmonton with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance the employment integration of newcomers. Its primary goal is  to develop and deliver comprehensive, accessible training materials focused on cultural competency, recognition of foreign credentials, and inclusive hiring practices. By equipping employers and service providers with these resources, the project aims to overcome common barriers faced by immigrant job seekers and to capitalize on the diverse talents they bring to the workforce. Ultimately, this initiative strives to create a more inclusive job market and a stronger, more integrated community, directly benefiting both employers and service providers in their roles as key facilitators of newcomer integration.

The project has compiled 3 streams of data in order to develop an online resource for employers in Edmonton. The data report produced as part of this project can be accessed here: Comprehensive Project Data Report

This course, titled "Employer’s guide for hiring, onboarding and retaining newcomers", is designed to help employers effectively support newcomers through the processes of hiring, onboarding, and retention. The course aims to help employers create environments where newcomers can adapt, connect, and succeed in a new cultural and professional environment, which in turn fosters stronger teams and better retention for businesses. Integrating newcomers contributes to innovation, team cohesion, and organizational growth.

The course covers a range of essential topics, including understanding newcomers, navigating communication challenges, navigating cultural differences, implementing inclusive hiring practices, ensuring successful onboarding, creating a safe and inclusive workplace, focusing on retention and employee development, and leveraging available resources. The modules provide practical strategies, such as using plain language, promoting cultural inclusivity, removing hiring barriers, and utilizing resources like community organizations.

You can explore the modules most relevant to your needs or, for a more comprehensive experience, create an account, log in, and take the full course to receive a certificate of completion at the end.