JCF SUCCESS STORY

Beyond the Distance: Stella’s Inspiring Journey to Career Success

Before joining the program, the biggest challenge for me was finding a suitable full-time job. My goal was simple — I wanted a better, stable job that could support my life here in Canada. At the time, I was only working part-time, and the pressure to find full-time employment was overwhelming, both mentally and financially.

During the program, I learned a lot, especially as a newcomer. The interview training was extremely helpful for me. One of my favourite parts of the program was listening to the guest speakers our instructor invited. They were all successful in their own fields and openly shared their experiences and career stories with us. I learned so much from them, and each of them gave me great encouragement.

After completing the program, I immediately began applying what I learned. The interview skills I gained made a huge difference — they helped me feel more confident, more prepared, and more capable of showing my strengths. I attended three interviews, and thanks to everything I learned, I successfully secured a job with School District 22 as a Board Office Receptionist. I truly don’t think I would have gotten this job without the support and training from the program.

A Message to New JCF Students from Stella

"I joined JCF Cohort 4, and this program truly helped me grow and become a better version of myself. I learned so much, especially about interview skills. I don’t think I would have gotten my current job without this program. Today, I work as the Board Office Receptionist at School District 22. My advice to all of you is this: take full advantage of every class and learn as much as you can — it will lead you to a bright future."

Note:

Stella lives in Vernon and commutes over one hour each way to attend every in-person class. Her commitment and perseverance demonstrate the strong motivation she brought to the program.

The OCCA-JCF program is funded by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the RBC Foundation. It offers Canadian workplace training through the partnership of the OCCA Communities Association and Okanagan College in Central Okanagan. OCCA also connects the JCF participants with employers, providing subsidies to help them gain valuable Canadian work experience and overcome typical job search challenges encountered by immigrants.