Career Counselor

**Position**:Career Counselor

**Location**: PICS Head Office (Surrey, BC)

**Hours of Work**:35 hours per week

**Reports to**:Manager

**Wage**:$26-$28

**Job Summary**: The Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS)’s Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Project ( FCR) has been specifically designed to address particular barriers to employment faced by skilled newcomer professionals, by offering career and financial counselling and support services to achieve the following objectives:

- Contribute to developing fair, transparent, consistent, and timely foreign credential assessment and recognition capacity
- Develop and strengthen Canada’s foreign credential assessment and recognition capacity
- Contribute to improving Labour market integration outcomes of internationally trained individuals in targeted occupations and sectors

The Career Counselor is responsible for both assisting the clients with career planning and credentialing process, and working closely with clients to determine eligibility.

The Career Counselor is also responsible for conducting individual career counseling services to ensure client employment readiness and providing job development services to ensure client work placements. The individual will ensure that FCR clients become more independent through achieving and maintaining work in the designated professional sectors.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:

- adheres to policies and standards as established by PICS Policy and Procedure Manual, PICS Health and Safety Guidelines;
- works with the Manager to develop and refine program goals and objectives aligned with the organization's mission;
- meets with clients to obtain information and identify their Career goals and guide them with navigation pathways;
- provides sector specific professional advice by connecting to advisors from BC Plan/CPA/BCIB;
- develops a detailed career action/credential plan for health sector professional immigrants;
- develops a detailed work experience / mentorship/ volunteer plan for health sector professionals;
- provides information on labour market mobility and integration for AB, BC, ON;
- reviews every client's resume to make sure they meet the Canadian standards;
- conducts workshops on workplace communication, indigenous awareness, etc;
- provides information regarding NOC to clients so they can see what duties are expected in the Canadian workforce;
- collects labour market information for clients regarding job openings and also coordinates with labour market workshop schedules;
- identifies and builds connections with stake holders and employers;
- coordinates with mentoring partners to provide mentorship to clients based on their needs;
- attends all job fairs for job recruitment, develops job leads and introduces clients to the potential employer;
- creates networking opportunities by building connections and identifying work placement;
- creates openings for clients based on their individual skills and abilities;
- communicates with the program manager to update on project progress and evaluates results;
- records activities, and submits reports to the program manager;
- meets clients to provide ongoing support and prepares them for job readiness activities;
- conducts job readiness workshops on building professional LinkedIn, interview skills and mock interviews;
- participates in marketing, outreach, and promotional activities for the program;
- prepares monthly and quarterly reports and data collection; and
- performs other program-related duties as assigned from time to time.

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**:

- fluent in English; fluency in a second language (Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Cantonese, or Mandarin) is an asset;
- strong knowledge of local labour market information and methods to maintain a current understanding of local influences and regional trends;
- strong analytical skills coupled with a high degree of accuracy;
- possesses established connections within the community and with employers;
- excellent verbal and written communications skills;
- strong ability to work with mínimal supervision;
- excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with clients and the public including potential employers and other service providers;
- competent to accomplish tasks with deadlines & handle stress and pressure;
- willing to take initiative, and action & results-oriented, flexible, and dedicated to quality work; and
- proficient in the use of the Microsoft Office Suite and Social Media - Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, website etc.

**Qualifications/Experience Requirement**:

- bachelor's degree / diploma in a related field or equivalent work experience;
- career counselling and job development knowledge;
- knowledge or experience in community based, career development / employment services preferred; and
- minimum 1 years of Job Development Experience.

**Additional Information**:

- Valid drivers’ license and ac