Rasha Mehyar
Senior Manager of Newcomer Services,
Skills for Change
Meseret Bekele
Supervisor of Pre-Arrival Services,
Skills for Change
Skills for Change’s pre-arrival program helps immigrants understand the labour market, build networks, and feel job-ready before landing in Canada.
Like so many newcomers, N.R. faced many challenges while preparing to immigrate to Canada from Madagascar, including deciding what city to settle in, finding housing, and searching for a job — all in a country she had never stepped foot in.
With the support of Skills for Change, she was able to feel ready to succeed before even arriving in Canada.
Skills for Change is a national nonprofit organization that has supported immigrants and newcomers across Canada since 1982, through employment programs, settlement services, training, and mentorship. Arrive Ready, its pre-arrival program, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, prepares federally approved immigrants in sectors such as health care, education, trades, and STEM to enter the Canadian labour market.
Insights into job market and job search skills
N.R. went through a needs assessment with her caseworker and completed workshops that covered topics including the Canadian labour market, creating a resume and cover letter, and networking.
“This allowed me to move to a state of confident preparation — a transformation that would have been impossible to achieve independently in the same four-month timeframe,” N.R. says. “The entire program was designed to fit my schedule while I was still outside Canada. The assistance I received was so valuable to me, as the programs answered all my questions about my transition to Canadian life. It gave me foundational knowledge of Canadian culture and the confidence to make decisions and pursue my goal of landing a job upon arrival in Canada.”
Building on its long-standing settlement services, Skills for Change launched its funded pre-arrival program, Arrive Ready in April 2025, becoming one of 16 organizations across Canada providing pre-arrival support to newcomers. This program connects newcomers with resources to support their job search — including mentors in their industry, English improvement classes, potential employers, and professional regulatory agencies.
The pre-arrival program gave me foundational knowledge of Canadian culture and the confidence to make decisions and pursue my goal of landing a job upon arrival in Canada.”
Virtual Pre-Arrival Conference offers networking and insights
On February 19, 2026, Skills for Change hosted its first virtual Arrive Ready Conference, bringing together experts and employers to share insights on Canadian job market trends and workplace expectations. Participants had the chance to hear from panelists, ask questions, and network directly with professionals and service providers who understand their industries.
“They’re coming to a completely new country, and they don’t know what to expect,” says Rasha Mehyar, Senior Manager of Newcomer Services at Skills for Change. “At the conference, they learn about living in Canada and get to talk to employers and hear what’s required in their sectors and in the different regions of the country.”
Meseret Bekele, Supervisor of Pre‑Arrival Services, explains why this work matters. “The goal is to help newcomers be employment-ready by the time they come to Canada. We bridge the gap and create that awareness for them of what it’s like in Canada,” she says. “We reduce the element of surprise as much as we can, so they have a better understanding and can hit the ground running when they arrive.”
Learn more about Skills for Change’s pre-arrival program at skillsforchange.org/arrive-ready.
