B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 imagine how much immigrants are suffering,B次元官网网址� said Shaimma Yehia, a software engineer who migrated to Canada in 2015 through the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
For many women who immigrate ready to break into the Canadian tech industry, the path to gainful employment proves more difficult than they expected.
B次元官网网址淚 found it very hard with no family support and four children who depend on me B次元官网网址� all while IB次元官网网址檓 trying to catch up and find work in the tech industry. It seriously drained my mental health,B次元官网网址� the Lower Mainland resident said.
Even with a degree in electronics and communications engineering and a decade of experience, the 40-year-old has only found work in B.C. as a caregiver.
Yehia applied for immigration alongside her husband, Amr, during the tumultuous Egyptian revolution of 2011.
B次元官网网址淲e were looking for a better life and better education for our children.B次元官网网址�
Software designers and engineers remain the top occupation of those invited to apply for permanent residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, according to the . In 2019, 871 were invited to Canada. Most were men.
Though YehiaB次元官网网址檚 family was granted a new life due to her expertise, the software engineer said sheB次元官网网址檚 been shut out of the tech market due to a lack of Canadian job experience.
In Egypt, things were more stable, Yehia said B次元官网网址� both her and Amr were employed at big companies. Yehia worked as a team leader at IBM, overseeing IT projects worth millions.
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B次元官网网址淲hen we arrived in Canada we had to start everything from scratch,B次元官网网址� she said.
The mother-of-four said sheB次元官网网址檚 been stuck in a B次元官网网址渧icious cycleB次元官网网址� of IT job rejections, resulting in a six-year employment gap on her resume.
By 2017, time spent looking for work had depleted her familyB次元官网网址檚 entire savings.
B次元官网网址淚 had aspirations to come to Canada and join the economy but itB次元官网网址檚 not absorbing immigrants like me,B次元官网网址� said Yehia, who received her citizenship in September.
B次元官网网址淎ll this experience, why canB次元官网网址檛 Canada make use of it?B次元官网网址�
The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated YehiaB次元官网网址檚 effort to reboot her career. While many B.C. businesses shuttered, Yehia decided to upskill.
She enrolled in a program with MOSAIC, one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest settlement and employment services organizations, in partnership with Vancouver-based tech company Traction on Demand.
ItB次元官网网址檚 providing immigrants like Yehia with the hands-on experience needed to break into B.C.B次元官网网址檚 tech ecosystem.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 one of those people who had always had big dreams and big plans for myself,B次元官网网址� Yehia said.
B次元官网网址淕etting the job is the first step of it.B次元官网网址�
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sarah.grochowski@bpdigital.ca
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