Section 3.10: Communication Challenges and Solutions

When hiring new employees, there are always challenges; these challenges may be increased when the employee is new to the Canadian workplace.[1] CCLB asked HR professionals to identify some of these challenges and we have provided some solutions:

Challenges	Solutions
Skilled immigrants may not have strong enough communication skills to work effectively.	A good occupation-specific and workplace-specific language assessment[2] will ensure that businesses hire immigrants who have sufficient communication skills for the job. A CLB level is an important piece of information in determining job-readiness.
Other employees may not understand the ITI working with them.	Ensure that all employees recognize that everyone has an accent. Emphasize that clarity is most important; seek advice from English as a Second Language experts if necessary. There are many issues regarding accents that can be improved with specialized training. (Note: It is important not to disregard or filter out ITI job candidates or employees because of accents. Having a strong accent does not imply a low language level.)
The ITI may not understand how we work in Canada.	Build on the transferable skills that the ITI brings to the Canadian workplace. Recognize that the ITI has already demonstrated flexibility, risk-taking and a desire to learn new things by moving to a new culture. Provide workplace orientation and mentors to all new employees. Provide cross-cultural training for all employees in order to promote an inclusive workplace.
The ITI may not fit in and may be resented by other employees.	Recognize and promote diversity in the workplace. Promote the fact that Canada is multicultural; provide training for all employees in this area. Organize focus groups to talk about and ease concerns. Get a competitive business edge by using ITIs' knowledge and experience to serve diverse local and international markets.
I don’t know how to access ITIs for hiring opportunities.	There are many organizations that specialize in working with ITIs or that provide referrals to agencies: www.careerbridge.ca www.ottawa-worldskills.org www.skillsforchange.org www.skillsinternational.ca www.hireimmigrants.ca http://atwork.settlement.org/atwork/home.asp
How can I find out what an ITI's language skills are?	If the employee has a CLB assessment report, the employee has been assessed using a test that references the CLB. The report provides CLB levels in speaking, listening, reading and writing. CLB assessment reports are valid for six months. The employee may have other assessment reports or you may want to consult with a language expert.