Frequently Asked Questions

IEC-BC is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to making BC’s employers leaders in fully embracing the skills and experience newcomers bring to our communities. Our programs are funded by contributions from diverse sources, including government bodies.

There are many BC community-based immigrant service agencies doing outstanding work to provide educational, settlement, and social services to new Canadians.

IEC-BC, in contrast, works with employers and the business community to help companies attract, hire, and retain skilled immigrants to meet the province’s workforce needs. We also help connect companies with immigrant service organizations and other partners to expand their talent pools.

All of our initiatives are designed to address BC’s labour market needs and make the province more competitive.

Our value proposition lies in helping employers effectively compete in local and global markets. We ensure you have the tools and resources needed to tap into skilled immigrant talent, helping you grow your business and our economy.

BC cannot demographically sustain its economic prosperity without the unique talents that new Canadians provide. 

Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, often don’t have the resources or expertise to recruit, hire, and retain the skilled immigrant workers needed to fill job openings and remain competitive. 

Many companies also find it difficult to navigate the programs and procedures required to hire qualified immigrants. IEC-BC works with governments to promote policies and programs to make the immigration system more responsive to employer needs. 

We also provide the practical tools and resources employers need to attract, hire, and retain skilled immigrant talent.

IEC-BC’s programs are designed to empower employers to attract, hire, and retain skilled global talent in order to grow their businesses and our economy.

Some of IEC-BC’s programs work directly with skilled newcomer talent to help them reach their full potential and maximize their contributions to the workforce.

In most cases, yes! Please contact us to get started and learn more.

IEC-BC’s learning resources offer a great starting point. You can always contact us with any questions you may have about IEC-BC programs for employers.

IEC-BC programs can help you–visit our For Talent page to learn more. Please note that we do not offer individualized help with resumes, finding job opportunities for you, interview preparation, etc.

Employers can leverage TalentConnect to access new talent pools of skilled immigrant professionals, either through our job board or through tailored connections events.

Connections Events are designed to connect you with skilled professionals interested in your company, but you are under no obligation to hire anyone. You can host a Connections Event to build your talent pipeline, even if you have no open positions.

Featured Job Postings let you post open job vacancies with TalentConnect. Our team reviews potential tailored matches in our candidate database and provides them to you for evaluation. You can decide whether or not to reach out to them at that point.

Creating your profile on TalentConnect makes you more visible to employers, who can find you for any open positions that match your skills and experience.

Yes! We encourage you to access IEC-BC’s skills programs for talent like ASCEND, FAST, and MentorConnect.

Please visit our Events page to see upcoming engagement opportunities, and be sure to follow IEC-BC on LinkedIn to stay informed.

The program is about 12 hours over two months, with in-person or virtual meetings, depending on your preference.

Mentors: Must have at least two years of professional experience in Canada and live in BC.

Mentees: Must have been in Canada for up to 10 years, be eligible to work, and have a job-ready resume and clear goals.

No, the program is free for mentees. Mentors volunteer their time.

Yes, informal communication is encouraged to strengthen relationships, but is not required.

Open communication is key. Contact the program coordinator at mentorconnect@iecbc.ca or your SDP coach for support if needed.

Switching mentors or mentees is not permitted, but support will be provided if challenges arise.

This is unlikely, but contact the program team at mentorconnect@iecbc.ca, and we will work to ensure continuity or find a new match.

Yes, FAST is completely free for eligible participants.

Very likely! FAST is available to people who are Permanent Residents, Convention Refugees, Ukrainian immigrants arriving under CUAET, international students, Canadian Citizens, skilled immigrants with a valid work permit, or individuals approved in principle to immigrate to Canada.

You can register directly on our FAST website, or have your service delivery provider or employment advisor refer you to the FAST program.

No, FAST is not a training program. FAST is a competency assessment program that can help skilled professionals in one of the sector streams compare their past experience with Canadian standards.

Yes! Those who have been approved in principle to immigrate to Canada – otherwise known as Pre-Arrival Permanent Residents – are eligible to register and complete FAST prior to landing in Canada.

We do not require proof of language ability during the FAST registration, however we do recommend that individuals have a strong knowledge of English to fully understand the modules and content. FAST relies heavily on reading and reading comprehension, and is currently only offered in English.

FAST is designed to be self-paced so that participants can take as much (or as little) time as needed. We recommend that individuals finish their FAST modules within 4 weeks to fully utilize all of the resources available.

We are always looking for meaningful partnerships with employers across Canada! To become a partner or to learn more about employer partnership opportunities, please contact us at fastcanada@iecbc..

There is no contract or quota required to become a referral partner with FAST. We do offer service delivery providers the ability to use a suite of personal co-branded marketing material if interested. If you are interested in gaining access to the co-branded marketing material, please send an email to fastcanada@iecbc.ca

ASCEND is completely free for eligible participants.

To be eligible, you must be comfortable communicating in English (CLB 6+), have previous work experience from any country, and be either a Permanent Resident (or approved in principle) or refugee in Canada.

Yes! Please contact our team for more information and to get started.

Contact your immigrant service provider organization to let them know about your interest. If you do not currently have a service provider, you can apply to register on the ASCEND website.

It is not obligatory, but we do recommend that ASCEND participants do so in order to get the most out of the learning experience.

Yes, ASCEND graduates receive a personal certificate to download and share online.

ASCEND is available to eligible participants across Canada.

Some employer engagement events we host are by invitation in order to maximize value for those attending and drive maximum impact. Please be patient after your indication of interest is received–we will get back to you as soon as possible.

IEC-BC event pages are your best source of information, so be sure to consult the event details. We engage regularly with employers and their team members, newcomers, immigrant service providers, and other partners, but not every engagement is designed for everyone.

Almost all our events are without cost. If an event will involve a paid ticket or other component, it will be very clearly indicated.

Many of our engagements are virtual, like MentorConnect information sessions for prospective participants or webinars. This lets everyone participate no matter where they are in BC or Canada.

For in-person engagements, we will clearly indicate in the event details if there will be a live stream.

Be sure to visit our website regularly, along with following IEC-BC on LinkedIn. Finally, subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected.

Please email media@iecbc.ca with your inquiry, noting your deadline and the story angle you’re working on. If you have a particular person in mind, please let us know.

IEC-BC is a leading voice on behalf of employers on immigration and the labour market in BC and Canada. IEC-BC’s unique mission and work directly connects us to employers, allowing the organization to have its finger on the pulse of employers’ distinct challenges, needs, and solutions when it comes to employing skilled immigrants.

Although irregular migration can be a salient issue in the news, our focus is on helping businesses best access the skills and abilities of traditional-pathway immigrants to grow our economy.

Yes, we are able to offer comments.

In many circumstances, we can. Please reach out to media@iecbc.ca with your inquiry.