Seeking Professional Mentors

As many of you already know, VIRCS provides service, support, and grants for newcomers with professional skills and training re-qualify to work in their fields here. This program, Skills Connect, is vital in connecting newcomers with the professions and industries that desperately need them.

An essential part of this process is spending time with practicing professionals here in Victoria. These volunteer mentors spend a few hours talking about our standards and practices, and sharing knowledge with professionals from abroad.

Right now, we are in need of mentors, especially in the fields of telecommunication, sales, and finance. To become a mentor, a volunteer must have at least three years of professional experience within Canada. Mentors receive free training from VIRCS, and agree to meet with their paired newcomer (the mentee) four times over the space of 12 weeks. Mentees must also have at least 3 years of professional experience to qualify for a mentor.

If you would like to share your professional knowledge, or know someone else who would, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more contact Marian Britto, our mentor coordinator, at 250-361-9433 x209, or marian@vircs.bc.ca.

Or, you can always contact me (Chris Geater) at volunteer@vircs.bc.ca, or 250-261-9433 x 212.