There has been a number of reactions to the previous two TwCNs, including expressions of awe. I commend the readers that read and committed themselves to researching and learning more about the process of immigrating to Canada. Yet, there were those who simply got excited and instead of thinking and digesting the information simply replied with questions such as what is the process? I am a so and so . . . . are there such positions in Canada? I want to move to Canada! etc. All heard, in this TwCN, the author shares and illustrates how most people wishing to immigrate to Canada from Zambia and Africa must think.

If you are determined to immigrate to Canada, think in terms of your skills, abilities and competencies. Life is beautiful here, but it comes with the price of skillfulness and hard work. Having a certificate from a college or university in Zambia or anywhere in Africa is fine, but it is not enough or an end in itself. There is more that you need to be. The government of Canada has made it clear in the immigration requirements that if you plan to move to Canada, especially as a skilled worker, you need to have three years of work experience. And this is where the challenge comes for most Zambians in particular, and Africans in general.

Due to high unemployment rate young people do not have appropriate work experience. This author hopes that things are changing now. The time this author remembers are those when one would start school and go from grade 1 to grade 12 just studying, but no work, and therefore no experience at all. One would even go to university and graduate without any work experience. What kind of a worker would such a person be when they join the workforce. In many cases such a person would be an underperforming worker with limited skills, limited creative thinking and consequently limited innovative and entrepreneurial abilities.

Of course, there is one thing we end up being good at. Prowess in the English and French languages. History has proven that this is not good enough for national or even continental economic development. All things being equal it is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for admittance into Canada as a skilled worker.

This author, somehow, likes the exception of rural or village children in Zambia. These would start life by helping their parents and grandparents cultivate the fields for growing various crops. From this author’s time, they cultivated fields of maize, millet, cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, etc. Rural kids continue this routine through all primary and secondary school years. The only time they would cease helping in the fields is when they proceeded to college. But even in college they were well disciplined to excel. Rural and village children learned life skills much early in life. They learned such skills as collecting firewood, making fire, cooking, using a hoe and axe, fetching water, cutting trees, sweeping the yard, etc. Such skills that appear unimportant yet they are foundational skills upon which other skills and abilities would be developed in adulthood.

In Canada kids are introduced to work very early in life. Twelve-year olds babysit little kids, teenagers work in restaurants and retail shops. College and university students hold several jobs across different sectors. By the time they are graduating they have proven skills and lots of experience in different work places. When they start their professional careers they start standing on a strong foundation. And they bring to the work place, the envy of the world, Canadian experience.

Therefore, when moving to Canada, in as much as education is important showing certificates, diplomas and degrees at every opportunity is not really preferred. But demonstrating your skills, abilities and competencies is what is most recognized and much appreciated. With your skills, abilities and competencies shining you need to be self-motivated and a self-starter to do what is necessary, needful and lawful and start establishing yourself. My uncle, or my brother, or my father will do this for me does not fly high here. If this flies, there are very rare circumstances when it is effective.

When you hear that Canada is looking for people to work in the construction sector, for example, what kind of skills should such people have?

5S Property Services, Inc., as an example, has for its mission “Developing, achieving and maintaining the property condition desired by customers.” The company fulfills its mission by serving property owners providing installation, maintenance, repairs and renovation services.

5S Property Services Inc. associates are trades people that include carpenters, plumbers, painters, electricians, landscapers, masons and roofers. These associates are skilled in thinking, reading drawings, estimating jobs and doing quality work using appropriate tools. They are self-starters and work without supervision. And if they need supervision it is very minimal. The associates know when they have done quality work.

Achieving quality work that delights customers comes with years of training and experience. That training involves understanding the building code, building structures, materials and supplies and use of devices, tools and equipment. Someone may have started as a helper or labourer, decided to be an apprentice and finally after completing training became journeyman and fully skilled red seal professional.

When you hear that Canada is looking for people to work in the health sector, what kind of skills should such people have?

Working in the health sector involves working with people, and not any other people, but vulnerable people. The healthcare worker, therefore, must be motivated by having values of kindness and empathy. Being motivated by good money alone will not cut it. From deep down your heart must spring kindness, compassion and love to help others who are sick or too old to care for themselves.

Healthcare is provided at different levels. People who still live in their homes, but are too old to care for themselves, are visited by healthcare workers who check on them and provide the care they need. Some of this care like bathing someone, clothing someone or administering medication to someone is straightforward.

Then there are people who are equally too old and live in care homes. Health care workers are employed by care homes to provide care to these residents. In this setting, health care workers do work as in-house care workers. In addition, they also assist residents with meals, laundry, housekeeping and social activities.

And there are people who are critically ill and admitted to hospitals. Healthcare workers are employed to serve as nurses and healthcare aides. In a critical care environment, healthcare workers keep records of all their work activities and patient wellbeing. The work includes monitoring patient recovery, temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, administering medication and supporting doctors.

Below are commonly sought skills and abilities in healthcare workers from across the web.

• Teamwork

• Time management

• Communication

• Stress management

• Attention to detail

• Problem solving

• Flexibility

• Positive attitude

• Active listening

• CPR

• Patience

• Adaptability

• Pharmaceutical drug

• Critical thinking

• Medical terminology

• Vital signs

• Electronic medical records

• Emergency medicine

• Ethics

• Patient monitoring

For more information about healthcare skills visit https://www.coursera.org/ca/articles/healthcare-resume-skills.

TwCN advises that if you are planning to come to Canada think of your skills and abilities. Read up the skills you need and practice them at every opportunity. Be lest assured that you will appreciate every skill you have once you get to Canada. Remember that when it comes to working in Canada no skill is insignificant. TwCN.