The Newcomer’s Guide

Imagine stepping into a new country, where every street, every face, and every word feels unfamiliar. The excitement is obvious, but so is the uncertainty.

At Redefined, we believe in the power of education to change lives.

↳50,000 students empowered across the globe.

↳ 45+ hosted events, 10k+ Attendees.

We’re not just talking about change—we’re making it happen.

Access to quality education, upskilling opportunities, and essential resources are the tools we provide to build a brighter future for all.

What is Covered in this Newsletter?

1. How to overcome newcomer barriers.

2. Recent and upcoming events.

3. Most Recent Job postings.

4. Government’s Updates.

5. Mentor’s Advice.

6. Our Mentee.

1. Overcoming Newcomer Challenges:

If you are moving to Canada this Fall (September) intake.

Here are some important things you need to know.

1. Job Searching:  Many newcomers struggle to find employment due to a lack of Canadian work experience. 

↳ Volunteering or internships can provide valuable local experience and networking opportunities.

Check out volunteer opportunities:

• Volunteer in Brampton

• Volunteer at Redefined

• Volunteer Canada

2. House Hunting: Finding affordable housing is a significant challenge for newcomers, with high demand and limited availability in major cities. 

Here are some websites to check out for accommodation:

• Kijiji

• Marketplace

• Craigslist

PS: Be sure to always check the reviews of who you’re potentially renting from and be sure to keep up to date with common, and emerging, trends for scams.

3. Lack of Network: It is intimidating to effectively network at professional events, especially when you are dealing with a new environment. Remember that everyone starts somewhere, and if you never try you will never know what opportunities are behind the door.

Find events related to your industry and interests:

• Eventbrite

• Meetup

Tip:  Attending workshops on networking skills can boost confidence and effectiveness.

2. Recent Events at Redefined: [RECAP]

a) Design Jam [By Re-Defined X King-Trust Canada X Future-Ready Initiative X Impact Foundation]

We hosted about 15+ students who shared their unique experiences as international students from Ukraine, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

We are especially grateful for their stories as it allows us to pinpoint existing gaps and provide us with more insight on how to continually support international students. We are committed to improving the lives of international students from everywhere.

If you are ever looking to share your perspectives and your experiences, do email us at [email protected] and we would love to hop on a call hear your thoughts!

b) Pre-Departure program

The Pre-Departure program is one of our yearly programs! We hosted 25+ girls from Afghanistan and helped them make their way to Canada. Before even coming here, we provide the tools to set them up for success such as upskilling to ensure mindset building and professional development. We are committed to helping newcomers change their realities and will continue to do so by being by their side every step of the way.

Training programs such as these prior to arrival has helped students hit the ground running, and find jobs a lot earlier than those who have not had the previous guidance and support.

We wrapped up this years cohort but are always willing to support another cohort, if you are someone currently outside of Canada or know anyone outside of Canada, feel free to sign up to be a part using the link here: https://forms.gle/G6QggMsqv3epAEGk7

UPCOMING EVENTS !!

a) Newcomers Collision Event

Biggest event of the year us BACK !!!

Newcomers Collision event on September 21st! 🎉 

If you’re new to Canada or looking to expand your network?

This event is your gateway to connecting, learning, and growing in your career journey.

Event Highlights:

✅ Workshops & Panels on networking, personal branding, public speaking, and more.

✅ Networking Sessions with mentors and peers who understand your journey.

✅ Opportunity Fair featuring top employers like Deloitte, RBC, Accenture, NGOs, startups, and service providers.

This is your chance to gain insights from industry experts, learn directly from employers about what they seek, and build valuable connections.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to become career-ready and life-ready in Canada!

📅 Date: September 21st

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST

📍 Location: Downtown, Toronto at OneEleven

Sign up: Here

b) Networking Meetup in Vancouver

Join us for a networking event designed specifically for immigrants and international students in Vancouver! This meetup is a unique opportunity to connect with peers and mentors who have been in your shoes and are eager to share their stories and expertise.

Whether you're looking to break into industries like accounting, science, program management, hospitality, or simply want to expand your professional network, this event is for you. Our focus is on creating a supportive space where you can meet others navigating the journey of settling into a new city, make new friends, and find mentors who can guide you on your path.

This informal event is the perfect chance to relax, be yourself, enjoy great conversations, and build meaningful connections over a cup of coffee.

📅 Date: August 24th

🕙 Time: 9.30 - 11.00 AM PST

📍 Location: Breka Bakery & Cafe - Main St.

Sign up here.

3. Recent Job Postings:

Check out the recent job listings for you:

1. TUIO, Sales representative Job

2. Cloudflare, Business development rep

3. Media Edge, SMM coordinator

For more 20+ Jobs across North America, Click here

Reminder: Don’t forget to submit a cover letter along with your job applications, as it lets the employer know who you are and what you’re about 😉 Quality over Quantity!

4. Government Updates:

Hot News!!!!

• Canada improves fairness for applicants by ending post-graduation work permit.

• Canada to stabilize growth and decrease number of new international student permits issued to approximately 360,000 for 2024.

5. Mentor Spotlight for the Month:

Muhammad Talha is out spotlight mentor of the month! Talha who is now a Technical Analyst at Deloitte was once in a position where he applied to 1000 jobs and heard back from none.

His Biggest piece of advice is “Leveraging time at university by joining clubs, NGOs, volunteering with start-ups to build credibility in the market.”

Additionally, he mentions how he would attend every networking event hosted by the companies he wanted to work for and as such found himself landing a job at all 5 companies he applied for !!!

6. Feedback From Our Mentees:

“I have been attending all events of Re-Defined and through everything I have learnt I have been able to land a job at 5 out of the 6 jobs I have applied for”

-Simran

7. Be a Part of Our Community:

Why do things alone, when you have others to help & support?

Let’s do this together: 👇🏽

🤝Join Our Community here

🤝Apply to be a part of our team here 

🤝Apply to join as a mentor or buddy here

What topics would you like to see in the next newsletter? We are continually stiving to improve our newsletter and want YOUR input!

Pls email us at [email protected] and let us know

Together, we’re not just supporting newcomers—we are helping them redefine themselves and their capabilities