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12th IEP Conference in Toronto - Feb, 2015

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It was a pleasure to speak at the 12th Annual Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP) Conference on Feb 27 this year at the magnificent Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

 This was the second IEP conference I attended in a row and I was overwhelmed see the level of interest among delegates to connect with the speakers and to network with other delegates as a pivotal strategy to achieve career success.

 What was more heartening to see was the quality of questions the attendees raised during the panel discussion. It pointed to their good grasp of the challenges faced by newcomers and their resolve to overcome them through the many strengths they bring with them to Canada.

 Like the previous year, importance of investing time and effort in personal development and networking with other professionals in the field featured as two main themes of the discussion.

 I underscored my position on the importance of positive attitude and perseverance both during and after job search. I spoke anecdotally to my understanding of how to build a strong personal rapport with prospective employers long before they have or do not have a job to offer. Proactively brushing up your skills to stand out from the competition and be seen as a valuable future addition to your employer is the key to success. This requires demonstrating the very same skills that you would be expected to use in your job. I reiterated the importance of training ones' mind to think like a successful person and always being forthcoming and willing to help others around you.

 Some specific techniques for job search were also discussed and my fellow speakers did an incredible job at inspiring the delegates to think outside of the box when approaching prospective employers. Bob Lank, Group Leader Development at CEO Global Forum shared his wisdom on learning from more experienced mentors and making the most of one's time interacting with people who have traversed the path before you. Marcus Paul, President at Crownmark Investments also shared valuable nuggets of insight on career success, specifically with reference to developing one's core competencies and soft skills. He had some very interesting stories to share from his own experience to drive the point home.

 All in all it was a wonderful experience meeting young energetic professionals from all over the world united through their common goal - making an impact in the lives of people through their work.

 I wish you all the very best as you embark on a new professional journey as new Canadians.
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