On Saturday, November 2, MOSAIC’s 14th Immigrant Professionals Conference (IPC) brought together more than 200 immigrant professionals in downtown Vancouver. The conference gave attendees a unique opportunity to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support their career development.
For 14 years, IPC has highlighted the unique strengths immigrant professionals bring to the Canadian workforce. This year’s theme, “Future Forward: Immigrant Talent in the Age of AI,” focused on practical ways AI can help newcomers as they begin their professional journeys in Canada. Here are some key takeaways from this year’s conference:
1. AI is a tool, and practice makes perfect
“Most of us here are multilingual, and tech is just another language. Make sure you know the language of your industry and that you are using that language to show your expertise as well,” said keynote speaker Rochelle Grayson, co-founder of Circles of AI and founder of Mosaic Accelerator with over 30 years in business, technology, and education. Rochelle encouraged attendees to start with basic AI tools, build familiarity, and apply them in ways that align with their career goals.
“AI is everywhere in today’s job market,” she added. “It’s almost assumed that you’re using it, and it’s almost assumed that it is part of what you do.” Her advice underscored the importance of understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations, which means practicing with accessible, free tools before tackling more complex applications can be beneficial.
2. AI is used on the other side of the table
That’s right—AI isn’t just for job seekers; employers are leveraging it as well.
During the employer panel, Anita Bhandari, Chief Human Resources Officer from the City of Burnaby, explained how AI tools are increasingly used to source and shortlist candidates, making recruitment processes more efficient. “We are using AI more and more for communications, data analytics, and presentations,” Anita added. “It helps quite a bit by giving you more than bare bones. But mindful use is the key.”
Alison Heath, host of the event and manager of the MOSAIC Burnaby Language Centre, echoed the importance of understanding AI’s role in the evolving workforce: “The presenters are talking about the latest issues in AI, which is going to pick up at rapid speed in the coming years. This conversation about how AI will change career development, recruitment, and job search processes is essential right now.”
3. AI can support every stage of job searching
From enhancing resumes to drafting tailored cover letters, AI is streamlining the job search process. But as Rochelle pointed out, it can do much more.
In her presentation, Rochelle shared various AI tools that go beyond writing assistance; they can help with job discovery, application preparation, and even interview practice. For example, certain AI-driven platforms, such as Google’s Interview Warmup, can generate likely interview questions for specific roles, listen to candidate responses, and suggest effective ways to structure answers, especially for behavioural questions that are common in Canadian interviews.
“You can do the mock interview over and over, and AI never gets upset,” Rochelle joked, sparking laughter from the audience. “It is like the most forgiving, wonderful, and encouraging person you can ever think of. You will get real-time feedback, understand what would be a better answer, and then use the time to improve your responses.”
Hakan Erkli, an attendee, shared his thoughts on this session: “Today’s event is absolutely fantastic for me as a job seeker and aspiring talent acquisition professional. It helped me build some confidence for myself.”
4. Embracing your uniqueness helps you stand out
In an era of AI-generated applications, personal style can sometimes get lost. Rochelle encouraged attendees to think about their unique style and voice, using “prompt engineering” to help their individuality shine through. “So often we try so hard to fit in that we forget what makes us stand out,” she said. “Your differentness is what makes you special. Embrace it as something that’s a plus, not a negative.”
Gagan Sekhon, Relationship Manager in Commercial Financial Services from RBC, reinforced the value of diverse experiences: “RBC values the work experience newcomers bring from outside of Canada. Leveraging the transferable skills is what will make them stand out in the job market.”
5. Networking remains essential
Despite the topic of AI, surprisingly, a recurring theme of the conference was the importance of networking. Attendees learned that only 20% of job openings are posted publicly, while the remaining 80% are part of the “hidden” job market, accessible mainly through networking. While AI tools can help identify potential contacts and track industry trends, building genuine connections requires active engagement and personal interaction.
David Lee, MOSAIC’s Director of Employment, Language, and Social Enterprise, shared: “AI is such a technology-focused topic yet what we want to emphasize is the importance of human connection. The thing I’ve heard time and again is how do we use technology like AI to actually enhance, augment, increase what human connection means to us.”
Networking, attendees were reminded, is about more than using tools. It’s about taking the initiative to meet people, learning about the industry, and staying informed about the hidden job market.
An AI-generated joke, shared by MOSAIC CEO Olga Stachova, captured the conference’s theme and resonated with attendees: “AI is just like an immigrant, constantly learning, adapting, and always looking for new opportunities. AI and Immigrants have another thing in common: they turn challenges into opportunities, whether it’s overcoming language barriers, or decoding complex data, they know how to find the way.”
A big thank you to everyone who made IPC 2024 a success, especially our presenters, panelists, host, and discussion moderators. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors: Royal Bank of Canada, Weyerhaeuser Company, Sprott Shaw College, Vancouver Community College (VCC), Invest Vancouver, and WorkBC Employment Services, without whom this event wouldn’t be possible.
At MOSAIC, we offer a variety of employment services to help you thrive. Check out our programs today and start your path to success!
