A public campaign has been launched that is highlighting the value of immigrants as experienced and skilled professionals.
‘See My Value’ is a partnership between the City of Saint John, and the Saint John Local Immigration Partnership (SJLIP).
“SJLIP is a community initiative, and it brings together organizations from all sectors, private sector, public sector, non-profits, and organizations that have anything to do with newcomers,” explains Valentin Boinitski, project manager of SJLIP.
SJLIP also aims to promote the perception of immigrants as an excellent source of talent, which can bring value to Saint John employers who are looking for candidates with relevant experience, education, and a strong work ethic.
Boinitski mentioned that the ‘See My Value’ campaign was just launched and is a project of the settlement community.
“We identified this issue of having meaning full employment as the number one issue that either makes newcomers stay in Saint John, or forces them to leave to other places where they can realize their full potential.”
So, the campaign can show employers, business owners, and recruiters in the city that are currently struggling to find talent that there is already a massive talent pool of candidates.
“Candidates who have the right skills, relevant experience, high-quality education, and strong work ethic, so employers don’t have to look far, the people that can fill positions, and bring value to the workplace are already here, so our role at SJLIP is to connect those people with the opportunities that arise in their community,” mentioned Boinitski.
As Saint John continues to grow, and opportunities expand, Boinitski is confident newcomers will get matched to those openings.
“What we are trying to do at the moment is to encourage the perception of immigrants by the local population as an excellent source of talent, and to fill those opportunities,” added Boinitski.
The campaign also features real stories of recent newcomers to Saint John that represent a variety of professional areas including engineering, finance, healthcare, and sales.
“It was love at first sight when I saw pictures of Saint John online,” said Zaira Barakaeva in a release, who is one of the newcomers featured in the campaign, and moved to Saint John from Azerbaijan in February 2022.
“I have over 16 years of experience in sales management. Currently, I volunteer for multiple charities in Saint John while I look for employment opportunities. I’m proud to be part of this lovely community and to contribute to community life as much as I can,” added Barakaeva.
The ‘See My Value’ uses a variety of online and offline formats, including billboards, bus shelter ads, window decals, and digital advertising.
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