Alicia’s Journey to Confidence and Employment with Langley WorkBC

July 31, 2025

When Alicia arrived in Canada as a refugee claimant from Mexico, she faced many challenges. She was unfamiliar with the Canadian job market, she was busy as a single parent to two young children, and she was working to improve her English and get her driver’s licence. Although she had over 20 years of experience in finance in Mexico and some university education in tourism, she had never worked in Canada and needed guidance navigating the local labour market.

That’s when Alicia connected with the Langley WorkBC Centre. With her intermediate English skills and her desire to find part-time work that fit her children’s school schedule, Alicia enrolled in job search workshops and the Skills for Success program. These supports helped her understand Canadian hiring expectations, strengthened her digital and communication skills, and connected with others facing similar barriers.

“I took the Skills for Success program in April 2025 and it has helped me a lot with new computer skills, vocabulary, information about future careers, and helped me build my confidence in being able to express my ideas in English,” Alicia shares. “It was a great opportunity to meet other people with the same types of questions and in the same situation as me.”

Today, Alicia is actively applying for part-time positions and is one step closer to her goal of working and building a new life for her family in Canada. With continued support from Langley WorkBC, Alicia is gaining the tools she needs to thrive.