Minako's Success Story

Minako was relatively new to Canada and unfamiliar with the hiring practices when she came to Calgary Career Hub (CCH) in January 2021. Prior to this she was working as a Japanese translator until November of 2020. After being unemployed for over two months, Minako was anxious she would not get the opportunity she wanted in the field of Web Development.

Minako’s primary barrier to employment was her lack of experience in web development. Her understanding was that the industry needed candidates with relevant experience without which she would not qualify for a job. She lacked confidence in making sure she was the hero of her story. In resolving some of her barriers, Calgary Career Hub coached Minako in how to promote her skills and abilities in an interview setting.

Minako attended several workshops that focused on self-marketing, interview skills and effective communication. Her Career Advisor at CCH focused on face-toface interview preparation, cover letter editing and advice, resume preparation and job postings as goals in assisting Minako. This helped her gain the knowledge she needed to confidently present her experience to potential employers.

Calgary Career Hub knows that Minako is successful because she was determined to overcome her shyness and talk about how she could contribute to any organization seeking a progressive and professional web developer. Minako knows she is successful because she taught herself to be confident and landed her desired job without little formal experience in that field.

Minako is now working as a web developer. Minako says, “I appreciate all those workshops I participated in because I learned everything I needed to get a job. I was a stay-at-home mom for eight years and English is my second language, but all those factors didn’t stop me from getting a job. If I can, everybody else can too.”

Minako’s Career Advisor at Calgary Career Hub says, “It was amazing to see the progress in Minako’s confidence from each interview preparation session we had. You could see that she held her shoulders high and spoke with more confidence. We are so very proud of her.”