A step further: How to improve a mentoring program to fully advance the labour market integration of internationally trained professionals

Abstract

“A Step Further” is an evaluation of the Profession to Profession (PTP): Mentoring Immigrants program. Initiated in 2004, the PTP program matches City of Toronto employees (i.e. mentors) with skilled internationally trained persons (i.e. mentees), based on occupational field and work experience, in order to advance newcomers’ economic participation. By documenting the program’s benefits, disadvantages and proposed improvements, this research project creates a brief image of what works and what doesn’t in a mentoring program for newly arrived immigrants. Although the PTP: Mentoring Immigrants program is a useful tool for assisting internationally trained professionals in their transition to the Canadian labour market, more work is needed for the program to fully advance the economic integration of newly arrived immigrants. This paper’s findings and proposed recommendations could be useful tools for public serving agencies looking to implement similar mentoring programs.