nov 5 (2)Spice Mantra deals in ready to eat foods that are designed to provide a wholly authentic taste for both the consumers of similar ethnicity as well as consumers with discerning palates who value flavour and convenience.

Mona Bhalla, HR and Office Manager at Spice Mantra, was recruiting for production workers. She looked for support from DIVERSEcity & was connected to the Employment Services Team. Rupinder Malhotra and Bidya Singh, both Employment Specialists with the WorkBC program, have been working with two clients as a team.
Bidya case-managed the clients from the Employment Services Centre at the Fleetwood Guildford location (operated by PCRS), and Rupinder provided customized workshops from the itinerant Newton location.
The clients’ resumes were sent to Mona Bhalla, and both the clients were hired on the spot and starting working the next day!

Bhupinderjit is 45 years old and she has been in Canada for over 20 years, working as a production worker and baker. She was laid off last year and her EI finished this year in August. She has been looking for work for many months, but due to the language barrier, age and lack of skills & certification, she was not able to find a job.
Rupinder assisted Bhupinderjit with updating her resume, cover letter, references, interview skills and completing applications.
Bhupinderjit is enjoying her work at Spice Mantra, taking on light production work that is not too physically demanding.

Jatinder Kaur, immigrated from India with her husband and two little children. She was a Registered Nurse in India for more than 10 years. Upon coming to Canada she could not pursue her nursing career for several reasons such as language and communication limitations, foreign credentials, lack of local workplace culture, and childcare issues.
Jatinder has been accessing
WorkBC services from July 2013. Supported by case manager Bidya Singh, Jatinder has obtained both First Aid and Food Safe Certification and upgraded her computer skills. She has updated her resume, brushed up on job search & interview skills, and became familiar with local labour market.
Although she was very proactive in her job search, she did not succeed. Bidya then connected Jatinder to Rupinder at the Newton Itinerant office. Jatinder was offered an interview with Spice Mantra & the rest is history!
The company has been very supportive of Jatinder’s child care needs and flexible with her hours. She is extremely happy and is enjoying her first job in Canada!

For more information about the WorkBC Program:
Fleetwood/Guildford Employment Services Centre
PCRS (Pacific Community Resources Society)
Location: # 202- 10334, 152A Street, Surrey BC V3R 7P8
Phone: 604-580-9752

WorkBC @ DIVERSEcity – itinerant services to newcomers
(immigrants and refugees)
The program offers Services to eligible immigrant job seekers to find and maintain sustainable employment as quickly as possible. Service includes:
• Case Management
• Employment Coaching
• Career Planning and Job Search Workshops
• Information on Skills upgrading and Training options
• Access to employment resource centre

For more information please contact Rupinder Malhotra at 604-547-2002 or email rmalhotra@dcrs.ca or go to our
website: www.dcrs.ca