IMMIGRANTS AND EMPLOYMENT
A research project to show how the real dilemmas that immigrant communities face when facing work
PROBLEM
Immigrating to a new country brings significant challenges for immigrant communities, necessitating adaptation to cultural differences and the resolution of various issues. Among these challenges, securing fulfilling employment in a new country proves exceptionally demanding for newcomers. Factors such as language barriers, cultural disparities, and a lack of work experience in the host country present significant obstacles in the pursuit of suitable job opportunities. However, the job search process varies across countries, and immigrants must navigate these unique landscapes.
PURPOSE
As a team of immigrant women hailing from different nations, we aim to articulate our personal narratives. Complementing our research, we created a short film that delves into the present work landscape for immigrant groups.
By sharing our own immigration stories and job-hunting experiences in Canada, we seek to illuminate the actual predicaments that immigrants face in the job market. The film emphasized the genuine challenges that confront immigrant communities in their quest for employment. Moreover, we offered insights for newcomers navigating the Canadian job market.
STORYBOARD
The short film began with an animated sequence introducing the title. Following this, we showcased a video montage capturing the vibrant scenes of downtown Toronto, illustrating the daily lives of people on the streets to introduce the theme of immigration in Canada. Next, we delved into essential background information, emphasizing the intersectionality crucial to understanding the employment barriers faced by newcomers. Our focus centred on four key facts that significantly limited the employment opportunities available to immigrants.
The heart of the narrative unfolded as each of us shared personal experiences and stories related to the challenges of finding employment, expanding on the implications of the aforementioned four facts. Additionally, we provided valuable tips and advice for individuals navigating the job-seeking process, mirroring our own journeys. The video concluded with a powerful blend of animation and impactful photos, accompanied by the resonating slogan: 'Give immigrants a voice, Hear their stories.'
BREAKING DOWN THE PROCESS
PHASE 01: Define the problem
By conducting open interviews within the group, we, as immigrants, explored our lives in Canada and the challenges we face. We collectively shared our wants, needs, and pain points related to job searching, transforming this empathy into the problem statement for the project.
PHASE 02: Collect information
To understand the job-search challenges faced by our members, we prepared individual scripts sharing our origins, migration stories and job search challenges. These conversations also included comparisons between job markets in our home countries.
PHASE 03: Brainstorm
In line with our script and research inquiries, we leveraged storyboards to deconstruct each film clip's content. Through this process, we crafted shot arrangements, animations, and background music to ensure that our ideas would be brought to life.
PHASE 04: Video Shooting
To authentically convey each team member's immigration story and evoke emotional engagement, we embraced a direct and personalized approach. Seated at a table, immersed in genuine conversation, we openly shared our personal experiences, aiming to forge a profound connection with the audience
PHASE 05: Animation Production
To infuse energy into this short documentary, we strategically placed animated segments at the beginning and end of the documentary within the tips section, inject a touch of humor and playfulness to keep the audience engaged.
PHASE 06: Video Production
We blended animation with interviews featuring the four individuals, complemented by background music and subtitles. Our editing approach prioritized preserving the individuality of each interview, with the overarching goal of crafting an engaging and empathetic documentary experience for the viewer.
THESE WERE SOME MAJOR LEARNINGS OR POINTS WE WANTED TO CALL OUT
Through the narratives shared by the four members of our team, we discovered that newcomers encounter significant challenges in finding employment. Factors such as a lack of local work experience, educational credentials, language proficiency, bureaucratic hurdles, and other barriers often impede their ability to secure jobs that align with their skills. However, from these shared experiences, we have gleaned key insights and identified crucial points that demand attention.
Utilizing Online Platforms
Leverage online job platforms and professional networking sites to explore job opportunities.
Anti-Discrimination Policies
Enforce and strengthen anti-discrimination policies in the workplace.
Networking
Actively network professionals in your industry to seek Internships or volunteering opportunities.
Flexibility in Hiring Practices
Recognizing alternative forms of experience and diverse educational backgrounds.
Professional Development
Pursue further education or certifications and focus on improving language skills.
Collaboration with Stakeholders
To understand the specific challenges immigrants face to improve bureaucratic processes
SHORT DOCUMENTARY
MY ROLES
-
Visual Creator
Drew storyboards, created illustrations and produced animations for the video.
-
Video Editor
Took charge of the video editing process to ensure a seamless and engaging final video.
- Coordinator
Proactively initiated strategies to address challenges during the production process.
Leveraged skills to promote and enhance the project's overall success.
Controlling schedules to ensure the project continues as planned.
TITLE OF THE CALLOUT BLOCK
WHAT I LEARNED
Through the project, I learned about challenges faced by immigrant women, emphasizing unity, effective collaboration, and advancing my skills.
Through delving into the project's topic, I gleaned insights into the distinct challenges faced by women under intersectionality as new immigrants in the job market. It underscored the importance of uniting our voices and sharing resources to address these challenges collectively.
In our collaborative efforts, I acquired the skill of team cohesion, fostering effective and grounded discussions. Confronted with lagging progress, I learned to proactively communicate with team members, providing leadership to guide the project to completion.
Significantly, this project served as a platform for advancing my video editing skills. Taking on the challenge, I learned to take charge of animating and editing the entire video under tight schedules and heavy tasks, striving for perfection to resonate with our audience.