The sky is my limit

Almost immediately after he finished his project management certification at Grant MacEwan University, Magnus Saramago got a job that launched his professional career in Canada. He works as a project manager for a large camp services and accommodation company.He says the education, which he was able to complete partly because he received a loan from IAF, probably cut down by two years the time it would take him to get a job in his field.

“I’m a confident, well educated man,” says Magnus, who holds a Law degree and a Masters in Business Administration from Brazil. “But having this certification made me more comfortable competing in the Canadian job market and it certainly expedited the process of getting a good job.”

Magnus arrived in Edmonton in May 2010 with his wife and their two children. In Brazil, he managed a large franchise and the family lived comfortably. But he and his wife wanted their children to have more opportunity and security than Brazil could provide. They chose Edmonton because of its social stability and favourable economic situation. Magnus knew there was a shortage of skilled professionals in Edmonton and has stepped in to fill that gap.

“My immediate goal is to try to get a position similar to what I had in Brazil,” Magnus says. “For the midterm, I know I need to gain more Canadian experience to get an upper managerial position in an organization.”

He says the IAF loan is a good vehicle to get newcomers like him back into the job market as soon as possible and he recommends it to others. “You are able to manage your life while you are studying, so you can commit to the program and choose your own course. Then, the sky’s the limit.”