Job Search Workshop Success Story— Adeola Adebanjo

Adeola Adebanjo arrived from Nigeria in Canada in January 2022 in search of new opportunities. He came with a background in business development and product management and was looking for employment that matched his professional aspirations.

Adeola quickly set out on his job search, but there were a few difficulties along the way. In addition to needing help getting his certification, he admits the hardest part was learning how to navigate the Canadian job market. Not only were the roles and requirements different here than in Nigeria, but the soft skills, the how you “sell” yourself to potential employers were radically dissimilar.

Adeola first heard about ACCES from friends in his community. They encouraged him to take part in the TD Bank and ACCES Employment’s Black Action Coalition for Change (BACC) Speed Mentoring event. ACCES Employment Speed Mentoring events provide attendees with invaluable hands-on information, direction on refining their resumes, the chance to connect with employers, on-the-spot interviews, and networking and soft skills tips.?

“ACCES is a great resource for newcomers,” says Adeola. “The Speed Mentoring event helped me craft my soft skills to better communicate in the Canadian workplace. ACCES identified that gap and highlighted the importance of such an essential tool for success in Canada. The process is easy and fun, and the ACCES team’s knowledge is unmatched.”

It didn’t take long for Adeola to be able to put his newfound knowledge to good use. After attending the Speed Mentoring session, he was invited by the TD Bank hiring team to apply for a sales role. He was soon hired by TD as a Personal Banking Associate.