Former engineer finds fulfilling new career in Canada

When Susan Zapata moved to Canada in 2019, she didn’t know where she’d land professionally.

Originally a chemical engineer, Susan had spent years working in quality control in industries ranging from textiles to food. Transitioning her career from Honduras to Vancouver, B.C., however, took time. She finally found quality-control work at a food manufacturing and confectionary company, but she was missing a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

A self-described “people person,” Susan had volunteered with a mental health nonprofit and facilitated university workshops in Honduras. She knew she wanted to shift her career toward helping others: “It was time. I didn’t want to work for processes or machines. I wanted to work for people.”

A friend told her about SFU Continuing Studies’ Career Development Practitioner Certificate program. Susan was immediately drawn to the program’s practical approach. She could gain experience in a fulfilling field that would build on her love of helping people.

“In my country, I had a lot of job opportunities, but here it was a struggle,” she says. “I knew I wanted to make a difference and support immigrants on their career paths.”

There was just one problem: Committing to the full-time program meant Susan had to leave her quality-control job. The availability of the StrongerBC future skills grant, which covered half her tuition, made the decision possible.

“Now, as a career advisor, I recommend the StrongerBC future skills grant to my clients,” she says with a smile—a full-circle moment.

Susan enrolled in fall 2024. The program helped her not only understand the career development landscape in Canada, but also find a community of peers and instructors.

“One of the instructors I will always remember was Steph Gillies,” says Susan. “She helped us a lot to understand interviews, resumes, LinkedIn profiles—and she helped me grow my confidence.”

The best part was the program’s three-week practicum. With support from her mentor, career coach Donna Cottell, Susan was placed in a role helping Spanish-speaking newcomers to Canada. “It was a whole experience, like I was really a career employment advisor working with immigrants,” she says, “and that’s exactly what I wanted.”

Immediately after her practicum, Susan received an offer to work as an employment specialist. A few months after graduating, she moved into her current role as a career advisor with YWCA’s Aspire program. She now helps other newcomers navigate the kinds of challenges she once faced. The free employment program supports newcomer and refugee women in jump-starting meaningful careers in Canada.

“Sometimes our clients come from very difficult situations back in their country. Sometimes it’s displacement caused by war or conflict, sometimes it’s violence and sometimes it’s the difficult decision to leave everything behind in search of safety and a better future,” she says. “We help build their confidence and motivation and help them start a career journey here in Canada.”

For anyone interested in the Career Development Practitioner Certificate, Susan’s advice is to make the most of the program experience. “Take advantage of the networking, because you are able to meet a lot of amazing people.”

And for those considering a career in the field, she has one more important piece of advice: “You must like people!”

Looking back, she sees her own tricky career transition as a big part of what makes her such a passionate career advisor.

“I always say this: I would’ve loved to find a program like this when I was struggling,” she says. “That's why today I want to make a difference.”

By Colleen Bryon