Ahmed: from first French class to an IT job

When Ahmed arrived in Montréal in January 2023, he didn't speak a word of French. A computer engineer in Morocco for 8 years, he had the technical skills but not the language to make them count in Quebec.

"On the first day, I went to buy bread and I couldn't make myself understood. It was humiliating for someone who used to manage teams of 15 people," he says.

It was his neighbour who told him about CARI. The very next week, Ahmed signed up for the intensive francisation classes.

"The teachers at CARI understand our reality. They don't just teach us grammar — they teach us everyday and workplace French. How to do an interview, how to write a professional email, how to take part in a meeting."

Alongside his classes, Ahmed took part in CARI's employability workshops. He redid his résumé in the Quebec format, practised mock interviews and met employers at the job fair held at CARI.

"The turning point was the mock interview. My advisor told me: 'Ahmed, stop reciting your résumé. Tell a story.' That changed everything."

In July 2024, after 18 months in Quebec, Ahmed landed an IT technician position at a company in Saint-Laurent. Today, he is taking evening classes to earn his engineering credentials in Quebec.

"CARI gave me far more than a job. They gave me the confidence that I could succeed here. When I have doubts, I think back to my first French class where I didn't understand anything. Look where I am now."

His advice to newcomers: "Don't wait. Go to CARI in your very first week. Every day you lose is a day behind on your integration."