A gifted and highly educated man, Michael Hwang quickly learned that his South Korean law degree wouldn't enable him to practise in Alberta when he settled here six years ago. Unworried, he cheerfully adjusted to his new reality, accepting a job as a dishwasher.
But you can't keep a good man down. And Hwang has come a long, long way since those early days.
Today, this charming and energetic ex-immigrant is president and chief recruiter for an outstanding international head-hunting team known as Dpendable Global Recruitment. And he brings his own personal experience to bear on the job in a number of highly effective ways.
A full-service international employment agency, Dpendable Global Recruitment has rapidly impressed corporate Alberta by recruiting only the finest talent for clients in such diverse fields as construction, engineering, manufacturing and production, medical, transportation and distribution and the hospitality trade.
And Hwang isn't kidding when he tells you his company enjoys a exceptional success ratio.
"That sounds incredible, but it's absolutely true," he testifies. "Our knowledge, experience and collaborative approach have helped us to place dozens of superb candidates in jobs across the province. And, without exception, our clients are happy with the job we've done."
That's because Hwang and his team conduct their growing business in a unique way. Dpendable's priority is to provide solutions to the problem that continues to plague Western Canadian employers - the endless and seemingly hopeless search for reliable, skilled people.
Here's the thing: Nothing's hopeless where Michael Hwang is concerned.
His company maintains strong business ties with a number of Asian countries and the chief recruiter has enjoyed particular success tapping the human-resources pool that exists in South Korea.
"Work is hard to find in that country. But the workforce is extremely capable and well educated," Hwang explains.
"There are large numbers of highly qualifed, even over-qualified, people who are unable to find a decent job."
As a result, Dpendable Global Recruiting is able to access the cream of the crop, restricting itself to the top 10 percentile of available workers.
As satisfied clients have already noted, Hwang approaches his task with a sense of responsibility and respect, directed toward both customer AND candidate.
Offshore workers who arrive in Canada under his sponsorship receive additional training and language skills whenever required.
To this end, Hwang has established strong relationships with both Bow Valley College and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
"We will send them to school," confirms Hwang, who recently enrolled 16 of his candidates in SAIT's culinary arts program.
"By the end of the program, they will have had 286 hours of training, plus additional training in technical English for cooks."
So far this year, more than 50 foreign workers have already received skills and language uprades from Alberta educational institutions, with Hwang's help. And Dpendable's corporate clients are already reaping the rewards.
Here are a few more reasons why Dpendable is an ideal way to go:
* Hwang and the Dpendable Global Recruiting team are superb networkers, enjoying almost unlimited access to high-quality offshore talent pools;
* Dependable Global Recruiting is intimately well-acquainted with Canadian immigration issues, expertly helping both clients and candidates to work their way painlessly through the system; and
* Hwang and his senior people are tireless researchers, sharing an acute and wide-ranging knowledge of the specific needs and wants of Alberta industry.
Here's something else that sets Dpendable Global Recruiting apart. Since receiving certification as a not-for-profit company, Hwang and his senior people have set impressive new standards for human relations, subsidizing the rents of many of their newly arrived candidates and their families.
On behalf of his new arrivals, Hwang also asks that client companies commit to providing jobs that will last at least three years.
Why? Because Hwang knows exactly how they feel. He wishes to help each new worker to adjust to a new home as safely and as enjoyably as possible.
"It's actually very rewarding to be able to give something back," he shrugs. "We want to make sure these people do well in the best country in the world."
Naturally, Dpendable also guarantees complete confidentiality, absolute reliability and an elevated brand of customer service, working closely with clients to ensure that they connect with exactly the kind of employees they're seeking.
Satisfied clients will assure you that Dpendable Global Recruiting stands by its matchless research, evaluation and selection methods. They're the first ones to call for recruiting solutions.
For more information, please see the company website (www.dpendable.ca). Then telephone the Calgary office at 403.230.0510. Or send an email to info@dpendable.ca.