How I can Get a job in Canada? ( series)
Canada welcomes new migrants with valuable skills and qualifications, however searching for employment will be a challenge. It is important to be realistic and understand that you may not be able to find your ‘dream job’ straight away.
Dos and Don’ts
It is never easy searching for a job from overseas. Here is a summary of the do’s and don’t for overseas jobseekers in the Canadian employment market place.
Do
Look for work diligently. You’ll find a job faster that way.
Focus on finding casual employment instead of seeking the “perfect job”.
If you are seeking a professional position related to your career goals, be prepared to spend more time job searching.
Look for work just before or during peak tourism periods (winter months for ski resorts / summer months for lake resorts).
Ensure you have enough money to support yourself for at least two months in case you don’t find something right away.
Know your rights as a worker in Canada.
Do have a good command of the English language (or French in Quebec) and being well presented goes a long way
Do visit the various Canadian job websites BEFORE deciding to emigrate to familiarise yourself with the job opportunities in your field.
Do apply for your permanent residence visas. Very important. Prospective employers will ask about your immigration status and having your residence visas (or at least being in the application process) is a prerequisite for most Canadian job vacancies.
Do start applying for advertised job vacancies from OVERSEAS, but only 1 to 12 weeks before a possible start date or a visit to Canada.
Do send a “cold” letter of application and CV to EVERY potential employer and recruitment agent in the region of Canada you intend settling in to let them know that you are available. Use LinkedIn, www.canpages.ca, www.scottsinfo.com/ or the http://www.canadianbusinessdirectory.ca to locate certain or indepth details.
Do prepare your CV in the Canadian style and write a short but clear covering letter confirming that you have been granted permanent residence visas (or that you have been assessed as eligible and are in the visa application process). If you don’t then hire a professional to do for you. Get your Canadian Syle Resume
Do provide a Canadian postal address and Canadian mobile/email address in your CV where possible. ( ask for this service)
Do visit Canada or arrive permanently (once your visas have been approved) to attend job interviews, as very few employers will engage candidates on a “sight unseen” basis.
Do make a positive impression in the interview, be flexible and have copies of your residence visas and references available
for employers to sight.
Don’t
Don’t apply for job vacancies OR visit Canada for job interviews more than 1 – 12 weeks away from a possible start date.Employers will not be interested.
Don’t expect everything to work like home. Be flexible and willing to fit in with local ways of doing things.
Don’t expect a job at the same level or higher than you had overseas. You may lack Canadian local knowledge and may need to take a step back in order to advance later. Wait one year.
Don’t expect the same salary or more than you had overseas. The cost of living and income tax rates are lower in Canada than many other western developed nations, so look at your NET INCOME not the gross amount.
Don’t expect a job offer in the first week. On average, it can take local Canadians 1 – 8 weeks to find a new job.
Don’t “over negotiate” the contract with your first employer. Be flexible and understand that employment law and contract terms may be different in Canada.
Here are just a few other typical suggestions for finding employment in Canada:
Walk-In Method: If you think you would enjoy working at a particular workplace, ask to speak to the manager about opportunities. This method works best if you concentrate your efforts on retail businesses and restaurants located on busy streets or in shopping malls.
Employment Agencies: Typically listed in the phone book under “Employment Agencies”, these are a good option for participants skilled in office-related tasks (e.g. using spreadsheet or slide presentation software) for short-term temporary help to fill vacancies in businesses where permanent staff are ill or on holiday. Agencies are responsible for all aspects of your employment including pay cheques and appropriate tax deductions.
Networking: Since many jobs aren’t publicly posted, ask people that you know or meet about possible job positions or referrals that they might have.
Classified Ads: Most local newspapers have an employment section in their classified ads.
Internet: The following websites provide general employment-related assistance, including job boards. Companies that hire in Canada.
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