How to Get a Job in Canada: 15 Tips
As is revealed in discussions on the same over at runrex.com, Canada is one of the best countries to live and work in because of its incredibly friendly and welcoming people, its diverse cities, and its high quality of life. If you considering relocating to Canada or have just landed there and are looking for a job, here are 15 tips to help you get a job in Canada.
Address your social and personal needs first
According to the experts over at guttulus.com, you should always start your job search in a new country after all your social and personal needs have been addressed, and Canada is no exception. You should, therefore, make sure that you have your health, schooling, daycare, transportation, and shopping situations catered for before you start thinking about finding a job if your job search is to be successful.
Choose the right city depending on your career
If you are to find a job in Canada, then you should make sure that the city you are planning to move to is the best location for the work you do. As outlined over at runrex.com, if you work as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, then Calgary makes more sense than, say, Toronto as a destination. On the other hand, if you are an IT professional, then Ottawa would make more sense as your destination than other Ontario cities.
Know where you want to live
Even though Canada is an extremely large country by landmass, its population is not that big, which means that while there are several bustling metropolises in the country, there are also parts of it that are very remote as discussed over at guttulus.com. You should, therefore, think about where you want to live before starting your job hunt as this will help you narrow down your job search considerably.
Be proficient in English and French
Even though English is an official language in Canada, it is important to note that Canada is actually a bilingual nation as covered over at runrex.com. This means that English and French have equal status and are both considered official languages. This doesn’t mean that every person you meet on the streets will be fluent in both, but it does mean that if you are proficient in either or preferably both, you will have a better chance of finding a job in the industry of your choice in Canada.
Know where to apply for jobs if you want to be surrounded by French speakers
If you only speak French or are hoping to be surrounded by French speakers, then you might want to set your sights on the province of Quebec. This is because, in Quebec, French is protected by law, and employers are required to provide all work documents and tools in French if requested by the employee.
Polish your resume
As is revealed in discussions on the same over at guttulus.com, formats, styles, and content of resumes can vary depending on the culture, which is why it is important to tailor your resume to your new Canadian audience. Canadians typically want to see achievements highlighted, instead of just listing duties you have performed.
Connect with people you know
Rather than applying for jobs online, which is usually not that fruitful as a means for job hunting for foreign nationals, particularly those applying from overseas, you should reach out to people directly. As explained over at runrex.com, this means connecting with friends, family, friends of friends, or anyone you know who is living in Canada who might be able to connect you with a potential employer.
Network
Once you land in Canada, you should set up as many informational interviews as possible in your field, as articulated over at guttulus.com. Try to network with as many people as you can since building relationships will be your fastest route into a new job in Canada.
Know the popular job boards in Canada
There are several popular job boards that you should be aware of when looking for a job in Canada. They include the Government of Canada which is the Canadian government’s job bank, Moving 2 Canada, Indeed Canada, WOW Jobs, Hot Jobs in Canada, Workopolis, and many others as discussed over at runrex.com.
Know the job boards that are location or industry-specific
If you aim to work in a specific location or industry in Canada, then knowing the various industry or location-specific job boards is important. For example, Eco Canada is a job board that lists jobs focused on Canada’s environmental sector, Canada’s Association of IT Professionals is a job board for IT careers, WorkInNonProfits.ca is a job search engine for no-profit jobs, Toronto Jobs is the job board to check out if you want to work in Toronto, while Jobboom is a site that serves Quebec exclusively.
Learn about life in Canada
Moving to a new country can be a daunting process, which is why you should also learn about life in Canada even as you look for a job. You can do this by taking a vacation to Canada so that you can experience it first hand or by using online resources on how to prepare for a life in Canada as explained over at guttulus.com. The more comfortable you are with life in Canada, the easier it will be to find a job.
Conduct needs and skill assessment
According to the subject matter experts over at runrex.com, you should arrange for a needs and skill assessment either before you leave your home country or early on in your job search. Once you know your skillset, then it is important to learn how to articulate it for the Canadian audience.
Go outside your cultural circle
You are likely to move close to and associate with people from your cultural circle when you first move to Canada. As outlined over at guttulus.com, you should start by building relationships in your own cultural circle and then ask your new friends to introduce you to people outside that circle slowly and steadily. This will allow you to expand your network, increasing your chances of finding a job in Canada.
Attend public seminars and events
Also, according to runrex.com, you should try to attend public seminars and lectures, as there are many free sessions on multiple topics everywhere. These events can be vital in helping you build connections, language skills, and knowledge of Canadian mannerisms and etiquette, socializing, business practices, as well as food and clothing variances, which will help you in your job search.
Locate and visit sites relevant to your industry for research purposes
You should also make sure that you locate and visit sites that are relevant to your industry or profession and observe how people dress for work. This is important as dressing for work on 8th Avenue in Calgary is very different from dressing for work on Main Street in Vancouver.
Hopefully, these tips will help you get a job in Canada, with more tips, insights, and information on this topic to be found over at the excellent runrex.com and guttulus.com.