Canadian Jobs

The Hard Facts About Getting A Canadian Job:

Many new immigrants are under the impression that getting a job in Canada is as simple as making an online application to a Canadian employer. The reality is that in order to be eligible to work in Canada, you will need:

• to be a permanent resident of Canada; or
• to have a valid work permit; or
• to be a Canadian citizen.

There are no short-cuts through the system unfortunately, and those who try to work illegally in Canada, eventually get caught and most face deportation as a result.

A Canadian job - How Do I get One?

Although some (very few) people are fortunate enough to have just the right set of skills, experience and/or qualifications to qualify for a validated job offer through Human Resources Development Canada, the vast majority of job-seekers must endure a good measure of difficulty.

Most Canadian companies will require some form of accreditation of your qualifications (to determine how they measure up to Canadian equivalents). In addition, you are usually expected to have some kind of "Canadian experience" in the field you choose to work. What this basically means to you the newcomer, is that like most immigrants who came before you, you may be faced with the situation that you are unable to find a Canadian job in the same field in which you excelled back home. Generally new immigrants interested in continuing with the same line of work they did in their home country, end up either requalifying themselves through a Canadian college or university, or they spend their first year in Canada gaining "Canadian experience" doing volunteer work. In most cases newcomers are forced to settle for a Canadian job with a great reduction in salary compared to what they are accustomed to.

We encourage you to find out as much as possible about the specific Canadian field/industry you would be interested in. Many professions in Canada are strictly regulated and are most probably organized very differently to the way things work in your country of origin. We have found that the vast majority of newcomers do not spend much time before immigrating (if at all) finding out what the Canadian job-market in their particular field is like. We have received numerous messages from newcomers complaining about how difficult it is to find a job in Canada and requesting us to help. Unfortunately our ability in this regard is also limited and we expect our clients to conduct thorough research into their specific profession of choice in Canada, well in advance of their arrival.

Avoiding Disapointment:

Conducting thorough research into the Canadian job market in your industry will give you a better idea of what you can expect once you arrive. We recommend that you:

• Find out whether the industry you are interested in applying for a job in, is regulated or not.
• Find out who is responsible for regulating your industry of choice and contact them with your specific questions about Canadian jobs.
• Ask whether your skills, experience and qualifications will be recognized in Canada and to what extent.
• Determine whether you will need to requalify by studying through a Canadian institution, or whether you will be able to get away with simply "taking a pay-cut" for a year in order to gain the necessary "Canadian experience" to take you further in your chosen field.
• Find out what your other options might be available in the event that you are unable to find work in your chosen profession (you will be shocked to find out exactly how many immigrants are forced into this position each year, for lack of proper planning).
• Find out which Canadian educational institutions offer either online or distance (correspondence) learning programs which you can sign up for before coming to Canada. The sad fact is that a Canadian certification in your field may very well carry more weight than a more advanced qualification from your home country, and may be the difference between getting a Canadian job and being unemployed for longer than you can afford.
• Look for Canadian companies who have an "immigrant friendly recruiting policy" and who actively encourage the hiring of skilled foreign workers for specific jobs in Canada.
• Keep checking in on our Settlement Center as new and useful resources are constantly being sought and added for your benefit. Our Canadian Job Search resources are located in our online Settlement Center.

Most importantly, and logically, no Canadian employer will consider giving a job to a foreign skilled worker unless they are physically present in Canada and available for interviews. The exception to this rule would be an individual who's unique skills/experience or qualification are world-renowned and highly regarded to the extent that an interview would not be necessary (how many of us fall into this category?).

Never Give Up on Your Canadian Job Search!

Yes the realities are hard to understand and even more difficult to accept at times. However after the actual waiting for approval for permanent residence, this is probably the most significant hurdle you will have to encounter in your transition to life in Canada. Any immigrant who has already gone through this experience will tell you that it is one of the most difficult challenges you will have to face, but the rewards are infinitely greater. Have faith and perseverence and you will succeed in finding a Canadian job.