Applying for A Job

Well, you are moving to Canada and will be looking forward to settling in. Now it is time to find a job to secure an income for living. A job is more than indispensable, especially in the current days, allowing you to satisfy your needs, enhance your credit, integrate into society and improve your life quality. On the other hand, and although Canada is a country that provides a multitude of job opportunities for foreigners, finding a job as a newcomer could be a very difficult process especially if you don’t know where to start or who to contact. To support you in this endeavour, this brief guide will serve as an intro to some of the major points you need to keep in mind when applying for a job as a newcomer.

Regardless of your background, major, studies, education level or age, we recommend that you follow the following six major steps when applying for your first job in Canada.

1. Work Permit

It is a general convention in any country you are arriving in that you will need a work permit before you can apply for a job and start your work. While this is also true to some extent in Canada and covers a large domain of occupations, surprisingly not every occupation in the country needs a work permit. There are certain jobs that are work permit-exempt. The first thing to consider is checking out which Jobs in Canada don’t need a work permit. A list of these jobs is available here.

On the other hand, obtaining a work permit will for sure improve your chance of getting a job in a specific field of interest and expertise, like engineering or accounting. You can obtain a work permit in Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP). If you get a work permit under the TFWP, then you can only work for a specific employer in Canada who has a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). 

 2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume

When looking for a job, it is not all up to the opportunities and the job market. Some aspects are also in your own hand and only you can enhance your chance of getting a decent job position. One of the key factors in landing a good job is preparing and having a proper CV. It is important to consider this as a starting point and prepare a well-organized and job-specific CV, highlighting your profile with education, qualifications and experience. 

In addition, make sure to include all your work experiences and, if possible, references from your old employers. Also, remember to include their contact information and position in the company. There are plenty of samples and tips for writing a good CV on the web. You can also find a mentor or an experienced professional, could be a colleague or a friend, who can aid in developing a proper CV. Here, we also outline how to write the perfect CV to land a job in Canada to aid you to get the inside deals of what Canadian employers expect to see on your CV. You are also encouraged to contact local employment support offices that can help review your resume and help you with job applications.

3. Companies to Target

As you sorted out work permits and prepared a good and proper CV which you are satisfied and confident with, now it is time for job hunting and looking for companies to target. Of course, you are not going to apply for every job posting. Instead, we recommend you be selective and organized. Applying for multiple jobs using a generic cover letter and CV will never make you the standout candidate. We recommend that you develop unique cover letters for each company that matches and highlights the details that they posted in the original job posting. If you have related skills or experiences, stress on those or if you know some certain programs, make sure to mention these to help your application stand out. A good place to start looking for a job in Canada is job portals. You can start with the following Canada Job Bank, eJobbo, Career Builder, Eluta, Monster, Simply Hired and Indeed.  Don’t forget also to enhance your profile on LinkedIn and search for jobs posted there.  

4. Follow Up on Your Applications

It is not only about sending a job application, well following up on your application is as important as sending the initial application. Consider sending a gentle email asking about the status or if you would need to provide additional information or if the employer requires additional documents. This helps you show that you are really interested in getting the job. 

5. Networking

While there is a fair probability of getting a job through the standard application way, the probability is even higher when you are recommended to apply by one of the stakeholders or job employers themselves. This could never happen except if you have a good network or have a previous relationship with the employer or reference. We recommend you attend job events and career fairs, and also consider volunteer work to get Canadian work experience and be noticed. 

6. Accreditation of Qualifications

There are many professions in Canada, such as nursing, teaching, engineering, which are regulated to protect the health and safety of the public. So, to work in one of these professions, you may need to register with a regulatory body in the province or territory. You also need to prove that your educational qualifications are equal to Canadian standards, especially when you are applying for jobs that require post-secondary education. You can have your qualifications accredited through an Educational Credential Assessment from independent third parties such as the World Educations Assessment (WES). This document costs around CAN$200 and takes about ten days to process.