How to Find Jobs in Canada
Seeking Canadian Employment
If you are issued a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa, you will have a legal right to live, work and study long-term in Canada. Among some of the most important decisions you will need to make as a new Canadian permanent resident include where to live and work in Canada. Depending on which Canadian visa type you are approved for by Canada's government, that choice may be made for you in advance. For example, if you are approved for a work visa to Canada under the Provincial Nominee Program, you will need to find employment in a particular Canadian province that needs your skills. In other cases, however, you may be approved for a work visa to Canada for a skill that is needed across Canada and so you will have to decide where to apply for jobs in Canada, which province or city you prefer to live in, etc.
Go Where the Jobs Are
Seeking Canadian employment can be compared to fishing: Just as a fisherman wants to go where the fish are to have the best chance of catching a fish, a skilled foreign worker may want to find out where the jobs are in Canada to increase his/her likelihood of obtaining Canadian employment.
Thus, when you look for work in Canada, keep in mind that there is a range of unemployment rates in the various Canadian provinces and territories which may affect your chances of finding jobs in Canada.
On the other hand, some Canadian provinces or territories may have a higher unemployment rate than others, but they may also have larger economies that produce more new Canadian jobs overall than some of the provinces that may have lower unemployment rates. For example, Ontario and Quebec have the two largest economies which produce the most new jobs in Canada, even though there are other provinces that have a lower unemployment rate.
In other cases, particular cities in Canada may have very low unemployment rates, even though the province where they are located may have a higher unemployment rate.
Another factor to consider when seeking work in Canada is the demand for your occupation. For example, your particular occupation may be in high demand in certain cities, provinces or territories in Canada, regardless of the overall unemployment rate in those locations. For example, healthcare workers may be needed all across Canada. Some jobs in Canada tend to be concentrated in particular locations, but there may not be as much of a demand for the same occupation in other places. For example, Vancouver is a major center for the Canadian television and film industry; key technology hubs in Canada are located in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver; etc.
In sum, one way to increase your likelihood of finding a job in Canada in your occupation is to seek Canadian employment in the provinces and territories where the highest number of jobs are being created and, ideally, where your particular profession is in the highest demand. As you can read in the next section below, the Internet now makes it possible for skilled foreign workers to look for jobs in Canada from their home countries so that, hopefully, they can obtain qualifying pre-arranged Canadian employment.
Searching For Jobs in Canada
When it comes to searching for jobs, Canada has several resources available for immigrants. One nice aspect of living in the Information Age is that you can search for work and apply for Canada jobs from anywhere in the world where you have access to the Internet. In many cases, this will not cost you anything (for example, if you already have access to a computer connected to the Internet at your home or can use a family member’s of friend’s computer) or it may involve a minimal charge (for instance, if you have to go to an Internet café).
Ideally, you may be able to obtain a qualifying offer of Canadian employment before you actually immigrate to Canada so that you will already know where you will live and work in Canada, how much money you will earn, etc. Some methods that many people use to look for jobs in Canada include:
- using online job search engines (Canada's Job Bank is an excellent resource)
- checking Canadian job openings posted on news websites for various cities in Canada
- applying for a job in Canada on a company’s website
- sending a resume/CV to a business via email
- utilizing LinkedIn or other social media to network for jobs in Canada
- networking with family, friends or others who may know of a Canadian job opening
- getting help from Canadian government employment agencies
- receiving assistance from private organizations that help people find jobs in Canada
Other Considerations
There are additional factors to consider when seeking employment in Canada.
For example, it will be important for you to have good English or French language skills in order to (1) qualify for a Canadian work visa and (2) secure a job in Canada. Greater emphasis is now being given to English and French language abilities by the Canadian government in deciding on granting someone a work visa to Canada, so if you improve your skills in English or French (if necessary), you may increase your chances of finding work in Canada. In other situations, your knowledge of a foreign language can be a plus since you may be able to speak to customers in their native language.
You should also have an up-to-date resume/CV written in English or French (one page preferred; two pages maximum) that is tailored for each company and position that you apply to and that is error-free.
Another consideration when seeking Canada jobs is whether your credentials, education or work experience will be recognized in Canada. In many cases, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) will be required for certain Canadian immigration programs (such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program) to assess to what extent your education/qualifications received outside of Canada are similar to those obtained inside Canada. Having a "positive" ECA may also facilitate getting a qualifying Canada job offer.
Your occupation, English and/or French language skills and other important factors are taken into account by our authorized immigration consultants that we work with when they evaluate your eligibility to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada.
DISCLAIMER: This guide is not and shall not be considered as professional or expert advice.
