Tips on how to start your career in Canada as a newcomer

As a recent immigrant or someone interested in immigrating to Canada, an employment offer helps make settling into your new province much easier.

While the job search process might be different in your native country, these tips can help you find more career openings and increase your chance of success.

How to find a job in prominent sectors

There are resources available for most professions and trades in Canada, but if you are pursuing one of the following careers, these are some of the top in-demand fields in Canada now:

1. Financial Services – To get a job in the financial services industry, it’s important to have some credentials. Getting your Canadian securities course certification can help you practice what you learn and secure a job for yourself.
2. Information Technology – A career in IT spans various areas, such as Development, Project Management and Quality Assurance. There’s a wide selection of roles for both short-term contracting and a full time job to kick-start your career. Tech jobs cover a wide area of specialties, so it is important to apply for positions where you can show your expertise. You might be interested in sectors such as development, project management and quality assurance. There are many options in this field for both short-term contracting and full-time positions to kick start your career.
3. Healthcare: Healthcare is another regulated career; you need to decide which province is right for you before pursuing accreditation. Provinces vary on demand for healthcare workers and have separate credentials programs. On Canada’s Health Sector Job Board, you can find health jobs all over the country.
4. Trade Workers: Trades workers are in short supply across Canada. According to Better Dwelling, there will be a 60,000 trade worker shortage, with an estimated 700,000 tradespeople retiring from the field by 2028. Each province and territory has its own set of criteria for evaluating trades workers. Furthermore, each employer will require on-the-job training and experience. To learn more about getting assessed, go to the website of the trades governing body for the province/territory where you want to live and work. The procedure varies depending on where you want to go. More information about certificates of qualification to work in that province or state can be found on each website. You can get accessed by your location here
5. Transportation and Logistics: Careers such as dispatcher and truck driver are always in demand and can help you settle in quickly as a newcomer with a well-paying wage. Look for opportunities with Canadian Transportation Agency or Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

When to use an employment/settlement agency

Immigrants can use Service Provider Organizations (SPOs), also known as settlement or employment agencies. These organisations are government-funded, and the majority of them are free to use. They may provide services such as:

• Resume writing help and review
• Language assessment and classes
• Job search assistance
• Interview practice

Polish your resume to make the best impression

Canadian resumes are formatted in a traditional way and employers will want to see concise employment wins rather than a long-winded task list. Avoid making a generic resume and sending it to every job posting you come across. Rather, tailor your resume to each position you apply for. For example, if you have experience in both banking and technology and are applying for an IT position, leave out the banking experience unless it is relevant. Alternatively, you can emphasise any technical experience you gained while working in a bank.

Special bridging programs get you ready for Canada

Bridging programmes are educational programs for professionals who have received international training. These programs, which are offered by many Canadian universities, enable professionals to continue their education and skills in order to meet the needs of Canada’s workforce. Newcomers who want to work in a field that requires licencing or credentials will have a better chance if they go through a bridging program. This is due to the difficulty of becoming a licenced professional in any country, and the bridging program assists newcomers in receiving the training required to complete the process.

Simply do a web search for, “province + bridging programs” to generate a list of universities and companies that participate. There are bridging programs available for several different professions, from accounting to optometry.

Get your credentials recognized, if needed

Depending on your profession, you may be required to certify your previous education, certificates, and work experience. This process is sometimes required because it compares your education and experience to what is equivalent in Canada, allowing you to avoid starting your job search from scratch.