Planning a move to Canada? The second largest country on the planet has a plethora of opportunities waiting for those who wish to immigrate here. Canada has an endless variety of breathtaking landscapes. It boasts scenic trails, towering peaks, spectral rainforests, glinting glaciers, and remote beaches. The country spans six times zones!
Immigrants have the opportunity to experience living in the crowded and bustling Toronto downtown. Or there’s Vancouver known for its adventure pursuits thanks to its mild coastal climate. And there are even the wild winters of Saskatchewan and Alberta. If you aren’t afraid to rough it out in a little cold!
A Better Lifestyle
By the end of 2020, Canada will welcome close to one million new permanent residents. People are chosen on a number of factors: education, languages, experience, age, familial status and employment prospects. The International Experience Canada (IEC) program grants work permits for individuals aged between 18 and 35, with Toronto and Vancouver being the natural hotspots for study and employment.
The promise of a better lifestyle and a well-paid job can encourage foreign nationals to take a leap of faith. However, no matter how attractive it sounds, it is important to do your research before you planning to move alone or with your family. We have come up with 5 helpful tips and resources to help ease your job search in Canada and mitigate the stress of the moving process.
GET TOP RECRUITERS TO NOTICE YOUR RESUME
Make sure you have read the country’s resume format before applying for a job in Canada. A poorly written resume will prevent you from making an impact. Also, get professional help to draft and review it, so that you impress the recruiter. Remember, the first impressions are the best impressions (and too often the last impressions), so never skip this crucial step.
BE SELECTIVE IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
Responding to ads over the internet is the least effective way of landing a job in Canada. A common mistake people make is blanket bombing job applications with the same cover letter and resume. Cold calling and networking are effective ways to understand the job requirement and distribute your resume. Show that you are interested by following up with your application. This means maintaining communication with the company. Hand-written notes may sound old school but you can use them to distinguish yourself. You can also send thank-you emails after an interview, as this will set you apart from the rest of the candidates. Try to get strong references from your home country and your previous organization, if it’s relevant to the role applied for.
NETWORK WITH THE RIGHT SOCIAL TOOLS
Over 50% of positions that are filled never get advertised or published online. So don’t just sit and wait for the dream job to come knocking at your door. The key lies in effective networking, which helps you gain important contacts and obtain useful insight, for both social and professional needs. A fast-growing social tool that is a boon for professionals is LinkedIn. You can use this platform to set up your profile, connect with recruiters and even search for jobs worldwide.
Employers are using LinkedIn every day to source the right candidates. Thus, get your name out there in the open across your industry just to say that you are available and interested. Meet more people in your field and get the word out to locals whom you know are working in Canada. This is crucial to getting the job you want and also to have a successful move into a new city and country.
PROFESSIONALLY ACCREDITED
You need a qualification or certification that is accepted in Canada whatever your profession is. For instance, professions like nursing, physiotherapy, social work, teaching, among others, usually require accreditation. This process can take up to 6 months, so it’s better to plan in advance before your job search.
FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY
Foreign nationals who wish to work or set up a business in Canada need the right visa. Moreover, it must suit their personal circumstances and professional needs. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website has a lot of comprehensive information on the different types of visas available and an online questionnaire to help you decide what kind of visa that will be suitable for you. You can take a lot at their website https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html to know more. Get in touch with an immigration lawyer to get an understanding of how you can go about your visa process.