Correr Es Mi Destino » How To… Find A Job In Canada

3 Qualities Job-Seekers Must Have

Zhu — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:07:39 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

Saying that last year wasn’t great economically speaking is an understatement. Pretty much all countries worldwide suffered from the global economic downturn and Canada was no exception. Yet, a lot of people are still considering moving to Canada, while others are already in the process and are probably worried about whether they will get a job at all.

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

I’m not a job counselor, and I’m not an expert. But I do know how it works in Canada and I’m hoping to pass along some information that may not be obvious to everyone. A post will be published every Saturday… enjoy!

To end this series, I’d like to highlight three qualities job-seekers should develop to cope with the job-hunting process.

Patience

By definition, most immigrants are quite patient: after all, most of us waited for quite a while before being granted the permanent residence!

But once again, you must show patience when looking for your first job in Canada. It may have looked very easy on paper, but in reality, most people don’t find a position equivalent to the one they left at home for a while.

This can be very frustrating, especially for immigrants who have been selected on the basis of their skills and education. But try to take it one step at the time and realize that everybody have been through the same problems.

You can choose one of several strategies to achieve your goals:

If you are financially strapped, stop putting pressure on yourself to find the dream job and settle temporarily for a lower-position. This will allow you to gain some experience in Canada, receive some income and learn about the culture.
If you have enough money to survive for a while without working, consider taking a class. For instance, a language class (such as business English) or some training related to your field. Some Canadian education is appreciated on your resume and you may meet people and start networking.
Volunteering is also a great option for those who want to network and gain Canadian experience.

Anyhow, you may also look at the general economic situation before starting blaming yourself for failure. Right now, a lot of qualified people with experience are having trouble finding positions. But it will be over soon… or so we are being told!

Willingness to learn

How you did things at home doesn’t matter: what matters is how things are done in Canada. This is the harsh truth. You may indulge in “it was better at home” evenings of complaining with your expat or immigrant friends. But while it may be good to release some frustration, it won’t help you fit in.

Canadians are quite welcoming and the country is multicultural. This does not mean that Canadian always makes it easy for foreigner to enter the job market. There is the “Canadian experience catch 22″. The fact that your degree may not be recognized. That your foreign experience may be seen as irrelevant.

At this point, you may decide to give up. Yet, showing willingness to learn and to adapt really helps. The main mistake to avoid is to be this annoying newcomer who always complains about how things are done in Canada, and how great was “home”, wherever home is. People have very little patience for this kind of attitude.

You can try to find a “mentor”, for example another immigrant who have been there for a while, or an helpful local who will be able to fill you in. You can also observe the way people interact, who gets promoted and why etc. to learn more about work culture in Canada. You can even do some research online, by reading expats forums!

Flexibility

Flexibility is a key word in North America: it . It sums up your ability to change career and tackle new challenges, you ability to adapt to a wide range of situation and to fit in.

North America, by definition, is a flexible society where things change fast. Some provinces or states boom while other crash, and one day the economy is up, one day it’s down. It’s common to change position every few years to improve and to tackle new challenges. People even often have several careers and it’s not rare to start in a totally different field more than once in your life.

The more flexible you become, the easier it will be to fit in. So if you can’t find a job in your field, consider taking classes to update your knowledge, or move to a different field altogether. You may also reach your goals through a different way, such as setting up your own company!

I hope you found the series useful. Have you found a job already? Let me know if my advices helped you!

5 Canadian Work Culture Tips (9/10)

Zhu — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:01:57 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

The Canadian work culture is, on many aspects, very different from other countries’. So, what do Canadian employers value? What are the unspoken rules that help you fit in?

Work Hard, Play Hard

For many Europeans, the first shock is how hard people work in North America. Indeed, there is a strong work ethic here and you will soon notice that people are everything but lazy. Not that I’m implying Europeans are… but there are certainly a lot of differences.

Holidays, for example. Most employees are entitled to two weeks of paid holidays per year. Even in the federal government, employees typically receive three, maybe four weeks after ten or twenty years of service.That’s it! If you need longer holidays, you may negotiate unpaid time-off… or quit your job altogether.

There are also several statutory holidays per year, which are basically paid day-offs: for example, Canada Day or Christmas day. You can see this useful chart to see to see additional days by province or by territory. Ah, long week-ends…!

Note that in many positions, you can forget about the concept of the 9 to 5 day workday with week-ends off. The service industry, for example, has much longer working hours and since a lot of shops (if not all) open on Sundays, you may be working these days too.

But hard work and long hours are usually balance with intense leisure activities: watching sports, participating in physical activities, general entertainment etc.

Wanted: Experience

Some cultures value education and degrees, some culture value work experience — and Canada is definitely part of the latest. While having a university degree or some equivalent post-secondary education (or trade school etc.) is strongly recommended, it is not always necessary to hold a degree exactly matching your job title. A manager can have a degree in political science, a salesperson a degree in philosophy etc.

What does matter is to build some relevant experience, basic skills and to be willing to learn. A lot of people have several different careers anyway and no one will be surprised by your choices, as long as you back them up.

Get Hired, Get Fired, Get Hired…

A lot of newcomers are surprised on how fast it is to be hired. Indeed, if you are not picky and just want to work, you can find a position extremely fast: it is not rare to be hired in a matter of days… or hours.

In most industries, rules of supply and demand regulate recruitment. In busy times, when the economy is good or when a specific sector is booming, to find a position will be quite easy and the salary will be competitive. However, supply and demand has its drawbacks: when there is no work, it’s extremely easy for an employer to lay you off.

If you are paid by the hour, there will be less and less work hours scheduled, leading to a much lower pay at the end of the month. This should be your clue to start looking for something else… This is an important rule: update your resume frequently and be ready to find another position is needed!

Communication and Teamwork

These two skilled are extremely important and can’t be emphasized enough.

Communication skills include report writing, speaking and presenting. These skills are crucial in many sectors and many positions. If English isn’t your first language, fear not. Canadians are quite understanding and this is a multicultural country: no one expect you to speak or write perfect U.K English. Yet, you should be fluent enough and willing to improve and work on these skills. A lot of places offer English classes of various level to help newcomers fit into the work market better. Take advantage of them!

Teamwork has become an important part of the working culture. You should expect to work with different people, communicate with them, solve problems as a team and compromise. These skills are in demand and while there is no perfect training to acquire them, learn to be a team player!

Flexibility Is The Key

Finally, as a newcomer, the key word is to be flexible. This means that you may have to start at a junior level or that you may have to consider a lower salary if you want to work in a field in which you don’t have any Canadian experience.

Being flexible is also being ready to compromise, learn fast, being ready to change and to adapt.

Canada, and North America in general, are societies that change fast and where there are opportunities to be taken.

3 Potential Career Challenges (8/10)

Zhu — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:05:27 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

Most newcomers to Canada, no matter whether they were chosen for their skills or joined some member of their family, experience some work-related issues at one point or another.

The Practical Barriers

If you are a permanent resident in Canada, or hold some kind of work visa, you are entitled to work. Now, getting your SIN card and making a resume is easy, but keep in mind your immigrant status may sometimes limits you to some extend.

Temporary workers: some visas are tied to a specific position. If you lose the position, no matter why, you may lose your visa and have to leave the country. A lot of temporary visa holder do not realize that: they feel secure and start settling in Canada… some even buy houses. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned. I heard a lot of sad stories last year: with the economic downturn, some temporary visa holders lost their position and were asked to leave the country. It led to difficult situations for those who had kids at school, a mortgage to pay etc.
Permanent residents: they also face some issues, although they are entitled to work anywhere in Canada without any time limit. For example, permanent positions at the federal government are notoriously impossible to get when you are not a Canadian citizens. This can be a problem is you live in a city where the federal government is the main employer, like in the National Capital Region.
The security clearance issue: some jobs require prospective employee to hold a security clearance, which it is a loyalty and reliability assessment done by CSIS. This is to prevent anyone of security concern from gaining access to sensitive government assets, locations or information. I had to get one, because I was teaching civil servant and going in various ministries! While the check in itself is usually not a problem, when you are a newcomer, CSIS must access foreign data to assess your reliability through your past criminal history etc. It can take from a couple of weeks to months. This sometimes discourage potential employers from hiring a newcomer because they know the security clearance may be long and difficult.

The Canadian Experience Catch 22

This is probably the most common and most annoying issue for newcomers: employers want you to have some experience working in Canada, but to gain some experience… you must first find an employer willing to give you a chance!

There are different tactics here. You may want to:

Start with a lower-paid job: at least, you will pay the bills and gain some experience while learning more about Canadian workplaces
Volunteer: employers value volunteer experience and it’s definitely something to put on your resume. You can learn a lot about your new country and even start building a network. Unfortunately, you most likely won’t be paid, which is a problem if you have to support a family or are already on a tight budget.
Use a placement agency: I personally used this method. Placement agency have their own testing system (for example, for admin positions they will test your computer skills etc.) and are a bit less picky about references and Canadian experience. They may send you on trial for a temporary position and if you do good, you will get precious Canadian references and work experience.

One thing is sure: when moving to Canada, don’t expect to find the exact same position and standard of living as you had back home. Generally speaking, you will need to step back a bit in order to move forward in the future. Immigrating is also a learning experience after all!

The Foreign Credential Recognition Issue

This issue is a serious one, and it’s a total economic non-sense.

Skilled worker are selected based on their education and their work experience to fill staff shortages in some fields. However, once in Canada, these newcomers realized that their experience or credentials are not recognized. It’s the “taxi driver” phenomenon — the substantial underutilization of immigrant skills.

This is mostly due to the fact that some employers underestimate foreign credentials, or may prefer Canadian education. Newcomers may then have to obtain Canadian certifications or degrees to advance in their career.

Some professions are also regulated, which means that you need to apply for a license (usually a provincial one) to work in these fields. Requirements vary by province. There are over 140 regulated professions, most of them in high demand for immigrants because they suffer from skill shortage!

In order to meet their profession’s licensing requirements, most immigrant will have to:

Take a language test if you studied in a language other than French or English
Take an examination to demonstrate your competences
You may have to take compulsory classes at a Canadian college or university to bridge the gap between the requirements and your foreign education

This can be extremely stressful, not to mention expensive, for newcomers to Canada. Some may then give up on their training and work in low-paid job, just to make a living.

Unfortunately, the Canadian government doesn’t really inform prospective immigrants that they may not be able to practice the profession they have been chosen for. So it’s up to you to research your field before you move to Canada!

10 Tips On Workplace Etiquette (7/10)

Zhu — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:00:05 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

Being comfortable in your workplace greatly impacts how successful you are at work. Here are 10 tips on workplace etiquette in Canada:

Dress code: in general, small businesses are less strict about business attire when compared to larger corporate environments. Some sectors are traditionally more conservative, for example banking, accounting and law. Generally speaking, the following clothes are not appropriate for work: beach sandals and sneakers, sports clothes (i.e sweatpants), graphic tee shirts, ripped clothing, spaghetti tank tops.

Tip: most workplace have “casual Fridays”, which means that every Friday, employees are allowed to wear more casual dress, such as jeans and tee shirts.

Greeting people: the notion of hierarchy is less important in Canada than it is in most countries. Remember the lesson: everyone is part of the company and should be treated the same. Always treat the receptionist, administrative assistant, cleaners etc. the same way you treat the top executive.

Tip: most workplace try to remove barrier by going on a first name basis.

Respect people: Canadian society is extremely diverse and chances are, you co-workers will be too. Be prepared to work with people from different backgrounds, different religions. In a professional setting, all differences should be put aside anyway.

Tip: even if English and French are Canada’s official languages, prepare to be patient with people (clients, customers, co-workers) who have varying abilities in these two languages.

Big no-no’s: drinking alcohol at work, for example during an informal business meal, can be very frowned upon. Similarly, smoking in the office is of course forbidden. As a matter of fact, smoking outside anywhere near a door may be forbidden too.

Tip: some workplace are “scent-free”, due to recent health concerns arising from scented products. Apparently, perfumes and other strong scents (shampoo, deodorant, suncream etc.) have been reported to trigger symptoms in people with asthma and people with environmental sensitivities.

French and English: Canada is officially bilingual, Quebec’s official language is French, New Brunswick is bilingual and the National Capital Region is trying to be. Discussions on French-English relations are best avoided at work and one should try to respect everyone’s preferred official language.

Tip: even if you don’t speak French/ English, try to initiate the conversation in that language, or just learn a few words. For example: “excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais ?”.

Time: Canadian are pretty punctual and meeting start on time. Notice people if you are late, or cancel altogether if you know you won’t make it.

Tip: Canada’s notorious winter weather can occasionally account for being late. When there is a big snow storm or other severe weather conditions, it is understandable to be late… once in a while. That said, you should always learn how to prepare for such weather and arrange your travel plans accordingly.

Getting involved: Canadians value work and socializing in the workplace is not uncommon. For example, pot-lucks are popular around Christmas time, as well as participating in various charity events or challenges (such as fundraising).

Tip: while you may not be able to attend all events, participating once in a while is recommended. Not only it will help you fit in, but it’s also a great way to network and meet new people.

Introductions: they include one’s title if appropriate, or Mr., Ms, Mrs. and the full name. When co-workers or others higher in the hierarchy want to be addressed on a first name basis, they will usually say it (“Just call me John”). It’s actually pretty common to address people by their first name, including supervisors… and in French, most people will use “tu” instead of “vous”, except with CEOs and clients.

Tip: if you are not sure how to pronounce a first or last name, just say so, and the person will tell you! I usually do well with French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese last names etc. but I must admit I’m clueless when it comes to Indian or Vietnamese names.

Political correctness: love it or hate it, chances are you will get familiar with political-correctness (PC) at work. This include using proper terminology when referring to ethnic groups, avoiding telling jokes that key off sexual or racial stereotypes etc. Be careful, people are sensitive to this.

Tip: some workplace promote the use of gender-neutral terms whenever possible. For example, “chairperson” or simply “chair” in place of “chairman.”

Discussing problems: Canadians are quite straightforward and most consider that the best way to solve a problem is to discuss it. A lot of supervisors or managers have an “open door” policy and you are welcome to express yourself.

Tip: remember to ask people beforehand if they are available to discuss an issue. You may want to send an email and set a time to make sure you are coming at a right time.

Developing Interview Skills (6/10)

Zhu — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:25:32 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

Being called for a job interview is both exciting and scary. Exciting because you are being considered for a position, scary because you may lack confidence. Fortunately, with a little bit of practice, you will be able to improve your interview skills.

Before an interview

Research the company: most companies today have a website explaining their mandate, the kind of positiona they offer, the services they provide etc. Research carefully! You can also learn quite a lot on a company’s mindset.
Read again the ad for the position: you probably applied for a lot of positions and you may have forgotten what was the position about. Don’t laugh, it happens! Some hiring processes are notoriously slow and I was once called back for a position I had applied for… two years earlier. I usually save a copy of the ad of all the positions I apply for, either by taking a screenshot capture, either by just copying and pasting the ad into Word.
Read again the cover letter your wrote for the position: same here… I usually write a different cover letter for each position I apply for and save them. It’s always a good idea to refresh your memory by reading the letter you wrote for the specific job.
Map the location of the interview: don’t forget that most cities in Canada are very spread out. You may know where Queen St. is, but if the street is several miles long, make sure you know which way you are going! When the name of the street is very generic (River st. etc.), you can ask for directions when arranging the details of the interview. Most people will give you the nearest intersection (i.e River st at Bay and Gladstone).
Allow enough time for transportation: no matter whether you are driving, busing or walking, always allow extra time for the unexpected. Snow storms, traffic delays etc. add extra stress on the day of the interview, especially if you are already running late.
Prepare the most common interview questions: some questions are basically a given, and you should prepare for them. It gives you more confidence, especially if English/ French is not your first language. I also used to research specific terms related to the position and make a list of keywords. You can read 50 Most Common Interview Questions, as well as Common Interview Questions (a blog that lists the most common questions by job field).

During the interview

Bring extra copies of your resume: good interviewers usually print out a copy of your resume and have it ready. But some… yeah, misplace it. Avoid this awkward moment by bringing extra copies of your resume.
Make a good impression: there is no easy answer to what you should wear, but use common-sense. Some industries are more conservative than others (i.e banking) and you should stick to the dress code. Making a good impression also include greeting the receptionist, giving a firm handshake, being on time etc.
Listen carefully: make sure you understand all the questions!
Highlight your strengths: Canadians employers expect you to market yourself. While this is considered as bragging in some culture is perfectly acceptable here. Talk about your abilities and how you could add value to the company and refer to your past work experience and achievements.
Give clear and concise answers: Canadian employers are usually pretty straightforward and want someone that can fit the position, period. Make sure you stay on topic and don’t waste time.
Don’t linger: once again, interviews are not usually very long. Once you are done with the question, restate your interest in working in the company, say thank you and leave.
Be prepared to provide a list of references to vouch for your abilities: some interviewers will email you later on for reference check but some like to ask for them at the end of the interview. Just prepare a sheet with your reference information, such as name, email, phone number etc and have it ready in case of.

After the interview

Send a thank you note: within a day or two of the interview, send an email thanking the interview for his time and restate your interest in the position.
Follow-up: if you haven’t heard anything form the company by the date that they agreed to contact you, send a note asking them for example how they are coming along with their decision.

Canada's Hiring Culture (5/10)

Zhu — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:41:27 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

Canada’s hiring culture is very much North American and can be a bit puzzling at first. It can be summed up in three steps: get the first contact right, be proactive and build your network.

Getting the first contact right

No matter whether you are applying for an advertised position or cold calling a potential employer in your field, it’s important to make a good first impression.

Always:

Do exactly what the ad asks: some ads ask you to send your resume and cover letter by email, so do just that. It’s still common enough to be asked to fax your resume. Yes, it’s a pain, but if it’s what the employer wants… go head!
Try to fit the position you are applying for: most job advertisements list a series of skills needed to do the job. When you don’t have all of them, or don’t meet the minimum experience required, take a chance and highlight all the skills you have, as long as they are relevant to the position. Employers look for the best candidate, not necessarily superman!
Get addresses and contact names beforehand: this is really important when you are cold calling, i.e approaching prospective employers. Give the company a call before you send your resume and get the name of the person in charge of hiring, or a contact you can send your resume directly to.
Follow up: employers can be slow in getting back to you. Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to give them a call if you haven’t heard back from them. Just ask how they are coming along with their efforts to fill the position!
Don’t always expect employers to acknowledge receipt of your application: in fact, a lot of ads state “only successful applicants will be contacted”.

Being proactive

Canadians, and North Americans in general, are usually very proactive (and encouraged to be!) when job-hunting.

The easiest way to look for a job is often browsing for ads and applying for the positions you think you can fit. But in fact, the best methods to find work and those with the highest success rate are:

Cold calling: see some tactics for cold calling in Cold Calling Tips That Work.
Networking: this is the best way to tap into the invisible job market.

Both methods are traditionally seen as scary and somewhat intimidating, but… they work. Confidence is everything!

Keep in mind that North Americans value face-to-face contact, and a positive “can-do” attitude. Being assertive (as well as friendly!) helps a lot in getting a job for which you do not meet the requirements perfectly.

Building a network

Newcomers to Canada usually have one big handicap: they don’t have a network. Fortunately, little by little, you will get to know people in your industry, both employees and employers. And this start with the job search.

You should expect a lot of rejections when you are cold calling, since employers won’t necessarily be hiring at the moment. Don’t worry, this is normal! Plus, even though you hadn’t realized it, you are building your network. If a potential employer tells you he is not hiring right now, take a minute to ask for a lead: someone else in the industry who may be interested in your skills, for instance. Always be polite and thanks people you talked to, whether it’s the receptionist, the manager or the human resource specialist. And if you got an interview or the chance to speak with someone on the phone, send a short email thanking them for their time. They could be part of your new network!

Avoid Job Scams (4/10)

Zhu — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:45:25 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

Newcomers to Canada are usually very eager to find a job. Add that to the fact that they may not be familiar with the local job market and that when money is starting to run out people would do anything, it make them very vulnerable to various job scam. Learn how to recognize them!

The “work at home” scams

This is everybody’s dream: work at home and get rich quick! No experience required, plenty of money to be made. Really? Nope.

You will often find these ads in local newspapers or in free newspapers, such as Metro. While there are legitimate work at home job offers, you should always be very suspicious at first. Remember:

Check out the company on the internet. If the company is legit, you should be able to find some good testimonies, or at least some solid info on the job. Don’t be fooled by fake testimonies: some scammers flood forums with very positive posts about their experience. They are not hard to recognize: they usually only register on forums to spam about their company!
Don’t pay for anything. You shouldn’t need to buy equipments in order to do your job.
Hang on to your personal information: don’t provide bank account number, SIN number etc. until you are sure the company is legit, and that the company really need this information.

Not all work at home job offers are scams but a lot of them are not profitable anyway. For example, a lot of data entry jobs are a sale pitch for an information kit that you must buy to get you started. Same for processing claims job: you will often be asked to first buy the software and pay for your training.You can read more work at home scams on the Scam.com forum.

The “pyramidal schemes”

Try putting your resume on Monster, like I did recently, and you will soon start receiving a lot of emails about “sales opportunities”. Some are legitimate MLM companies, while most of them promote a pyramidal scheme, which is illegal in many countries, including the U.S.A and Canada.

Pyramidal scheme is a non-sustainable business model. Basically, it involves subscribing to a plan/ buying a product and getting a commission every time you recruit a new person, who is also going to buy the product and recruit other people. Pyramidal schemes are a scam because only the people who started the scheme, who are at the top of the pyramid, will actually make money. People at the bottom of the pyramid will not get any money.

The difference between multi-level marketing and pyramidal scheme is that in the latest, you do not receive or sell any product or service. Yet, companies which use multi-level marketing scheme are often criticized and even sometimes condemned for being more on the pyramidal level scheme side.

If you are ever approached by such a company, make sure you do the maths and check out their reputations online.This is a good forum discussing all the scams in this category. Don’t forget that a lot of these companies are very pushy and will do anything to defend their reputation: don’t be fooled by fake testimonies!

“Help wanted: experience not required” scams

These scams are pretty rare since most of the “help wanted” ads are usually legit, but it is worth mentioning.

Some unscrupulous employers will scam newcomers this way. For example, if you do not have experience, they employers will ask you do work for free during your training, which can last for days… or weeks. And of course, at the end of your non-paid training, the employers will say you do not fit the positions.

Or some employers make you pay for your training. Eventually, you will either be fired at the end of your training, or be told that you are not good enough and have to pay for more training.

Remember these few rules:

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. A lot of scammers are successful because people are greedy and want to make money fast. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.
Legitimate employers would never ask you to pay for your training or equipment to get you started.
Be careful of “blind ads” where you can not find any contact information. If you are doing something legal, usually, you have no problem with people knowing who you are… right?
Don’t provide too much personal information: you should keep your SIN number safe, as well as your bank account number, credit rating etc. Especially if you are not hired yet!
In doubt, google. Or contact the Better Business Bureau for background info.

Finding Job Opportunities (3/10)

Zhu — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:18:01 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

I’m not a job counselor, and I’m not an expert. But I do know how it works in Canada and I’m hoping to pass along some informations that may not be obvious to everyone. A post will be published every Saturday… enjoy!

There are usually three ways to look for a job: going through a staffing agency, checking out ads or tapping into the “invisible job market”.

Staffing Agencies

Staffing agencies, also known as employment agencies or placement agencies are plentiful. They aim to match employers and job seekers in the job market.

Job seekers do not have to pay for these agencies’ services: the employers pay the fees. Most agencies require you to register online (all the biggest ones have a website) and submit your resume. You will then be called for an appointment: bring another copy of your resume and references, and handle the meeting the same way you would handle any job interview.

Staffing agencies typically test candidates on-site. Your computer skills, language skills etc. will likely be assessed: this could take a few hours. Then, you may be contacted for various job opportunities, ranging from very short term contract to permanent positions.

Staffing agencies can be a great way for newcomers to solve the “Canadian experience catch 22″. A lot of employers will prefer candidates who already have work experience in Canada, but to gain experience in Canada, you have to start somewhere. Agencies are used to deal with newcomers and as long as you have the skills, they will usually be less picky about your lack of Canadian references or experience.

Note that agencies usually specialize in a certain field: construction, administrative support, banking, IT etc. Select the ones relevant to your work field.

Useful links:

Canadian Job Websites

Each province, even sometimes each city had various websites with many job ads. Job Bank is probably the biggest ones, with thousands of ads from the private sector. You can find a pretty comprehensive list of relevant websites by province and by field on the British Expats Wiki.

Jobs in the federal government are advertised on the Public Service Commission of Canada. You need to create a profile and apply for positions from your profile. Be aware that the recruitment process for positions in the public sector is notoriously long (usually months!) and that it is extremely difficult to get a job if you are not a Canadian citizen.

Local newspapers are also a great way to find job opportunities. A long list of ads is usually published on Saturdays and job offers are very current.

Tapping into the invisible job market

It is often said that at least 50% of positions are never advertised: this is the famous “invisible job market”, and probably newcomers’ biggest challenge.

Indeed, a lot of companies don’t advertise vacant positions: either they hope to fill them from within, either they are hiring from a specific network. This is one of the reasons why networking is so important in North America!

It is always good to send a few resumes and cover letters to companies you are dreaming to work for. A lot of them will keep your resume for a while and will let you know if a positions matching your skills is available. I often joke that in Ottawa, half of the people are in “pools”, waiting for dream jobs, usually at the federal government!

It’s a good idea to carry business cards with you and to give them whenever you get the chance. Don’t be shy to talk about your skills and what you are hoping to do: I got quite a few opportunities this way. And don’t forget networking is a two-ways street: it’s not about using people but rather helping each other.

3 Basics To Start Job-Hunting (2/10)

Zhu — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:03:43 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

In order to start looking for a job, you need 3 basics: an up-to-date resume, a cover letter and a few references.

The Resume

Canadian resumes are pretty straightforward. They stress on your abilities, achievements and experience. A resume is your business card and a marketing tool: employers usually scan them fast, so you need to catch their eye.

Resumes are typically divided into several sections, but shouldn’t be more than one or two pages long.

Contact informations: your full name, address, home and cell phone number and email.
Skills highlights or profile: this is a short list of your main skills, achievement or abilities (for example, I usually include the fact that I’m bilingual since it’s pretty useful in Ottawa!). The highlight should target the skills needed for the position your are applying for.
Education: list your degrees, the schools you attended, any training you may have received. Ideally, “translate” your foreign degrees for Canadians employers. If you did an official foreign credentials assessment, go with that. Otherwise, explain in bracket: for example, a French DEUG would be a two years university degree etc.
Work experience: this is obviously the most important section. You can organize your past experience chronologically, or you can write a functional resume.
Skills: add useful skills, such as computer skills, foreign language you master etc.
Hobbies and interests: employers do look at this section. It can give them an idea of your personality: for example, someone who plays a lot of team sports could be a good team player etc.

You do not need to include a picture, nor you should mention any personal informations such as marital status, religion, immigrant status in Canada, political affiliations etc.

Finally, be confident when you write your resume. North Americans are not shy about telling their employers about achievements and success. You should use a lot of pro-active verbs (such as “performed”, “achieved”, “increased”…) and refrain to mention anything negative.

Useful links:

The Top Keywords Recruiters Use to Find You
Resumes, CVs & Cover Letters
The Resume Guidebook (PDF document for download at the bottom of the page)
Monster.ca’s Resume Center

The Cover Letter

Covers letters are very important. They should demonstrate how your skills fit the position you are applying for. Don’t just describe your resume, include examples and details! The cover letter should expand your resume’s objectives and impress the employer.

Okay, I know, easier said than done. But the more you practice, the easier it gets. A nicely written cover letter does make a huge difference in your application!

Useful links:

Cover Letter Tutorial
Cover Letters
Cover Letters: infos to include, do’s and don’ts and samples
Covering Letter: Canada

References

All in all, as far as I know, resumes and cover letters are pretty universal. Sure, you need to “canadianize” them, but chances are you are already familiar with the concept.

Now, the concept of references is something that totally puzzled me when I first came to Canada. As far as I know, in Europe, no one ask for references, unless the position is really important. But when I first started applying for jobs in Canada (yes, even for call centers!), employers automatically assumes I could provide contact informations of up to three people that could vouch for me. Needless to say, I was pretty new to the whole thing.

A reference is someone who can vouch for you and can provide information on how you perform in various task, ranging from basic ones (“is he a team player?”) to the most precise ones (“how does he perform with…?”).

References are ideally co-workers or employers. If you are new to Canada, it’s acceptable to provide references abroad, but be aware that some prospective employers don’t bother checking them (been there, done that…). I know, it’s a bit of a catch 22.

Ideally, you should always have three up-to-date references. Keep the names and the contact information on a separate sheet of paper since references are not listed on the resume, but provided later.

Always ask people’s permission before listing them as a reference. I found it a bit awkward at first (okay, I still do!) but because everybody need references, people are used to it and usually won’t mind. Pick your references carefully since employers do contact them.

Useful Link: How To Get And Provide References

See you next week for another article on How To… Find A Job In Canada!

Getting Reading For Job-Hunting (1/10)

Zhu — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:27:36 +0000

Canadian Flag on Parliament Hill

Welcome to the “How To… Find A Job In Canada” series!

There is no easy answer when it comes to employment. You know the story… a bit of patience, a bit of skills, a bit of luck.

Today, we will cover the basis: who can work in Canada, and what you need to get ready for job-hunting.

Who can work in Canada?

In order to work legally in Canada, you must either:

Be a Canadian citizen
Be a permanent resident: you can study, work and live wherever you want, for as long as you want.
Hold a temporary work visa: depending on your status, you may have restrictions regarding where you can work, and for whom. There are a variety of temporary work visas (such as the Working Holiday Visa, special category work permits etc.), some are easier to get than others. You may read the post Work Temporarily In Canada for more informations.

No matter what your status is, you first need to obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN card) if you haven’t done so already. This is a 9-digits number you need to have to work in Canada. Note that temporary work permit holder’s SIN number will begin with the number “9” and will expire on the date indicated at the front of your card, based on your work visa length. Canadians’ and Permanent Resident’s SIN number doesn’t expire.

What you need to know beforehand

If you are a newcomer to Canada, no matter what your status is (new citizen, permanent resident or temporary worker), chances are that you were educated and trained abroad. In order to prepare for job-hunting, you should follow these few steps:

Getting your credential recognized: this is very important, and unfortunately, it’s not free and can be tricky. Canadian employers are usually not familiar with foreign degrees, credentials or certifications. Assessing credential is a provincial responsibility and this is done by the five assessment organizations that currently exist in Canada: ACAS (for Manitoba), CEFAHQ (for Quebec), WES (for Ontario), ICES (for British Columbia) and IQAS (for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories). Another list is also available here. Note that there is a fee for all assessment, depending on the organism and on what you need exactly.
Having your documents translated: if your documents are not in English or French (Canada’s two official languages), you will need a translation. You can not translate the documents yourself, this has to be done through a professional organization.
Having a language assessment: Canada has two official languages, French and English. In Quebec, chances are you will need to speak French at work given that it’s the province only official language. Elsewhere in Canada, people usually work in English. In a few places, such as the National Capital Region (Ottawa area), New Brunswick etc., speaking both French and English can be extremely useful. If you wish to work in a language that is not your mother tongue, you may want to be assessed. If you are a permanent resident, you may benefit from free language classes (in English or in French) through the LINK program (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada). Learn more about learning French or English here.
Check if your occupation if regulated: in Canada, there are two kind of occupations: regulated (controlled by provincial law and governed by a professional organization or regulatory body) and non-regulated (no legal requirement or restriction on practice with regard to licences, certificates, or registration). About 20% of Canadians work in regulated occupations such as veterinarian, electrician, plumber, physiotherapist, medical doctor, engineer, etc. If you wish to work in a regulated profession, you must have a licence or certificate or be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation. Note that regulations vary from one province to another, so it really depends on where you settle. If your profession is regulated, be prepared to fight to have your credentials recognized. It’s not impossible but it is seen as challenging.

Learning about how to practice your profession in Canada

You may want to check two very useful websites to learn about how to practice your profession in Canada.

The Working In Canada Tool: this great online tool, created by the Government of Canada, allow you to browse a huge variety of occupations. You will learn if there are regulated or non-regulated, the average salary per profession per region, the list of essential skills to have, the main duties to perform, relevant associations and unions etc.
Information on access to occupations in Canada: this is a similar tool from the Canadian Information Center for International Credentials.

You may also want to read the FAQ about credential assessment and recognition in Canada.