Thinking of finding a job in Canada? Here is how to start the process
If you are thinking of coming to Canada to work then it is useful to know where to start. An incorrect initial move often results in wasted time and, on occasion, can result in worse things such as accusations by immigration authorities of misrepresentations.
In recent years the Canadian immigration system has been altered in a way that the entity in the immigration driver’s seat is the Canadian employer. The gatekeepers under many of the economic immigration programs, whether provincial or federal, are Canadian companies wishing to hire international workers. The thing then to focus on first is getting a job in Canada with an employer that hires international workers. With a job in hand, the rest of the process is far easier.
How do you start with the job part? You need to be strategic from the outset in order position yourself in a way that maximizes the chances of succeeding with your efforts at finding a job. First make a list of all your work experience in detail. It’s often easy to forget about some of your experience and the professional roles that you have played during your years in various jobs. This is especially the case for experience that you acquired two, three, or more years ago because we tend to focus on the most recent things that we have been working on.
By listing the experience that you have acquired and the professional roles that you have worked within, you can then start to assess which industries it is best to focus on with your job search. Some industries in Canada face greater shortages of Canadian workers and, thus, will be more likely to have companies that will be able and willing to hire international workers. You can do some research by, for example, using the jobsaloon job tool to get a sense of which industries and professions have the best chances of getting a job in Canada (the tool can be accessed using the following link: http://www.jobsaloon.com/report.php). With such information in hand you can then begin to narrow in on those fields and professions that your experience legitimately allows you to work in and which have the greatest chances of success.
If you have a spouse who you would like to bring with you to Canada, then it is very useful to do the above-mentioned research for both yourself and your spouse. If either you or your spouse gets a job in Canada then the other person will be able to come along without first having to find a job for himself or herself. So it is much more efficient and effective to focus your job searching efforts on those industries that either you or your spouse can apply under and which have the greatest likelihood of success.
Once you have decided which industries it is best to focus on, you can then start your search by using sources such as jobsaloon.com in order to find companies within your industry that hire international workers. Here it is also useful to repeat what we stated in previous articles: do not limit yourself to only large cities and large companies. Many under- the-radar opportunities lie outside the large cities and companies.
You should customize your application to fit the particular needs of the company that you are applying to. Be very specific and concrete in your descriptions of your experience and how it meets the specific needs of the company. Companies usually do not like to receive generic applications that were obviously prepared to be sent to many other companies. By putting in the time and effort to prepare a customized application, you are indirectly demonstrating to the company that you are a diligent and detail-oriented potential employee.
Once you land a job in Canada then you can decide (often with the help of the employer) which immigration program it will be most advantageous for you to apply under. There are many options on both the federal and provincial levels so make sure to explore each before deciding to embark on a particular one. While all of this might sound time-consuming, it is far less time-consuming than doing things haphazardly and then having to backtrack on earlier decisions and restarting the process.