Chapter 10

How to Find a Job in Canada  

Before Immigrating

 

You really don't need to have a Canadian job offer before you can apply for an immigrant visa. 

But if you can find one, your points in the selection criteria will go higher by 15 points. You will need these extra points especially if they are lacking somewhere in the point system. 

Also, when you have  a job offer or an arranged employment, you don't need to show proof of settlement funds. For some applicants, this is good news since it is so hard to raise the settlement funds that the immigration officers are requiring.

Don't forget, the documented promise of a guaranteed job does not assure that your application will be approved. But as long as the  rest of your application is positive, your chances of getting approved as an immigrant is higher than another applicant who does not have a job offer.

  Remember, the process in looking for a guaranteed job offer can be difficult, but not impossible. The key here is to  convince the employer that you have skills that no existing Canadian resident can perform, for the salary being offered where the job is located.

How to find a Job 

when you are  outside Canada  

  • Send your resume and cover letter directly to Canadian companies who hire people with your qualifications.

  • Send your resume and cover letter directly to Job Recruiters and other Canadian placement agencies that specialize in your type of occupation.  

  • Send you resume and cover letter directly to companies who are located in the northern or rural areas of Canada. These are areas where most Canadians would not like to work, since there are not too many recreational amenities or where the weather is not as comfortable compared to that where the major cities are.  

  • Post your resume in Canadian job sites like http://www.monster.ca.   This will expose your resume to Canadian employers looking for applicants. 

  • If you are working for a company with an office in Canada, maybe you can apply for an international transfer to the Canadian Office. Do not quote a very high salary or demand outrageous benefits when applying. Making yourself as indispensable as possible will help make the employer's part of the process be easier.  

  • If you can afford it, the best advice we can offer you is to come to Canada on a vacation so that you can gather as much information as you want.  

  • If you cannot afford to come to Canada, the best advice we can give you is to buy our ebook My Canadian Job Finder. This ebook contains a listing of more than 3,000 Canadian Job Placement Agencies and companies where you can send your resume and cover letter. This is an invaluable tool for you to have whether you are inside or outside of Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

How should I prepare a cover letter and resume that is acceptable to Canadian Employers ?

 

Use a sample letter and resume that is acceptable by Canadian Standards. Click on the following links to help you in your job search.

 

Can you give me tips on how to directly contact a Canadian Employer?

 

You can contact employers directly by applying through their websites. This is a very effective job search method.

  • At this point, the internet is your best friend. You should identify your potential Canadian employers. Do a search on the internet of various Canadian companies who might possibly employ someone with your skills. This could be hard since you don't even know the names of these companies. For a start, we suggest that you use a search engine like www.altavista.ca and do a search on "canadian  company". Once you found the company that interests you, go the  Careers section of their  website.  Be sure to check the qualifications that the employers are looking for.

  • Once you have identified the company, send them an email attaching your cover letter and resume. remember, sending a cover letter and resume is not the first step. It's checking the skills that the employers are looking for.

  • Follow up your application. 

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Skills that Canadian Employers are looking for

Here's a checklist that might help you in your self-evaluation. Check the skills that you have and the skills that you still need.

Skills Yes Needs Work
Communication skills
Teamwork skills
Time Managements kills
Problem solving and decision-making skills
Organizational skills
Learning skills
Computer skills
Creativity skills
Leadership skills
Adaptability skills

Adapted from Canada Prospects 1996-97 Canada Information Partnership