Quite often, one of a student’s main goals is to find his or her first job as quickly as possible. However, international students find out as soon as they arrive that the job search in Canada is very different from what people in other countries are used to. The priorities and approaches to the job search itself are different here. Let’s try to get to the bottom of it all.
What kind of employees do Canadian companies want to see in their ranks
In short, a Canadian employer is looking for a professional who can do the job and has experience dealing with such tasks. Therefore, there are three main groups of requirements for the job seeker:
- Sufficient language proficiency. In most Canadian regions, it is a question of knowing English. In Quebec, for example, you can’t avoid being proficient in French. It’s not just a matter of having a high IELTS score. So even if you often think about who can write my essay for me in French, you should still practise your language skills yourself. It’s even more important to be able to quickly understand the task at hand and not waste your employer’s time with unnecessary explanations. Even if you’re good at your job, you can still find the information you need for it in one of the above-mentioned languages.
- You must have the necessary qualifications. When applying for jobs that require documented qualifications you should check that your educational documents are up to date. However, these credentials, if obtained in another country, must undergo an evaluation process whereby the credential obtained outside of Canada becomes valid for use in Canada.
- Sufficient work experience. For a Canadian employer, it is important to have Canadian experience. It is clear that a student cannot have Canadian experience. This is why it is a good idea to take any job, even out of your field of study and even unpaid jobs. Canadian experience is very important. Many people go to work as a volunteer for this very purpose. You can get a better job afterward if you have this experience. If you are an inexperienced student, you should look for part-time work at your university or other volunteer programs that might be considered as a job.
The job search process in Canada
The structure of the job search process in Canada depends on what kind of position the applicant is interested in. For a student, any job is desirable. Therefore, let’s look at the main points of the job search for a person who does not yet have Canadian work experience.
First of all, you must determine how you will present yourself in the job market. In Canada, it is not common to promote oneself in more than one field. Therefore, a separate CV, separate references, and a separate interview strategy for each potential employer, if any, should be prepared. It is also worth checking out the salary levels in the areas and regions you are interested in. However, when looking for a first job, salary should not be the deciding factor.
Preparation of CV in Canada is a separate complicated issue that is usually professionally handled. The fact is that the Canadian version of the resume has significant differences from those CVs that are written in other countries. The Canadian-style CV does not describe all of the applicant’s work accomplishments. It only mentions the work that is relevant to the job in question. The main purpose of such a CV is to get a potential employer to invite the job seeker for an interview. You can write a CV yourself using various free templates. But it is better to entrust it to professionals who will ensure that the CV is effective at the highest level.
Even the best resume will not work if it is not sent to a large number of potential employers. The question arises as to where to look for information about employers. The first places to look are specialized websites where you can post your CV and which employers check regularly. Here are some of them:
- Jobgurus
- Job Bank
- Workopolis
- Randstad
- Eluta
- Monster
- Canadianjobs
What else you should consider when looking for a job in Canada
Keep in mind that an employer in Canada might ask for references. The easiest way is to ask a good friend who runs a business in Canada for this reference. You should know that the employer will probably call this friend and ask for details of the recommendation during the interview process. If you do not know anyone who does, you can earn the reference while you are working without pay, i.e. by volunteering. It is clear that all these references must be fully consistent with the experience listed on the job seeker’s CV.
The employer often collects public information about the jobseeker on the internet. For this reason, the job seeker’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages should be consistent with the image the job seeker forms with the CV and during the interview process. It is highly advisable to publish or distribute posts on social networking sites from time to time to show that the job applicant’s interests are in the area of the job you are applying for. It is also a good idea to have friends from previous jobs listed on your CV.
Hence, looking for a job in Canada, especially for a student, is a daunting and demanding process. For this reason, it is a good idea for students to gather the necessary information beforehand as well as take the time to prepare the necessary documents, CV, and skills for a successful interview.
