For new immigrants, finding a new career is typically at the top of the priority list. Many newcomers discover that finding work is harder than they’d anticipated. Starting over in a new country isn’t easy, but immigrants can start a rewarding career in Canada. Here are three tips that can help you start your career.
1. Gain Canadian Credentials
While you may already have credentials in your desired field, that doesn’t always help you get a job in Canada. Canadian employers can have difficulty determining if foreign credentials meet their requirements. They might not be familiar with the schools you attended. They might not know how your credentials compare to education in Canada. Canadian employers usually get many applications for each open job, so they don’t have time to try to determine if your qualifications are adequate.
This is why some immigrants decide to attend a college in Canada. By attending a Canadian college, newcomers can get credentials employers will easily recognize. Employers will recognize the name of the college, and they’ll know if the credentials meet their employment requirements. Canadian credentials don’t guarantee you’ll find a job, but they can certainly help.
As an immigrant, you can attend any college program in Ontario. If you’re busy working and raising your kids, you might feel like you don’t have time to go to college. Many colleges offer flexible class schedules, so you can work your studies around your existing obligations. Private career colleges are a good option since you can finish your studies in a shorter period of time.
2. Create a Canadian-Style Resume
Resume conventions are different in every country. Using the wrong format when applying to jobs in Canada can take you out of the running. Employers are used to seeing resumes in a certain format. Resumes that follow a different format are hard for them to read. Since employers are busy, they don’t have time to try to make sense of unfamiliar resume formats.
To boost your chances of getting a career in Canada, create a Canadian-style resume. This is something your college career services department can help you with. They can show you examples of Canadian resumes and help you display your experience in a way employers are familiar with.
For example, Canadian resumes are a lot shorter than what you might be used to. Canadian resumes are only one to two pages long. They also don’t include information that you might be used to putting on your resume. Information about your age, health, and marital status should be left off your resume. Headshots also shouldn’t be included.
3. Start Networking
When you first arrive in Canada, you probably won’t know many people. That can be a problem because many jobs are found through networking. Newcomers need to build new networks to increase their chances of finding a career in Canada. The more people you know, the more people who can refer you to jobs or hire you at their own companies.
If you attend college in Canada, you’ll expand your network easily. Your classmates and teachers will form your network, and they might be able to introduce you to other people. Any of these people could help you get your foot in the door at your next job. The career services department at your school can give you tips about growing your network if you’re having trouble.
There are other ways to make connections in Canada and build your network. There are professional networks for immigrants. These associations are run by immigrants, and they let you meet professionals in your field. Joining community groups, clubs, and sports teams is another way you can meet new people in Canada.