Whether you’re immigrating to Canada for a brand new start, to be closer to family, or for another reason, you’re going to have to find a job to support yourself.
Unfortunately, job opportunities aren’t often just handed out and as an immigrant, you’re going to face an uphill battle when it comes to the job market in this vast country.
Don’t worry, though — it’s not impossible to find a job and make a life in Canada. It does, however, require some hard work and dedication.
Today’s article is all about securing a job in Canada as a foreign immigrant.
Do Canadian Employers Hire Foreign Workers?
Yes! Canadian employers hire hundreds of thousands of foreign workers every year. In fact, with the exception of 2020, the number of foreign workers hired has only been increasing each year since 2015.
This is because there are more vacancies in the professional world than there are eligible Canadians that can fill them. Of course, this leads to a downfall within the Canadian economy, making foreign workers a great option to fill employment gaps.
Can Canadian Companies Sponsor Immigrants?
Canadian employers have the option to sponsor workers from other countries. Company sponsorship is when an employer fronts the costs to bring a highly skilled worker into their country from another country. This requires the company to pay for their new employee’s work visa.
What Is A Work Visa?
A work visa is, essentially, a permit that allows visitors to work (legally) in a country that is not their own. Work visas are mandatory to work in foreign countries and are almost always temporary. They can, however, be renewed. In some cases, those with a work visa may be eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa.
Applying for Canadian Work Visas
Step 1: LMIA
Before a worker applies for a Canadian work visa, they must qualify for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). A positive LMIA result will show that the worker in question is needed to fill a job space and that there is no Canadian resident or worker available to fill the position.
Employers will need to apply for an LMIA for their potential employees before the next step can commence.
Step 2: Temporary Job Offer
The potential employer must send a copy of the positive LMIA test results as well as a job offer letter to the employee. The job offer letter is also known as an “employment contract”. This contract should include:
- Job description
- Job title for the position
- Details about the beginning and end date
- Requirements for position
- Salary specifics
- Name and address of employer
Canada Services Agency will then double-check to ensure that the job offer is real and the Canadian immigration department will confirm the LMIA. CIC will then grant future foreign employees of the company permission to work in Canada and the employer will send the foreign employee an official job offer.
Step 3: Worker Applies for Work Permit
After the employee has their positive LMIA and an official job offer, they can apply for a Canadian Temporary Work Permit. The employee may be required to attend an interview with a visa officer. During this interview, the officer will judge whether the employee entering the Canadian workforce will have adverse, long-term effects on the availability of jobs for Canadians. They will also ensure that the employee meets the requirements for their applied permit.
If they are satisfied, the permit will be issued.
Step 4: Work Permit Issued
A member of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) will issue the permit upon the employee’s entrance into Canada. Employees from certain countries may be required to also obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to cross the border and begin working.
Where to Find Jobs in Canada
There is a multitude of great places and resources for finding jobs in Canada. With the popularity and widespread use of the internet, finding jobs is easier than ever. Many foreign employees have luck finding jobs on job boards like Indeed, Job Bank Canada, and WowJobs.
In British Columbia, there are a large number of jobs to be found on WorkBC. Most of these jobs pay higher than minimum wage and require some sort of education, skills, or extensive experience.
In addition, workers may also find jobs on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook, as well as on physical job boards outside of employment agencies and Canadian government buildings.
You can also opt for enlisting the help of a professional job services agency. These agencies are trained in resume writing, job search, and skills improvement, and are open to the public for mentorship and help.
Tips for Success
1. Improve Your Resume
All employment success stories start with a good resume (or “CV”). To get a head start if you’re coming to Canada as a new permanent resident without a job offer, start by mastering your resume. Double-check your CV to ensure that it fits with the Canadian resume styles that employers expect to see, and read and reread to catch spelling and grammar mistakes.
2. Use All Tools Available
When conducting your job search, don’t forget to use more than one source. You’re more than welcome to sign up for all the job boards. Having access to various job databases will improve your chances of finding a job that you qualify for, as well as present you with endless opportunities.
3. Highlight Relevant Experience
Whether you’re writing a cover letter or a resume, it’s important to highlight your relevant experience. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience from working jobs within Canada — the good news is that relevant experience in industries such as customer service and technology is universal and can be beneficial in nearly every country around the world.
