Why is it difficult to get a job in Canada? I hear this from most of the people I know personally. Is it because Canada has a bad economy, or is there a lack of job opportunities, or is it just the immigrants finding it hard to get jobs in Canada?
Canada expects applicants to have Canadian work experience to get hired for a job. That raises the question of getting the first job in Canada. Many people take blue-collar jobs in their initial days of arrival in Canada, for instance, cashiers, customer representatives, etc. This experience adds to your profile in understanding Canadian culture. However, you should continue applying to job postings that are relevant to your work experience. Every immigrant should be exposed to Canadian culture, as this adds value to their profile.
Things that you can’t miss while applying for jobs in Canada
- Tailor-made resumes for each company
The first step in applying for a job is to read the job description thoroughly. Find out which skills the company is looking for in the job description and tailor your resume accordingly. You want to match your resume as much as possible with the company’s job description. However, be careful not to copy-paste! You may not have all the skills mentioned in the job description, but ensure you keep some of those skills relevant to your expertise. Next, optimize your resume to match the job description. A resume optimization tool like ‘jobscan‘ could be helpful.
- A cover letter is a must!
Do not neglect writing a cover letter along with your resume and send it to the recruiter while applying for jobs. With the help of a cover letter, you can show recruiters that you are genuinely interested in applying for a given job. In addition, the cover letter allows you to explain why you are interested in the job or why you are qualified for it. As long as your cover letter is persuasive enough to convince the recruiter, you will have a higher chance of receiving a call from the recruiter for an interview.
- Do not rely on just one job portal
Take the time to explore as many job portals as possible in Canada, not just Indeed. Indeed, it is a good idea to also register in other job portals. Some of the other job sites you can find in Canada are Jooble, Robert Half, Career Builder, LinkedIn, Glassdoor. It is recommended that you use LinkedIn when searching for jobs, as it allows you to network with different professionals. Another way to receive interview calls from recruiters is to update your skills on LinkedIn. Getting an interview may not be possible if the skills that you have on your LinkedIn profile do not match what is listed in the job description. Recruiters need to see that an applicant is actively seeking out jobs, which makes it more likely that they will reach out to the applicant for an interview.
- Understanding Canadian experience
The Canadian experience is more than just working in Canada. It is predominantly about soft skills. The following are some of the most important things to observe and learn from the culture of Canada:
- It is important to have excellent communication skills (be sure to improve your English speaking ability)
- Problem-solving skills (be sure not to complain about your previous experience)
- Do not appear overqualified for the position (be sure to align your achievements with the requirements of the position)
- Make eye contact with your interviewer while speaking.
- Speaking about your personal accomplishments are a must (Use ‘I’ instead of ‘We’)
What do you think after reading this?
Is it still difficult to get a job in Canada? Leave your comments below. If you would like to share your success story regarding this topic, send an email to info@mycism.in, and your success story will be published.
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