New immigrants finding work in Canada

[wyho007]

Just would like to provide some advice to new immigrants finding work in Canada. I've heard so many immigrants having hard time finding jobs. Easy way out is to start a survival job, but once you started, it's difficult to switch back out sometimes.

Yes, you'll need to learn to write a Canadian style resume and practice your interviewing skills. This comes free at settlement agencies.

In addition to that, you may seriously consider starting a vocational training program. For example, if you were in administration/accounting in your home country... try to register for a short term diploma program (usually less than a year) at the local colleage, e.g. bookkeeper certification, administration/office clerk diploma, etc. This will:

• Distract you from getting depressed as it usually takes 3- 6 months to look for a job (if not survival job) anyway (even for locals), when you are new to this country, it's easy to get discouraged just staying home without a job. Keeping your psyche is key to being successful in job searching all the way through.
• While you're at school, you can meet new local friends or build networks
• Even you were very experienced in the area back in your home country, able to learn some local style applicational training is much more attractive to a local employer

Once you get your first job, even it's at a lower level then you previous had back home, at least you're in the same industry and that will help you get faster promotion/raise, easier to switch to higher level jobs later.

While taking classes, don't stop job searching. Keep the ball rolling at all times!

I see so many new immigrants just keep sending out job applications and wait. Months after, they give up and go for survival jobs since they either get depressed or financially stressed.

Good luck!

 

[qureishi]

very good advice and many courses are also publically funded

 

[permafrost_can]

Just would like to provide some advice to new immigrants finding work in Canada. I've heard so many immigrants having hard time finding jobs. Easy way out is to start a survival job, but once you started, it's difficult to switch back out sometimes.

Yes, you'll need to learn to write a Canadian style resume and practice your interviewing skills. This comes free at settlement agencies.

In addition to that, you may seriously consider starting a vocational training program. For example, if you were in administration/accounting in your home country... try to register for a short term diploma program (usually less than a year) at the local colleage, e.g. bookkeeper certification, administration/office clerk diploma, etc. This will:

• Distract you from getting depressed as it usually takes 3- 6 months to look for a job (if not survival job) anyway (even for locals), when you are new to this country, it's easy to get discouraged just staying home without a job. Keeping your psyche is key to being successful in job searching all the way through.
• While you're at school, you can meet new local friends or build networks
• Even you were very experienced in the area back in your home country, able to learn some local style applicational training is much more attractive to a local employer

Once you get your first job, even it's at a lower level then you previous had back home, at least you're in the same industry and that will help you get faster promotion/raise, easier to switch to higher level jobs later.

While taking classes, don't stop job searching. Keep the ball rolling at all times!

I see so many new immigrants just keep sending out job applications and wait. Months after, they give up and go for survival jobs since they either get depressed or financially stressed.

Good luck!

You make great points here! thanks for this advice.

I would like to add that if someone gets a bit depressed, they can also access free resources to help them with that. Hopefully with a good job search strategy and enough social supports, they will not! But if it happens that they are depressed due to the job search process or in general because of culture shock, they are not alone, and there is free help available. I could give some pointers if someone is looking for it.

 

[StonicStone]

Volunteering is another option...just to keep your sanity

 

[wyho007]

Volunteering is another option...just to keep your sanity

Some reputable not for profit organizations in the local community will be of great help.