5 Strategies to Launch Your Career Before Coming to Canada
Making the decision to immigrate to Canada is exciting and courageous. The months leading up to your arrival will be an emotional time as you prepare for life in your new home country. The anticipation of your move can be overwhelming.
However, there are steps you can take during this phase that will make the transition easier.
If you are planning to work in Canada, you may want to consider the following strategies to maximize your job prospects.
These five tips will help you get ahead of your competition and optimize your employability:
1. Research Your Profession in Canada
Before you arrive, it is important that you have an understanding of what your profession looks like in Canada. Are there prerequisites to enter the profession, or minimum requirements for employment, including education, additional licenses, certifications, skills, and experience? There will be similarities and differences in the professional requirements in your working country compared to Canada. Researching your profession can help you plan and prepare for your career success. You will better understand your value in the sector as you see how your education, skills, and experience rank against your Canadian peers.
Visit the Government of Canada’s labour market information tool to explore your profession and its requirements in Canada.
2. Gather Your Documents
Candidates applying through the Government of Canada’s Express Entry pool will likely be familiar with the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) component—a report outlining what your international education is equal to in Canada. To ensure the recognition of your education is seamless, learn which credential evaluation service is required for your chosen employer, regulatory body, or educational institution. You may be able to start the application process, obtain the required documents, and complete the accepted credential evaluation while still in your home country.
It is important to note that there is not one credential evaluation service that is recognized and accepted across Canada. Each profession, regulatory body, and educational institution will have a different recognition process and you may be required to obtain more than one credential evaluation to meet their requirements.
A credential evaluation is a valuable tool in marketing yourself. Watch our on-demand webinar to learn how you can leverage your credential evaluation in Canada.
3. Use Labour Market Information
Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories, and each region has unique employment opportunities. Labour market information will tell you about supply and demand in your industry—that is, the number of available workers compared with the number of available jobs. Researching your profession’s employment prospects by city will help you determine where the best opportunities are in Canada. If you are firm on living and working in a city where your profession’s employment prospects are low, you may need to consider an alternative or related career to improve your employment outlook.
4. Build Your Network
Networking is another important activity to begin before arriving in Canada. There are several online channels available to help you grow your professional network. Websites like LinkedIn provide opportunities to connect with Canadians who are working in your field. This is a great way to build relationships and learn first-hand from professionals in your new home country.
Your new connections will also grant you access to the hidden job market, which consists of jobs that are not posted publicly and are available only through a referral network. Always be professional, courteous, and positive with every person you meet; they may be your future employer. You never know how a relationship may evolve.
5. Access Pre-Arrival Programs and Services
There are many programs and services you can access while still in your home country.
The following are a few examples of the programs and services available to you:
- Settlement and Employment Services: If you have been selected to immigrate to Canada, there are services that help, in-person and online, to prepare you and your family to live and work in Canada. Each service has different eligibility requirements. Visit the Government of Canada’s website to find the program that is right for you.
- Recruiters: If you are eligible to work in Canada, there are recruiters that can assist you in finding a job in Canada. Take a look at What to Expect When Working with a Canadian Recruiter for an overview of how the process works.
- Living in Canada: The Government of Canada has created an online tool to provide personalized resources based on your responses to a series of questions. These referrals will assist you and your family with your employment, education, language, and settlement goals.
- WES Global Talent Bridge: This is a program of World Education Services that is dedicated to helping skilled immigrants find employment. By utilizing the following online services, you can gain employment strategies and tips to help you succeed in Canada
Before you arrive in Canada, ensure you do your research, get your credentials evaluated, build your networks, and take advantage of the available programs and services to help you optimize your employability and maximize your job prospects. Investing this time before you arrive may expedite your journey to career success in Canada.
