How difficult is it for an immigrant to get a job in Canada?

Canada is popular among professionals and students for lucrative job opportunities and quality education. Its multicultural vibe and supporting immigration plans have made foreigners relocate to Canada easier. 

However, many Canada PR visa holders often complain about not getting a job in Canada. Most of the aspirants are often discouraged by the difficulties they face to get jobs in a foreign country. The truth is, finding a job in Canada is as difficult as in any other developed country. 

Your chances of getting employed by a Canadian employer depend upon your academic background and relevant work experience. If you are a fresh graduate without any prior work experience, getting a job in Canada might be a challenge for you. 

How difficult is it for an immigrant to get a job in Canada? 

The international job market is highly unpredictable. It may offer you several positions at one moment and none at another. It demands a different skill set than back in the home country. Similarly, in the case of jobs in Canada, a candidate must fulfill all the requirements to work as a skilled professional. 

Some of the most significant requirements to apply for a job in Canada are: 

• Relevant education and work experience in the field

• Canadian experience 

• Soft skills for workspace

• Canadian style resume and cover letter

• Knowledge of French (for some provinces such as Quebec) 

If a candidate fails to fulfill even a single requirement, he/she will be denied the position. In that case, they must figure out a plan of action before taking off to Canada. 

Which province has major job options in Canada? 

Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec are the four biggest provinces that offer major job opportunities in Canada. Most of them are in the service sector, natural resources, and production sector which contributes majorly to the Canadian GDP growth. 

However, in some provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador, it can be burdensome to find a job due to the unavailability of resources to process an application. Moreover, in Quebec, candidates must have bilingual French-English skills to apply for a job. Thus, you’ll find different requirements depending on the province and the profile you are applying for. 

How can you ensure a job in Canada? 

You can utilize many resources to ensure a job in Canada, some of them are: 

Overseas job consultants- you can utilize their job assistance services for boosting your chances of getting a job in Canada. Their job assistance services include: 

1. Resume re-writing

2. Job search through various job portals

3. Mock interviews to enhance your interview skills

Job bank- you can get benefit from free information about work environment Canada, such as: 

1. Job profiles

2. Salaries

3. Main duties/responsibility

4. Trending employment opportunities

5. Educational and work requirements

6. Province or territory’ website information for new immigrants

How can you add more value to your resume? 

You can turn heads with your shining resume by adding skills and experience that Canadians value the most. For example, Canadian employers look for a problem solver, not a complainant. They are more likely to empathize with applicants with Canadian experience. It means candidates should possess a will to work hard, integrate into the environment and depend less on others. 

Different ways to reflect Canadian Experience in your resume: 

1. Volunteering/ seasonal programs- If you're a new graduate and never had much experience with jobs, it could be challenging for you as an outsider to build a career in Canada, therefore being a volunteer can be a reasonable start for you. Volunteering means that you do a job voluntarily and without getting paid for your services. 

Serving as a volunteer will help you: 

• Get Canadian work experience

• Improve your French and English language skills

• Expand your network

• Develop a Canadian accent

• Find some references for you

• Impress potential employees with your willingness to work hard

2. Linking Programs- specialized programs which bring together highly trained professionals from various fields can enhance your skills and help you easily integrate into the Canadian workplace. 

You can take advantage of services offered in linking programs, such as: 

• Professional courses

• Education and skill assessments

• Training for certificates and licenses

• Language training

• Other soft skills training

It can be very overwhelming and challenging to be an immigrant in Canada if you find difficulty in getting a job. To avoid this, make sure you write a decent resume to Canadian expectations, speak fluent English, diligently look for a job, and don't be afraid to take a pause, if required, re-learn new skills and re-apply with new enthusiasm.