Canada provides plenty of resources that can help you find a job in the country. Different provinces have different requirements and prefer certain skill sets. It is important to confirm that the qualifications you have obtained from your home country are recognized in Canada.
The Canadian job market
Economic growth in Canada occurs primarily in the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. There tends to be higher unemployment in areas such as the Atlantic Provinces.
Many companies in Quebec hire those who are fluent in French. If you are fluent in both English and French, it will definitely work in your favor here.In attempt to attract more foreign skilled workers to the country, the Canadian government has two schemes, called the Canadian Experience Class and the Provincial Nominee Programme. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is aimed at those who have lived in Canada for some time and have good English or French skills along with skilled work experience.
Foreigners in temporary employment can move from temporary to permanent residence under this program. In order to be eligible for this program you must: plan to live outside of Quebec, have a minimum of one year full-time skilled work experience in Canada in the three year period before the application, have gained your work experience with proper authorization and meet the necessary language levels required for your job in each language ability such as speaking, writing, reading and listening.
Under the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP), provinces can nominate people who they wish to immigrate to Canada. Each province has its own programme and it serves as a faster route to obtaining permanent residency in Canada. This type of program helps provinces to effectively bring newcomers to their region and the program is refined to select individuals who can settle and work in a particular region and contribute to the community. Find out if you qualify
Work permits
The first step in searching for a job is obtaining a work permit. The type of work permit you need depends upon whether you are moving to Canada temporarily or permanently. Those making a short-term move usually require work permits and the concerned government departments here are Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). Some categories do not require work permit. The full list of such occupations can be found on the CIC website.
The most common type of employment in Canada is permanent employment, wherein employees receive a package that includes the salary, healthcare and other benefits such as bonuses or personal incentives. In such positions, the employer and employee are required to pay certain deductions such as income tax, employment insurance, Canada pension plan and union dues, if applicable. Employees with permanent jobs are eligible for government support in case of job loss for no fault of their own.
Those planning on becoming Canadian residents require an immigrant visa and how easily you can get this visa depends on the category you are in, such as business class, family member or skilled worker. It also depends on the province because different provinces may have different skill shortages.
The requirements are constantly updated on the CIC website and the department also provides a booklet which offers advice to people looking to relocate to Canada and also includes helpful information on how to enter the Canadian workforce.
Job portals
Once you have a clearer idea, you can refine your CV and place it on various job search sites. You can start your search using Job Bank, an online job portal run by the Canadian government. You can peruse the various listings in your preferred category and area. Other resources like listings in local newspapers and other online job sites may also be useful in finding a job of your choice.
Networking
Since Canada has a thriving expat community, networking with other expats is an excellent way of finding out about vacancies and opportunities in the job markets. Expat clubs and associations are a meeting point for expats from different communities settled in Canada and many of these provide resources for job seekers such as job listings, networking events and business gatherings. Expat business and social forums on the Internet are also a good place to find out about jobs in Canada.