Are you moving to Canada? Are you looking for a software developer job? If your answer is yes to both of these questions then this article will provide you with the tools you will need to obtain the job you are looking for.
There are many online resources at your disposal which you can use to jump-start your job search and help make finding a software developer job as quick and easy of a process as possible. But before we get into that, let us look into some quick facts about software developers in Canada, namely…
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Annual Salary
According to Nuevoo, the average software developer in Canada makes $95,739 per year which equates to an hourly rate of $49.10. While this is only the average, the highest paid software developers can earn up to $157,000 per year, while the lowest-paid software developers still earn $45,000 per year.
Now, how to go about finding the software developer job right for you:
Online Job Boards
A great place to start looking for software developer jobs in Canada is on online job boards. These provide centralized locations where you can narrow in on the specifics of what it is you are looking for. This includes limiting the search to the certain type of software developer job you are seeking, as well as setting the location to Canada as whole or to a certain province or city (though there are software developer jobs throughout Canada, there are a few centralized hubs mostly in the larger cities, such as Toronto and Vancouver).
A few great job boards from which you can get started are:
These are just a few examples of the many job boards on the Internet where new software developer jobs are posted every day as they are made available, and there is no limit to how many you may apply.
Direct Apply from Employers Website
While the job boards will allow you to cast a wide net, it can beneficial to seek out companies specifically. For instance, if you know of a company that has the sort of opportunities you are looking for, it may help to go directly through them. A good resource for finding Canadian software companies can be by clicking this link or Glassdor.com
Personal Connections
While the job boards and the company websites provide great places for finding large quantities of jobs, the best method of obtaining an interview is through personal connections. So, if you are lucky enough to know somebody at one of the companies to which you are applying, then you should reach out to them however, this is not often the case.
If you do not know anyone from any of the companies to which you are applying, fret not. You can use professional social media websites such as LinkedIn (link above) to do some research and figure out some of the employees at these companies. Once you have discovered some of these people, you should reach out and try to build your professional network. Having a large professional network can be very beneficial as it will provide you with inside scoops to jobs at companies, as well as a connection at the company.
While this may seem intimidating, it doesn’t hurt to try to make new connections, though you should refrain from hounding people for job recommendations if you have not made some sort of connection first.
Once You’ve Found a Potential Job
While the job boards, company websites, and personal connections can make for great jumping-off points, especially when it comes to finding available jobs, there are several other steps you should take to make sure that you stand out as a strong candidate.
The first thing you will want to do to ensure that you stand out from the crowd is to perfect your resume and cover letter. It may seem obvious, but hiring managers who have to scour through thousands of applications will sometimes discount candidates based on something as menial as a poorly formatted resume. On the other side of the spectrum, having a very well written resume and cover letter in which you detail your work experience and why that experience would lead you to success in the position for which you are applying will only serve to strengthen your chances of being hired.
Once, you have a knockout resume and cover letter, the next thing you will want to do is prepare a portfolio of past work. This portfolio should present the type of work you are capable of doing. This is valuable because it allows for potential employers to have first-hand knowledge of what quality of work you will be able to provide them should they hire you for the position. Keep in mind, your portfolio should feature your stand out work as it is what you will be judged on.
Once you have a well-formatted resume, A greatly-written cover letter, and a portfolio showcasing your best work, you can start applying to the jobs you have found. You should begin by targeting jobs you think you would be best-suited for based on your experience as these will be the jobs you will most likely be considered for. However, it never hurts to apply to jobs a little outside of your experience. That is if you do not mind the extra work.
As you are applying to jobs, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the jobs to which you have already applied and which you have yet to apply. This why being as organized as possible is key. For instance, it helps to keep a spreadsheet of some sort in which you can log which jobs you have and haven’t applied, and update as you progress. This will allow you to not lose focus on the task at hand which is finding a great software developer job for you.
Interview
So, you’ve sent found the correct job openings for you, sent out your great resume, well-written cover letter, and can’t-miss portfolio, and now you’ve been asked to interview. The interview process can be quite intimidating at first, but if you follow a few easy steps, you will be able to knock it out of the park with ease.
First and foremost, preparation is key. Anticipate the types of questions you will be asked based on which job you are applying for. Once you have done this, prepare answers for these questions so that should you be asked them, you will not need to think up answers on the spot. It helps to say the answers out loud beforehand to prepare for the real interview.
If you can nail your interview, you should be able to receive a job offer. However, there still may be a few steps you must take before you begin your new software developer job.
Canadian Restrictions on Foreign Employment
While you may possess the requisite experience for many available software developer jobs, Canada does have some restrictions in place which could make obtaining a job quite difficult if you are not already a Canadian citizen–primarily Labour Market Impact Assessments.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document that essentially states that there is no Canadian citizen available to perform the vacant job. Therefore, any Canadian company will be required to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment from the government before they are to hire you if you are not a Canadian citizen.
If the company is able to obtain the Labour Market Impact Report, then they may extend to you a job offer and a contract which you will need for the next step in the process which obtaining a work visa.
In order to obtain a work visa for Canada, you will need four things:
- First, you will need a job offer letter,
- After you receive a job offer you will need to provide a contract offered by that company.
- Then, you will need a copy of the Labour Market Impact Assessment
- And finally, the Labour Market Impact Assessment Number from the LMIA.
If you are able to obtain all four documents, then you will be able to apply for a work visa. If you are approved, only then can you begin your new job in Canada.
Conclusion
Overall, finding a software developer job in Canada is not a straightforward process. Make sure you use the resources at your disposals such as the Internet, job boards, and connections you have made. Put forth the best version of yourself by preparing a tightly-formatted resume, a well-written cover letter, and a portfolio of your best work.
Prepare as best you can for the interview so that you nail it when the time arrives. And finally, if need be, follow the Canadian government’s steps for obtaining a Labour Market Impact Report so that you may obtain a work visa. If you are able to do all of these steps, then it should not take too long before you will be able to start a new software developer job in Canada.