Is it hard to find a job in Canada?

When I arrived in Canada, I found a job in 15 days, but I know that is not what happens in most cases. I was lucky to choose a software engineer as a career, and in Canada IT jobs are everywhere.

However, I have a lot of friends who work in other industries, and took a lot of time for them to find a job in Canada.

In general, it’s hard to find a job in Canada as an immigrant. In fact, it’s probably more difficult for immigrants to find a job in Canada than anywhere else and it’s not for lack of jobs or a bad economy. Plenty of people have complained that getting a job in Canada for immigrants and foreigners is difficult because Canadians expect you to have Canadian work experience before you get hired on for the job.

To make it easier to find a job in Canada, you need to understand the Canadian recruitment structure and work culture since there are highly different from other countries around the world.

That can make it extremely difficult for immigrants to find a job, especially when they first move to Canada and have no “Canadian work experience”.

Below you will find 6 main reasons why new immigrants struggle to find a job in Canada.

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Not having enough Canadian work experience

Every person who has moved to Canada, have heard this phrase: You don’t have enough Canadian Work Experience.

But the real truth about that is, The employers in Canada know that if you are a newcomer you don’t have the Canadian work experience.

What they really mean with “Canadian experience” is if you have knowledge of the work culture that they have in Canada and if you will be able to fit in the company culture and get along with your new coworkers.

Sometimes, employers, also use the term “You don’t have enough Canadian work experience” to simply say that:

Your English wasn’t that good
You didn’t have the right attitude or skills for the job
You hadn’t accomplished very much

Remember, Canadian employers, want to see people working for them who work hard and are willing to do the extra work and willing to learn and adapt to whatever job they’re doing, even if it’s one that’s a bit less qualified.

Can’t communicate well during the Interview

No employer would want to hire someone who comes into an interview and then doesn’t speak the language very well.

It’s important to practice common interviews questions and be prepared for what you will answer. Learn the language is the key to find a job in Canada.

The more you learn to speak the same language as Canadians, the easier you will fit in. Employers will see this as you taking a step in the right direction when it comes to trying to find a job in Canada. This could help you be hired on.

The level of English will vary dependent on the position, but an employer will not hire someone that does not meet the language skills necessary for the job.

Once you start to do interviews, you will notice a lot of times, the companies will ask the same questions. The most common questions that I heard during my interview process was:

Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?

Relying too much on technology for job searches and not searching hard enough

One of the biggest mistakes people make is only applying for a job online. Do not simply put your resume online or search for jobs online.

You need to get out there specifically searching for jobs and actually go into the place of employment. You need to show the employer that you’re willing to be there.

Be diligent in your search. Make an effort to show up to the workplace or go to meetups in your industry, it will help to expand your network.

Not making your resume up to Canadian standards

Be willing to give. In Canada, it’s unfortunate that you might not be able to get hired on the job that you want. You have to be willing to give, which means that you might have to take a different job that you didn’t want.

It’s common over in Canada to see people with all kinds of higher qualifications like doctors and lawyers doing simple, way under-qualified jobs.

A way to increase your chances is to take advantage of Canada’s bridging programs. It will help you relearn things about your career.

No one wants to relearn things they think they already know, but in Canada, it’s a good thing to take a step back. It can teach you more than you learned the first time.

Another example would be taking a position that’s lower qualified than what level you’re at.

By starting lower and taking a step back, you’re working harder to launch yourself into your career. It may seem pointless at first, but in the end, it will really pay off.

Make sure you apply for a job that you know the most about. You want to have something that you’re experienced in because Canadians care about experience.

The main question you need to answer for your employer is: What do you know that will benefit them if they choose to hire you?

A career that has more supply than demand

Make sure your career is one that’s more demand than supply.

You’ll be more than likely to be hired by a Canadian employer if they have a desperate need for employees and not enough people to work.

That’s one of the quickest and surest ways to land a job.

To make sure if your career has demand, go to jobs search websites and check if there are any jobs in the city you are thinking to move.

Here’s the list of popular websites to find a job in Canada:

Don’t Give Up

It can be really stressful and hard being an immigrant in Canada if you haven’t been able to be hired on. Many people have experienced this, but in the end, they eventually find a dream job.

Make sure to learn more about the culture, speak English, write a good resume up to Canadian standards, search diligently for a job, are in the right career that you know well and that has plenty of jobs available, and don’t be afraid to take a step back, relearn your career, or take a position lower than what you want.

If you are looking for a job in tech, feel free to create a free account at Vanhack . They help immigrants to relocate and get sponsorship to work in Canada.

It can be hard to find a job in Canada but if you have patience and stay positive, then you’ll land a job eventually. Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is never to give up.

There are a lot of foreigners and immigrants in Canada who are going through the exact same thing you may be struggling with right now. It doesn’t have to be your experience if you know what the potential problems are and then makes a true effort to stand out to your employers.