Infocentre

Before Arriving

Canadian employment takes a number of forms from full time and part time to temporary and contract work. In order to access employment opportunities, you will have to engage in a job search. Part of your job search should be conducted before you come to Canada, specifically getting a head start on recognition of your credentials and experience and on building your network.

One point that needs to be stressed is the requirement for documentation relating to your previous employment.

While there are many opportunities in Canada, finding a job is not simply a matter of posting your resume on a job board and hoping for the best. In Canada, roughly 80% of jobs are never advertised: they are found in what is known as the hidden job market. Since these jobs are accessed through networks, rather than job boards, this can mean that you may spend quite some time searching for a position in your field.

The time you spend looking for a job in your field should also be used in a number of other ways:

• as an opportunity for networking
• as a chance to increase your language skills
• as an opportunity for labour market research
• as a chance to gain Canadian experience by volunteering

In many cases, you will have to take a position that is less than you would normally take in order to gain Canadian experience. In some instances, you will have to take a position that is totally outside your field in order to pay the bills. This type of position is often referred to as a survival job. As with the time spent on looking for a job in your own field, you should also use time spent in survival jobs as opportunities for networking, improving your language skills, and learning about Canadian culture.

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