PLAN TO LOOK FOR A JOB

(FOR SKILLED WORKERS)

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Your preparation process should start from the very moment you apply for the Permanent Resident Visa, or even before. As you wait for your application to be assessed and your trip to Canada, which Can last about two years, you should get ready constantly.

● STUDY ENGLISH AS MUCH AS YOU CAN 

You should have at least a 65% of command of English on your arrival to Canada. Remember that you can study grammar and vocabulary on your own. The starting point from which you will start your career will depend of your level of English.

● KNOW WHAT YOUR OBSTACLES AND LIMITATIONS ARE – IN YOUR PROFESSION AND A S A NEWCOMER

Regulated Professions

Being admitted by the Canadian government to live in Canada doesn’t mean that you will allow to work freely in your career. There is a great number of regulated professions that you can only exert if you get a license or professional registration fee.

Some professions and crafts can be “validated”, so that you get Canadian credentials after some examinations and upgrading courses, as in the case of engineering, and other technical careers. In general terms, both engineers and technicians in certain fields can get a job without a compulsory license, but in this case there are certain legal and economical constrains.

However, the 80% of workers in Canada work in non-licensed occupations. In those positions, it is the employer who assesses the applicant and decides who will be hired, according to his /her skills and experience.

For further information about your profession, consult the following list. If you cannot find your profession or craft, consult the Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) web site. You will learn on the requirements to get a professional license in Ontario and the rest of Canada through these links.

1.      Accountants *[1111]

2.      Actuaries [2161]

3.      Acupuncturists and Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine *[3232.2]

4.      Aerospace Engineers *[2146]

5.      Agricultural Engineers *[2148.1]

6.      Agricultural Representatives, Consultants and Specialists *[2123]

7.      Air Pilots, Flight Engineers and Flying Instructors [2271]

8.      Air Traffic Controllers [2272]

9.      Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians and Inspectors [2244]

10.  Animal Health Technicians and Technologists [3213]

11.  Architects *[2151]

12.  Audio and Video Recording Technicians [5225]

13.  Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists *[3141]

14.  Bailiffs and Sheriffs [6461]

15.  Cardiology Technologists [3217]

16.  Chemical Engineers *[2134]

17.  Chemists [2112]

18.  Chiropractors *[3122]

19.  Civil Engineers *[2131]

20.  Computer Engineers *[2147]

21.  Dental Assistants *[3411]

22.  Dental Hygienists *[3222]

23.  Dental Technicians and Technologists *[3223]

24.  Dentists and Dental Surgeons *[3113]

25.  Denturists *[3221]

26.  Dietitians and Nutritionists *[3132]

27.  Educational Counsellors [4143]

28.  Electrical Engineers *[2133]

29.  Electroencephalographic and Other Diagnostic Technicians and Technologists [3218]

30.  Engineering Physicists *[2148.4]

31.  Engineers *[2130]

32.  Environmental Engineers *[2131.1]

33.  Estheticians, Electrologists and Related Occupations [6482]

34.  Financial Planners [1114]

35.  Foresters, Forestry Professionals *[2122]

36.  Funeral Directors and Embalmers *[6272]

37.  Geological Engineers *[2144]

38.  Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists *[2113]

39.  Geomatics Engineers *[2131.2]

40.  Graphic Designers [5241]

41.  Health and Safety Officers [2263.1]

42.  Hearing Aid Consultants and Audio Prosthetists *[3235.1]

43.  Home Economists *[4164]

44.  Industrial Engineers *[2141]

45.  Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners [1233]

46.  Insurance Agents and Brokers [6231]

47.  Interior Designers [5242]

48.  Land Surveyors *[2154]

49.  Landscape and Horticulture Technicians and Specialists [2225]

50.  Landscape Architects *[2152]

51.  Lawyers *[4112]

52.  Licensed/Registered Practical Nurses *[3233]

53.  Marine Engineer Officers [2274]

54.  Marine Engineers *[2148.2]

55.  Mássage Therapists *[3235.2]

56.  Máster Mariners [2273]

57.  Mechanical Engineers *[2132]

58.  Medical Laboratory Technologists *[3211]

59.  Medical Radiation Technologists *[3215]

60.  Metallurgical Engineers *[2142]

61.  Midwives *[3232]

62.  Mining and Mineral Processing Engineers *[2143]

63.  Naturopathic Doctors *[3123.2]

64.  Naval Architectural Engineers *[2148.3]

65.  Occupational Therapists *[3143]

66.  Opticians *[3231]

67.  Optometrists *[3121]

68.  Paralegals [4211]

69.  Paramedical Occupations and Ambulance Attendants *[3234]

70.  Petroleum Engineers *[2145]

71.  Pharmacists *[3131]

72.  Physicians *[3112]

73.  Physiotherapists *[3142]

74.  Podiatrists *[3123.1]

75.  Psychologists *[4151]

76.  Public Health Inspectors [2263]

77.  Quebec Notaries [4112.1]

78.  Real Estate Agents and Salespersons [6232]

79.  Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses *[3152]

80.  Respiratory Therapists *[3214]

81.  Securities Agents, Investment Dealers and Traders [1113]

82.  Social Workers *[4152]

83.  Software Engineers *[2173]

84.  Specialist Physicians and Surgeons [3111]

85.  Teachers, Elementary School *[4142]

86.  Teachers, Secondary School *[4141]

87.  Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters *[5125]

88.  Truck Drivers [7411]

89.  Urban and Land Use Planners *[2153]

90.  Veterinarians *[3114]

Some of the regulated professions or technical careers requiring a compulsory license to work are:

- Alignment and Brakes Technician

- Autobody and Collision Damage Repairer (Branch 1)

- Autobody Repairer (Branch 2)

- Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician

- Automotive Service Technician

- Electrician (Construction and Maintenance)

- Electrician (Domestic and Rural)

- Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician

- Hairstylist

- Truck-Trailer Service Technician

- Mobile Crane Operator (Branch 1)

- Mobile Crane Operator (Branch 2)

- Motorcycle Mechanic

- Plumber

- Steamfitter

- Tower Crane Operator

- Transmission Technician

- Truck and Coach Technician

- Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic

- Sheet Metal Worker

For further information on these jobs and to know the process to get a LICENSE for newcomers in Ontario, See Regulated Technical Professions in Canada.

In some occupations, a License or an educational certificate is not compulsory (you may have it or not). Examples of these occupations:

- Air-Cooled and Marine Engine Mechanic

- Arborist

- Assistant Cook

- Automotive Machinist

- Automotive Painter

- Baker

- Boat Motor Mechanic

- Brick and Stone Máson

- Cement Máson

- Construction Boilermaker

- Construction Millwright

- Cook

- Electronics Service Technician

- Farm Equipment Mechanic

- Fitter (Structural Steel / Platework)

- General Machinist

- Glazier and Metal Mechanic

- Nursery Greenhouse Worker

- Industrial Electrician

- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)

- Industrial Woodworker

- Ironworker

- Junior Baker

- Lather

- Marine and Small-Powered Equipment Mechanic

- Mouldmaker

- Painter and Decorator (Commercial and Residential)

- Painter and Decorator (Industrial)

- Patissier

- Pattern Maker

- Printer

- Small Engine Technician

- Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer

- Tool and Die Maker

MAIN LIMITATIONS

● English ! English ! English ! ( Writing. Speaking, listening)

● A lack of experience in the Canadian way of working

● Lack of information (wrong or incomplete, from friends, relatives, community, etc)

● Lack of ability to carry out an efficient interview with an employer.

● Lack of abilities to work in a team

● Frustration for working in crafts below your actual abilities or degree.

● Cultural differences (religion, habits, etc)

● Major difficulty to integrate to team work.

● Major difficulty to assess knowledge and skills.

● KNOW THE CRITICAL SKILLS REQUIRED OF THE CANADIAN WORKFORCE

The Canadian government has defined, classified and assessed 9 critical skills required for a worker to enter successfully the job market and that are required by Canadian employers from applicants.

A.     Text Reading Comprehension

B.    Document Use

C.    Writing

D.    Numeracy

E.    Oral Communication

F.     Thinking Skills

G.   Working with Others

H.    Computer use

I.        Continuous learning

● RESEARCH ON THE DEMAND FOR WORKERS /EMPLOYEES IN YOUR PROFESSION OR CRAFT IN CANADA

You can watch continuously your job possibilities in the different regions of Canada via Internet. The advisable Internet sites are:

Job Bank - Where do you live?

 Alberta Jobs

 AllStarJobs

 Canadian Newspaper "Help Wanted" Ads

 Career Owl

 Hot Jobs

 Job Port

 Jobshark

 La Toile du Quebec (French only)

 Monster.ca

 Technogénie Ressources Inc

 Working Canada

 Workopolis

 Youth.gc.ca

 
On these sites you will know the job demand , their requirements, the salaries offered, specific necessary knowledge, experience required, etc.

On the other hand, researching on what the regions or provinces of Canada have the higher demand for professionals in your field are,  will also give you a sound idea on the best place in Canada for you to live.

● DEPICT YOUR JOB PROFILE

Canada is a highly industrialised and developed country where it is expected that every worker will have enough training and experience to do successfully certain specific job. You should make an account of your skills, knowledge, likes, expectative, interests, experience, etc. And depict your own job profile for the Canadian job market.

In some cases, this is an opportunity to make some changes in the direction of your career, and with some training courses and upgrading, to try and take a new path.

● UPDATE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATED TO YOUR PROFESSION

In many careers and professions, there is a steady updating in technology and specially in specific software for every area, which makes the constant training and updating a necessary point to be competitive in the job market.

For example, the versatile and efficient operation of design programs such as AutoCAD, Mechanical Desk, Mastercam, etc., should be part of the knowledge of an efficient  mechanical engineer whose aim is to get a decent job in Canada. If you are an industrial, mechanic, electronic or civil engineer don’t wait until your arrival in Canada to start doing AutoCAD or Excel courses. The lack of this specific knowledge may make you lose a lot of job opportunities. Some may be really good.

Computing professionals, Systems Engineers, Programmers, and other related professionals have always had a good start in Canada, provided they are ready in specific areas and have Microsoft certifications – MSCE, COMPTIA certifications, of technical support A+, Worknets N+, CISCO, JAVA, iNET, Visual Basic, C++, etc.

The following are the basic programs that professionals of any area should learn to operate before coming to Canada:

-          Excel

-          MSWord

-          PowerPoint

-          Internet Explorer

-          Windows

-          Outlook Express

● WRITE YOUR RESUME (in the Canadian way)

A resume is a brief summary containing basic but important information about who you are and what you have done in your different jobs. This is the first impression you will give a possible employer, so the fact of being called for an interview  or not may depend on a good preparation of you resume.

A good resume will not ensure you a good job by itself, but a poor resume will stop you from getting an interview, and you won’t have the opportunity to get a job without it.

In out section - Resume and Cover Letter, you will know the technique to write your own resume. Devote all the necessary time and research to achieve an attractive resume, clear and objective. That will be the key to the door to the interview room.

An employer will assess your RESUME in 20 or 30 seconds, and will decide if he /she accepts or rejects your application. In consequence, your RESUME must have all the features and the information to “persuade” the employer and be placed in the list of candidates. 

You should then fulfil the following requirements:

-          Write it according to the employer’s requirements

-          A professional layout

-          Addressed to a specific position or organisation

-          Written in a perfect manner, without grammar or spelling mistakes

-          Show your skills, experience, knowledge and achievements in a clear honest way

-          State your offer clearly

● SEND YOUR RESUME TO CANADIAN EMPLOYERS

Start your job search in Canada a couple of months before you came to settle down. Write a Cover Letter, explaining that your are in your immigration progress and that you would like an interview to offer your services as soon as you arrive. Sending your resume over Internet is a cheap comfortable way to make contact with companies or employers. Faxing your resume may also be effective.

Many people have managed to contact Canadian employers who offer them a job and help them with their settlement, especially to work in small cities. This will help you in a significant extent to devise your written material.

● STUDY THE TECHNICAL ENGLISH RELATED TO YOUR PROFESSION AND SPECIALISATION

You should learn the technical English related to your profession on your own, with the help of books and dictionaries. The mastery and correct use of those terms will make you confident in an interview and you will find it easier to show a positive attitude.

● BRING YOUR WORK TOOLS “READY”

The idea is that, your tools (software & hardware) for exerting your profession are ready on your arrival in Canada. Bringing a PC, laptop or hard disk with the programs, files and portfolios you need is a prime priority. Showing that kind of tools is essential to succeed in some interviews.

It is not advisable to get or assemble your PC here, as the technical service and software programs are quite expensive. Apart from that, bring English versions of your application programs, and a keyboard in English.

● TAKE ALL THE NECESSARY TIME TO ACHIEVE THE PREVIOUS AIMS

In some cases it is better to put off your application or your arrival for some months, that arriving without the necessary preparation to face a job search.

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