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5 Steps to Apply for a Job in Canada

April 1, 2021

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  • Nicky Van Zyl

Why is it so challenging to apply for jobs in Canada? Well, most Canadian companies want you to be authorized to work in Canada before they’ll hire you. This means you should have your visa by the time you apply for jobs. Sounds easy enough right? Well, here’s where it gets complicated. In order to apply for a visa to work in Canada, you may or may not need a valid job offer. 

Company sponsorship is also not so straightforward since companies in Canada need their own special document from the government that allows them to hire you. So, where does that leave you? Confused, dejected, stressed? Don’t be, for every immigration or visa problem, there’s a certified immigration professional with a solution. 
While it’s tricky to work in Canada, it's not impossible. You need to have a lot of patience, be confident, and committed to your goals. Most importantly, you can follow these 5 steps to apply for a job in Canada and secure a brighter future for you and your family.    

1. Know Your Canadian Visa Options

5 Steps to Apply for a Job in Canada It's important to know your visa options if you want to work in Canada. Some visa categories don’t require you to obtain a job offer in order to move to Canada, while a few other visa categories have their own authorized and designated employer portals where you can apply for jobs in Canada. There are currently more than 100 visa and immigration options available in Canada! Knowing which you qualify for will save you a lot of time and effort by pointing you in the right direction at the very start of your job hunt. 

For instance, if you’re a truck driver looking for a job in Canada, you may not be aware of the Saskatchewan Truck Driver Project. The project is an immigration program aimed at foreign truck drivers who want to work for one of the participating trucking firms in Saskatchewan for about six-months. If the truck driver gets offered permanent employment, they’ll earn permanent residency through the visa program.  To get professional advice on your best options to work in Canada, complete our online evaluation that is reviewed and signed by certified Canadian immigration consultants.  
  

2. Update Your Resume/CV - Canadian Style

Not only is it important to update your CV with your most recent work experience but you should also adapt your CV to make it easy for hiring managers to understand how you’ll be an asset to their company. Remember that your CV is a tool to secure an interview and not an autobiography. A great CV concentrates on key highlights, has short punchy sentences, and should ideally only have 1-2 pages.   Here are 5 things you can do right now to adapt your CV format in Canada.  
 
  1. Don’t waste valuable space. Only list experience relevant to the position you are applying for.
  2. Quantify your accomplishments where it's applicable. For example, “Increased sales by 10%” instead of “I am sales driven.”
  3. Convert all terms to the Canadian equivalent. For example, use terms like “high school” or “internships” and “on-the-job training”. 
  4. Don’t use the same cover letter for all jobs you apply for. Instead, create a tailored cover letter unique to each company and available position. 
  5. Do not list your date of birth, gender, marital status, religion, or parents’ names. You also don’t need to sign your CV or add the date you created it. References are not compulsory, however, do have a list ready when you are asked to provide them. 

Professional CV Format

See the example below for tips on how to structure your CV. It may be worth it to get your CV professionally created by a graphic designer or you can find free templates online from apps such as Canva.  A neat, professional-looking CV is guaranteed to stand out from the rest.  5 Steps to Apply for a Job in Canada

3. Create a LinkedIn Profile

If you don’t have one yet, we highly recommend that you create a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a social network that focuses on professional networking and career development. It also serves as your digital CV with extra features like colleague recommendations and endorsements. It’s free to create a profile on LinkedIn and it's available in most Eastern countries that usually block social media networks like China and Dubai. 

LinkedIn is popular in Canada and is used by hiring managers as part of their screening process. They use your LinkedIn profile for additional information and to check if your profile corresponds to the information on your CV which is why it's important to have a complete profile with updated information at all times. If your CV is the cake then your Linkedin profile is the cherry on top.  

4. Top 5 Job Platforms For Jobs in Canada

Man applying to job platforms for work in Canada There are many great job platforms that you can use to find jobs in Canada. Most companies advertise positions on more than one platform, so be sure not to accidentally apply to the same company on different platforms. Here are the top 5 job platforms where you can upload your updated and adapted CV.

Top 5 Job Platforms in Canada:

1. Canadian Job Bank
2. eJobbo       
3. Monster Canada      
4. Indeed
5. Randstad   

Tip: Be selective about which jobs you apply to. Make sure that you have the relevant skills to perform the work. Applying to 40 companies in Canada just for the sake of obtaining a job offer letter to get your visa application approved never works, and only wastes your valuable time better spent searching for a job that is suitable to your skills and where you can make a real difference. 

5. Get Your Education Credentials Accredited

Does your profession call for post-secondary education? It’s important to get your qualifications accredited to work in Canada. You can get your qualifications evaluated by companies such as WES. Submitting a WES- approved certificate (or any other) along with your CV will show the hiring managers that your educational background is up to Canadian standard. 

How We Can Help You Work in Canada

So, are you ready to apply for a job in Canada and hopefully start a new prosperous life in one of the best countries in the world? Let us help you with that. Multi-Dimensional Consulting (MDC) is a professional visa and immigration agency with a team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs). We can help you find the best visa program that will allow you to work in Canada with little effort. Applying for a visa can be time-consuming and confusing. With strict deadlines, procedures, and requirements to adhere to, it can be easy to make a mistake that could cost you your chance in Canada. But with the guidance and assistance of one of our knowledgeable experts, the process will be easy and stress-free not to mention more successful!

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