At Remitly, we know that moving to a new place is as exciting as it is challenging. If you’re settling down in a new country, finding a job will no doubt be a priority. It can be difficult to enter a foreign job market as an immigrant, so here’s the latest of our guides, this time for the free career resources available in Canada.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of help to set you up for success in the country, much of which is absolutely free. Taking advantage of the services offered to you can help you land a job and more quickly integrate into Canadian culture.
An overview of Canada’s career services
Locals call people who have left other countries to settle in Canada “newcomers to Canada.” As a newcomer to Canada, there are a lot of places to start looking for a job. Canada is friendly towards newcomers and has a lot of resources available to jobseekers.
The best place to start is the Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service. They have tools to ensure that you have everything you need to start working in Canada.
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Apply for a Social Insurance Number or SIN
If you want to work in Canada, you’ll need a SIN. Applying for a SIN online is relatively straightforward, but you should do this as soon as you arrive in Canada.
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Check your credentials
There are two types of jobs in Canada: non-regulated and regulated. Most jobs are non-regulated. This means the employer independently decides if you’re qualified based on your experience and you don’t need any special certifications or qualifications.
Other jobs are regulated. To secure a regulated job, you’ll need to meet some specific requirements. You can learn more about assessing your credentials here.
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Improve your language skills
The official languages in Canada are English and French. Test your proficiency in these languages to see if you have the skills necessary to work in Canada. If you’d like to improve your language skills you can take a class, which may even be funded by the Canadian government.
We know that moving to a new country can be a bureaucratic headache, but using the services provided by the Canadian government can make the transition to the country easier. We’re going to take a look at the resources which are designed to align with government requirements, so should help make things go smoothly.
Three sources of support
The government-sponsored programs are one of the best places to get started on your job search in Canada. However, the help doesn’t stop there; non-profit organizations and community-based initiatives can also help you narrow down your job search.
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Government-funded programs
Our suggestion is always to start with government-funded programs to ensure you have everything you need to work in Canada legally. Check out the country’s government-funded services, which you can start to use even before you arrive. As for improving your English and French skills, there are plenty of free content options online—YouTube is a good place to start.
Once you arrive in Canada, you can use the Job Bank as a starting point for your job search. This government-sponsored site posts an average of 105,000 jobs each month.
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Non-profit organizations
There are tons of non-profit organizations across Canada that can help you get settled, find a job, take your language skills to the next level, or connect with the local community. Because Canada is such a large country, the government has a database for you to search for non-profits by postal code.
Some of the larger non-profit organizations worth checking out are Mosaic, Talent Beyond Boundaries, and Diverse City.
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Community-based initiatives
Once you know where you’ll be living in Canada, you can fine-tune your job search. Immigrant Employment Councils of Canada is a great place to start and can help you find a mentor and expand your professional network. You can find resources specific to your area, too, with community-based resources available for places including Toronto, British Columbia, Calgary, Edmonton, and Manitoba.
Free services for new arrivals
If you’re looking for free services for new arrivals, check out this database. All of the organizations listed here have been vetted by the Canadian government. They provide resources free of cost.
There are plenty of different types of resources and assistance available.
Workshops and sessions
You can find many different free training sessions to upskill your résumé on the Government of Canada website. Under each opportunity listed, look for “Cost: No” which indicates that the training is free. Aside from the government website, NPower Canada is a national employment program that provides free professional skills training.
Mentorship and professional networking
Finding a mentor can be a great way to develop your career in a new place. Mentors can provide first-hand guidance based on their own lived experiences, which you can’t find anywhere else. Canada InfoNet offers online mentorship programs to help find such guidance as you look to build a career in Canada.
Once you’re in the country, if you’re looking for opportunities to build your professional network, why not attend an in-person job fair? These events are often an opportunity to meet with prospective employers personally.
Online resources and tools
There is so much information online available to newcomers; here’s a comprehensive guide to employment in Canada that starts with revamping your résumé, for example. And if you’re not sure what type of job would suit you, consider taking a career quiz to help you decide.
Once you have a job offer, you can use online reports to analyze the market. This can help you decide if your industry is secure and if your salary offer is appropriate.
Finding more resources
The Canadian government website has much more than just the Job Bank to help you find and secure the job you want. There’s also:
When you’re job-hunting in a new country, it can often feel like your expertise isn’t enough, as you’re also faced with differences in language, culture, and background. We’ve got some Canada-specific tips to help you succeed:
- Ensure that you have the skills that are valued in the Canadian job market and highlight them on your résumé and cover letters.
- Write your résumé in a format that’s recognizable to Canadian employers. In Canada, the most common format is reverse-chronological order. Canadians do not typically add personal information or photographs to their résumés.
- Check your credentials and see if they will be recognized in Canada. The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials can help you find out if a job needs specific credentials.
- If you’re interviewing for a role in Canada, remember that Canadian culture is very punctual. You should arrive fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time of your interview.
Looking for a job in a new country can be daunting, but it’s exciting too. Luckily, Canada is a country that’s very friendly towards and supportive of newcomers. There are plenty of free career resources available to help you navigate the job market. And once you land a job, we’re your go-to resource for sending money internationally.
FAQs
Are there free career training services for refugees in Canada?
If you’re a refugee and you have working permission or permanent residency in Canada, you can contact Mosaic. This non-profit organization helps immigrants settle in Canada. You’ll get to attend a free, one-on-one session with a professional to help you build your CV, hunt for a job, and prepare for interviews. Your session will be in English, but interpretation services can be requested.
What organizations help immigrants in Canada?
There are hundreds of organizations in Canada specifically designed to help immigrants get settled. These organizations can help with things like finding a job, registering for language classes, or learning about community services.
If I’m a foreigner, how can I get a job offer in Canada?
Make sure you have the documents necessary to work in Canada. If you don’t have these documents, you can still apply for work as an international job applicant. Check you’re applying to job postings that are open to international candidates or temporary foreign workers.
I’m thinking of moving to Canada. When should I start using these resources?
Now! You can start using pre-arrival tools designed to prepare you for your move to Canada. From your home country, you can start to prepare to live and work in Canada. You can also start to get in touch with potential employers and get your education and work credentials recognized.