There is more than one way to find a job. You cannot rely on one approach. The more you do, the greater are your chances of getting interviews and hired. Start with this checklist:
| Understanding Peel labour market |
| Understanding the local labour market is the most important step to help you in better preparing for job search. It provides information about the local employment market for your occupation or industry including;
|
| Providing educational credential assessments |
| Understanding how your educational qualifications from another country translate in Canada is important when you're searching for a job or planning to immigrate to Canada under the skilled worker category. If you have obtained education, work experience or professional credentials from outside Canada, you will need to get your credentials assessed to:
Educational credential assessment will help you:
It is good to start the credential assessment and recognition process before you arrive in Canada as the credential assessment takes time. There are many organizations that can evaluate your credentials, but it's important to know that an evaluation prepared for an employer may not be the same as an evaluation prepared for a school, training program, college or university for higher education. The following organizations charge a fee for their services, and the process they follow may vary. World Education Services (WES) will provide assessments of your degree and/or diploma from high school, training program, college or university. WES has been hired by the Government of Ontario to perform evaluation services. WES evaluation reports can be used for 5 purposes:
Some organizations may not take assessments from WES, so it is important to check with the organization first before you get this assessment done. University of Toronto's Comparative Education Service evaluates the education you received outside of Canada for employment purposes. A Canadian school or education program may or may not accept this evaluation for admission. Check with the school or program first. International Credentials Assessment Service (ICAS) of Canada evaluates credentials from all levels of schooling for both employment and educational purposes. Their website provides information on fees, the evaluation process, as well as an application form. Medical Council of Canada (professional body) provides Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) for principal applicants intending to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) for immigration to Canada and for whom general practitioner and family physician or specialist physician would be the primary occupation for their application to immigrate to Canada. Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) (professional body) is the national certification body for the profession of pharmacy in Canada. It
Contact the regulatory body for your profession, a recognized credential assessment organization or your nearest employment services in Peel to find out the process. |
| Getting a work permit |
| If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you need a work permit to work legally in Canada. Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada - provides all detailed information on the eligibility criteria and types of work permits. Settlement.org - includes information on working in Canada as a temporary foreign worker. |
| Getting a Social Insurance Number (SIN) |
|
The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits. It is illegal to work in Canada without a SIN card. Your unique SIN number applies only to you. It tells the government who is earning money, paying taxes, paying into pension plans, and using government services. Employers, government agencies and non-profit organizations will ask you for this number. It is also needed to open a bank account or to obtain a child tax credit. You are responsible for protecting your SIN. Store any document containing your SIN and personal information in a safe place—do not keep your SIN with you. New immigrants can receive their SIN upon their arrival. Service Canada has an office within Pearson Airport with limited working hours on weekdays. Immigrant arriving after office hours or on weekends will have to visit a local Service Canada office to get their SIN. |
| Finding employment services near you |
| There are many not-for-profit, charitable organizations in Peel that can provide you with free employment and training services. These programs can also connect you to employers through recruitment events and direct job placement. Visit newcomer services near you for more information on local employment services near you. |
| Improving your language skills |
| There are many free language programs in peel Region that help you develop language skills for your job, trade, or profession. Choosing the right program will depend on your specific needs and the type of work you want to do. |
| Preparing your résumé and for interview |
| Finding a job in Peel depends upon a number of things such as; how well you market yourself in writing, on the phone, in person and in interviews. But all successful job searches begin with a good resume. Large companies usually use a computer software called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sift through resumes and screen out those that do not meet their criteria, even before a human being reads your resume! So, it is important that the most effective words are used in your resume and cover letter to be successfully selected by the ATS. That is why it is so important to carefully and match the needs listed in the job posting as well you can. |
| Finding a job placement program or an internship |
|
Some organizations offer employment services through a program funded by the province of Ontario called Employment Ontario. These programs can also connect you to employers through job fairs and job matching placement incentives. These job placements normally run from 4-6 month and include a training component. Newcomer Centre of Peel (NCP) - offers free training to help you learn valuable job search skills and training in software common to many workplaces - Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. If you have a background in accounting or finance, you will also benefit from learning computer programs such as Simply Accounting and QuickBooks. When you are finished with classroom training, you will benefit from co-op placements that will allow you to gain real work experience. This is a practical way for you to gain Canadian workplace knowledge. Dufferin-Peel's Co-operative Education program - is for foreign-trained professionals and will help you prepare for the Canadian job market and workplace culture. This program is offered at Brian J. Fleming Catholic Adult Learning Centre and St. Gabriel Adult Learning Centre. (see map) They both offer:
These work placements are relevant to your professional skills, will provide you with networking opportunities, and you will be able to receive a letter of reference from the employer. See if a job placement program or an internship can match you with a short-term opportunity to work for a local employer and gain Canadian work experience |
| Volunteering |
| While there is no sure way to find a job, building your social and professional network is perhaps your most valuable strategy. It can also help you learn more about Canada and Peel Region as well as Canadian customs and other cultures given our diverse local population. Volunteers are highly valued and appreciated in Canada. Adding this experience to your résumé may help you gain a competitive edge over other job applicants. It is also not uncommon for volunteers to be offered a position at the organization in which they are working if they do a good job. Moreover, in Ontario, all high school students must complete 40 hours of community volunteer work before they can get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. How to Volunteer?If you or your child are interested in volunteer opportunities, contact the YMCA, Charity village and VolunteerMBC. Also, most religious, social, other non-profit organizations and Region of Peel welcome volunteers to promote their cause too. |
| Networking |
| Networking helps people form relationships, learn and help each other. In Canada, networking can have an exclusively professional, career dimension that may be new to many newcomers. The main purpose of professional or career-focused networking is to give and receive information. It involves asking people for advice and key information to enhance your employment prospects. It is equally as important to listen to other people's needs and provide referrals wherever possible. Professional Immigrants Networks is a good resource to help you network with other immigrants with similar occupational, industry or cultural backgrounds. Mentoring is a structured, intense form of networking and has been proven to connect skilled newcomers to their occupation or industry field of choice. Benefits of networking:
Networking tips:
|
| Understanding employee rights |
| Once you have found a job, you have rights as an employee under federal and provincial law. There are also standards that you and your employer must follow.
|
Contact Us
