Whether you’ve just arrived in Canada or plan to move soon, you’ve probably heard that finding work here as an immigrant can be challenging. This article shares practical insights from immigrants who successfully found jobs in their fields in Canada—and how you can too.
Focus on your industry while being open to alternative career paths
Finding a job in Canada is rarely straightforward. Be prepared for a long job search and potential setbacks, and stay persistent.
Komal Parekh and her husband researched the job market before moving, but things didn’t go as planned when they arrived in March 2020, just as COVID-19 began affecting the economy. “I applied for thousands of jobs, as all the immigrants do, and then applied for volunteering opportunities as well, but I did not receive any responses,” shares Komal. So, she created her own volunteering opportunity.
Fluent in French, Komal launched a free online portal to teach French to about 1,000 newcomers. “I knew French very well, and I knew that people were keen on learning.” This helped her build connections and eventually find work.
Today, Komal works with the Government of Alberta and supports newcomers with career guidance.
Take up survival jobs if needed, but don’t lose sight of your career goals
Unlike Komal, who arrived as a Permanent Resident, Ritika Saraswat came to Canada as an international student and quickly realized the financial realities of living in Canada. “From the day I landed, stepped into the airport, got my coffee, and took the taxi to my university, I realized that this country is expensive, and that I needed to start making money,” says Ritika.
Taking the survival job route, Ritika started working as a pizza server for a couple of years. However, she didn’t let the priority of making money distract her from long-term career goals. She guides other international students to use these roles as stepping stones, not dead ends.
“Surrounding yourself only with others stuck in survival roles can slow your progress. That’s where the downhill journey of international students starts,” she adds, advising students and new immigrants to instead network with people who inspire you and work in your field. Seeing others succeed can motivate you to aim higher. “You realize that if they can do well, I can do it too.”
Also read: Resume your overseas career in Canada with bridging programs at Humber College
Network strategically and use LinkedIn actively to be intentional in your job search
Both Komal and Ritika agree that networking is key to finding jobs in Canada.
Komal’s volunteer work helped her meet people who referred her to her first government job. “When I applied using resumes, I did get a response, but it was not as quick as being referred to by someone with whom I volunteered, because they can vouch for you,” she says. Her advice to newcomers is to start small—network within your own community first, then expand once you feel comfortable.
A good place to start is LinkedIn; use the platform actively to connect with like-minded individuals and then also start reaching out to leaders and recruiters in your field.
Ritika’s top tip for students and immigrants new to networking is to be absolutely clear, concise and professional in their approach. Prepare an elevator pitch explaining your skills and value, she says. “You should be able to convince the other person of your skills and expertise within the time it takes an elevator to go from one floor to the next few… My goal is always to make sure that whenever I’m talking to anyone, I get their attention in the first one to two minutes, because we all wander away after that.”
What next? Follow up with people you meet promptly, perhaps via a LinkedIn connection request. They’re more likely to accept your request because you stood out to them. When you create a strong personal brand, job opportunities will come to you via messages and referrals.
Komal shares the story of a friend who volunteered as a gym trainer while consistently attending career workshops and improving their interview skills. It was at the gym that this friend met their future employer, who was impressed by their commitment to self-improvement. The takeaway? Your attitude plays a crucial role in finding work in Canada as an immigrant. All the best!