Working in Canada

Summary: The options available to anyone considering working in Canada are considerable but anyone thinking about moving to Canada to find employment must first be aware of the Canadian immigration policies.

The options available to anyone considering working in Canada are considerable but anyone thinking about moving to Canada to find employment must first be aware of the Canadian immigration policies.

If you would like to work in Canada for the short term the Canadian immigration centre advises that up to 90,000 people a year are accepted on temporary employment contracts.  Alternatively those who would like to move to Canada permanently and work there have to go through the entire immigration process and gain permanent Canadian residence status.

Those seeking a temporary assignment in Canada require a work permit - to get a work permit you first have to secure an offer of employment.  This may sound like a catch 22 situation but certain types of employment pretty much guarantee you a temporary work permit.  You should apply to the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) when you have an offer of employment and they will assess whether or not the offer you have been given is acceptable.  If the HRSDC accept your job offer you should next apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for a work permit.

If you would like to work permanently in Canada you will need to apply for permanent residence - i.e., you will need to officially emigrate.  There are various schemes and classes under which you can seek immigration to Canada but if you’re actively seeking employment opportunities you may be able to apply under the Skilled Worker Program. 

The very basic requirements for anyone to be accepted under the Skilled Worker Program are that they have a good command of either the English or French language, have relevant work experience and specific skills that are required in Canada.  There are six selection factors which are education level, language skills, work experience, age, arranged employment and adaptability and the current pass mark is 67.

Assuming you do not have an offer of employment in Canada before you apply for permanent residence, once you have secured your permission to reside in Canada you can begin actively seeking work.  With your residency in place you have the same rights as Canadians when it comes to employment and salary conditions and you should not be prejudiced against in any way because Canada is a country that embraces multi-culturalism. 

You can use the services of an employment agency in Canada - many of whom have internet sites where you can surf available positions and post your CV, or you could use the government employment agency which is the aforementioned Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.  HRSDC also give you details of any training courses you’re eligible for etc., and can assist with career planning as well as helping you if you want to set up your own business in Canada.

The other main alternative available to you is targeting potential employers directly with your resume and a covering letter introducing yourself and your skill set and enquiring about suitable openings.  Always follow up such an approach with a telephone call and it is always better if you can find out the name of a suitable department head and contact them directly otherwise such unsolicited letters can find their way into the dustbin unfortunately.

Canada is a country offering an inimitably free way of life and it is also a country that attracts thousands of applications for residency permits every year.  To ensure your application for permission to live and work in Canada is received favorably take enough time out to research the best ways to apply to move to Canada and make sure you apply for your work permit or residency permissions with plenty of time to spare as the processes can be quite lengthy.

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