How to Secure a Job Offer in Canada from Outside the Country

Canada has emerged as the dream destination to live and work for foreign workers. With the supportive policies and facilities the Canadian government provides, securing a job offer in Canada from outside the country has become favorable.

According to reports, Canada needs an increased workforce in the coming years. Due to the country’s thriving economy, it can take up foreigners and provide them with the necessary facilities.

Based on this, 2024 is a great time to secure a job offer in Canada from outside the country, relocate there, and experience an enhanced quality of life. But the question is, how can you secure a job offer in Canada from outside the country?

Tips to Secure a Job Offer in Canada from Outside the Country

1. Connect With Employers on LinkedIn

Foreign workers can submit their resumes for job applications on  Indeed and Glassdoor. However, their application is less likely to be considered if hundreds of other candidates have applied for the same position.

One possible solution for this job hunt issue is to connect with the company’s hiring manager directly on LinkedIn. You must research the company and learn which employee is in charge of hiring decisions.

You can then locate this hiring manager on LinkedIn, connect with them, and directly explain why you are a great candidate for the job opening.

However, some hiring managers are more receptive to this approach as it saves them the trouble of sifting through hundreds of resumes to choose a suitable candidate.

2. Adapt Your Resume to the Canadian Style

You will need to adapt your resume to the Canadian style. This approach helps you get noticed by Canadian employers as it presents your information in a format they are familiar with.

In addition, ensure you do this before reaching out to Canadian employers.

Things to include in your resume

Below are some key details to include in your Canadian resume:

• Your work experience must be presented in chronological order.
• Information related to any past volunteering experience.
• Links to any relevant professional social media profiles, such as LinkedIn.
• Keywords adapted for each job application.

3. Use Provincial Job Bank Sites

Foreign workers can also look for jobs in their chosen province at the Government of Canada Job Bank website. This job website allows you to filter jobs based on occupation type, location, employment conditions, language at work, period of employment, and salary.

If you possess two years of work experience, speak English well, have a University degree, and are seeking a full-time sales position in Vancouver, you can navigate to the Advanced search page and follow the prompt.

Once you have read through a job posting you are interested in, you can click the Show How to Apply button near the bottom of the page to complete the job application.

4. Apply for Jobs Outside Major Cities

Many foreign workers are eager to get jobs in Canada’s major cities, such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. However, job postings in such cities also attract Canadians from other parts of the country.

Therefore, a single job posting in Toronto will likely receive hundreds of applications from prospective job seekers. On the other hand, this will reduce your chances of ever receiving an interview for such a posting.

The good news is that job postings outside significant cities tend to be less competitive. For instance, a job posting in Hamilton, Ontario, may receive a few dozen applicants.

Job seekers applying to positions in smaller cities have a much higher chance of getting an interview. Hamilton is also only an hour’s drive from Toronto.

This means living in the Greater Toronto Area is possible while working in a smaller, more affordable city.

5. Apply for In-Demand Jobs

As mentioned earlier, it’s not uncommon for job postings to receive dozens or even hundreds of applications from prospective job seekers. This is because the supply of job seekers exceeds the worker demand by a wide margin.

Such scenarios are less likely for in-demand jobs with many positions to fill. You should note that these in-demand jobs vary from province to province.

In regions like British Columbia, there is a high demand for plumbers; similarly, there will be a high demand for transport truck drivers in Saskatchewan in 2024. Before applying for jobs, prospective foreign workers should determine which occupations are in demand in their chosen provinces.

6. Learn French

Canada’s two primary official languages are English and French. However, the vast majority of the country speaks English. The country’s Quebec province is the only one where French is widely spoken.

Many job postings in Quebec require applicants to be fluent in French. As such, it discourages most foreign workers and Canadians from other provinces from applying for positions in Quebec.

This also gives foreign workers who speak French an advantage when applying for jobs in the province. Foreign workers who want to boost their chances of getting a Canadian job offer should consider learning French if they have the time and resources.

Many free online resources, such as Duolingo and Mondly, help you understand the language and become fluent in reading, speaking, and writing in French within one year.

7. Visit Canada on a Tourist Visa

Prospective foreign job seekers having difficulty applying for jobs online may have better luck by visiting Canada on a visitor visa and applying for jobs in person. Once you have acquired your visitor visa, you can enter Canada and look for job opportunities in person.

If you have already compiled a list of possible employers, you can visit their offices and attempt to speak with their hiring managers.

Applying for jobs through this method gives you an advantage over other foreign applicants because you can demonstrate your language skills and understanding of the Canadian business environment in person.

Foreign workers can also spend their visits attending job fairs across the country. Many general job fairs and industry-specific job fairs are held throughout the year.

Visiting these job fairs allows you to understand better which jobs are in demand and network with company employees who can help you land job placements.

Challenges of Getting a Job Offer from Outside Canada

Understanding some of the challenges associated with getting a job offer in Canada from outside the country is essential. The truth is that employers generally prefer hiring Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents for job vacancies.

This is due to the following reasons:

1. Completing a Positive L.M.I.A.

Canadian employers who wish to hire foreigners to fill job vacancies must complete a Labor Market Impact Assessment (L.M.I.A.). They must also demonstrate that no Canadian citizens or permanent residents could fill the position.

This L.M.I.A. process can be time-consuming, so employers generally prefer to hire local Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Some Canadian employers may be willing to go through the L.M.I.A. process if the foreign candidate possesses exceptional skills, making them a much better choice than local Canadian candidates.

2. The Canadian Business Environment

Some employers may only hire foreign workers if they know Canadian business environments. This issue is more likely to occur in jobs in human resources departments that require interpersonal skills and a good understanding of how people conduct business in Canada.

3. Assistance With Getting a Work Permit

Foreign workers who wish to work inside Canada legally are required to acquire a work permit with the help of their employer. Some employers may want to avoid spending time helping their future employees with this task, so they may prefer to hire a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident instead.

4. Assurance the Employee Will Remain in Canada

Some Canadian employers may choose to hire Canadian citizens and permanent residents over foreigners due to the certainty that they will remain in Canada. Foreign workers who enter Canada with a temporary work permit must leave when their status expires.

This means there is no guarantee they will be able to work for their employer in the long run. This uncertainty discourages many employers from hiring foreign workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a job offer necessary to immigrate to Canada?

If you apply through the Express Entry System’s Federal Skilled Trades Class, a job offer is necessary. Applicants applying through the Federal Skilled Worker program do not require a job offer, but they can get additional points on their profile if they secure one before applying.

2. Does having an Express Entry Profile help me get a job in Canada?

You need an Express Entry Profile to get a job offer in Canada. Prospective foreign job seekers should try the tips mentioned in this guide to improve their odds of securing a job in Canada.

They can then immigrate to the country via one of the programs under the Express Entry System once they have met all the appropriate requirements.

3. Can I work in Canada without a work permit?

You must obtain an official work permit to work in Canada. However, you must have a valid job offer to acquire this work permit in most cases.