Finding your career in Canada

It’s important to start your job search on the right foot. First, you’ll need to create a resume with Canadian formatting. An online resume builder can give you an advantage when it comes to this part of the job hunt. A good resume will do the following: 

• Help you stand out among the competition
• Highlight your education and professional experience
• Pass through the bots and gates that are used to weed out applicants on online application portals

There are three types of Canadian resume formats to consider: 

• Traditional reverse chronological 
• Strategic functional resume
• Balanced hybrid resume

All three options retain the same basic information. The only difference is their layouts Opens in a new window.  

When you’re looking for a job, navigate the job market by accessing networking and job search websites. You can find a list of these websites on the Canadian Newcomers Network Opens in a new window website. If you’re not sure which jobs are popular in the region you’re moving to, explore Canada’s job trends Opens in a new window. For example, Canada has recently seen a surge in administrative assistant positions in companies that are busier than normal. These sectors include legal firms, HR (human resources) and health and safety departments. As always, drivers are also in high demand.  

When you settle on a career, research its respective salary range — the high and low end of your job’s pay scale. This will help you to develop reasonable salary expectations when negotiating with an employer. However, try not to be demanding. A company may have financial constraints and may not be able to budge on their salary offer, but they may be more flexible with paid travel and work hours instead.  

Preparing for your job interview is essential. An employer will expect you to have: 

• Confidence: Be confident in yourself and your expertise.  
• Good non-verbal communication: Stand straight, make eye contact, have a firm handshake, etc.  
• Appropriate interview attire: Your interviewer may be wearing casual clothes, but this is a job interview. Dress professionally for the job you’re seeking. 
• Knowledge: Research the company beforehand and brush up on your skillset. 
• Ability to listen: Let the interviewer know you’re listening to what they’re saying.  
• Appropriate language: Avoid inappropriate slang, swearing, and references to controversial topics such as age, religion, race, politics, etc.  
• Concise answers: Respond to the interviewer’s questions and provide examples to illustrate your relevant experience.
• Questions: Prepare questions to ask at the end of the interview to demonstrate an interest in the position and the company. Avoid connecting your questions to the salary. They should be about the job, work environment, etc.