Job search tips in Canada - IT

Once you have been approved for PR, it is a very great high. But a few days later reality sinks in. You need a job! :) I will state my experience and then also give some tips that my friends did.

What was my experience?

Post AOR, I started applying for jobs. Initially, I had applied for every opening I saw but then got a few rejections either because I wasn't legally eligible to work in Canada (I hadn't got PR yet) or the companies didn't respond back at all. And then, I started using Linkedin Premium's intelligence. I started applying to smaller companies, which had lesser applicants. Linkedin displays competitive intelligence only when there are more than 10 applicants.  I then got a call from a Nova Scotia employer. I was still in the US, awaiting my PR. They had multiple rounds of interviews and so they were ready to wait for me. By the time the interviews were done, I got my PR and then told the employer that I was legally allowed to work in Canada. They gave me the offer and I got my happy ending.

What can you learn from my experience?

1. LinkedIn profile should be updated. Get recommendations from your previous jobs. You can also make yourself as available for new job by updating the headline in your profile. 
2. Make sure that your location is updated to Canada, whenever you move so that recruiters can approach you.
3. Your resume should be crisp and not more than 2 pages. I usually keep it at one page. This is because HR scans a lot of applications can you should stand out.
4. Look for the job duties listed in the job posting and look at your experience. Given that you don't have local experience, apply for jobs which are a good match for your experience.
5. Try different search engines - LinkedIn, Glassdoor, indeed, eluta, monster,workopolis, Neuvoo, Google search
6. If not a multi-national, make sure that you look up the ratings and reviews of the company. If it is in the "preferred employers of the area" list, then it is even better.
7. Apply for jobs that have lesser applicants or relatively smaller companies so that employers get back to you sooner. LinkedIn Competitive intelligence will help you immensely.
8. Write a custom cover letter to the employer in which you can explain your situation and relate your experience to the posting. This puts in a good impression to the employer that you have read about the company and posting.
9. A lot of job postings ask for Canadian experience. If you have experience in US, please highlight it in the cover letter. Personal experience so far is that the day-to-day culture is similar to US.
10. It might be a good idea to highlight your certifications in your resume. Plan to acquire one if you haven't.  Employers typically ask that. In your case, if you are new to the country and applying for your 1st job here, a certification in your role might offer a level of confidence to the employer about you. 
11. Given that you are new to the country, be prepared to provide international references for the prospective employer to contact. Some employers may contact the reference by phone or email. Prepare your reference folks accordingly.

Now, not everyone might have the above experience. I was remote i.e. in US when I got the job. You have better chances when you are in the country and have PR. But all the above tips apply.

What else can you do if you are already in the country?

Few of my friends also had the experience below -

1. They worked with local consultants, who already had network with different companies. They got placed in a short time after the consultants got an interview with the different companies.
2. You might find local companies whose jobs may not be on LinkedIn but you will know more about them when you interact with their employees or simply just see the building.
3. There are a lot of immigration services in the local community, which help with finding a job. However, it would be slower.
4. Local networking events - The province where you have landed, typically would have local networking events, which might give you leads of jobs that might not have been posted. For example, in Nova Scotia, we have a "Digital Nova Scotia" organization, which organizes seminars and events. It can be beneficial to engage with these.

Frequently asked queries! 

Good luck on your job search!

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