The new year is an excellent time to begin your job search! January and February are the best times to look for a job, as many hiring budgets are renewed. Furthermore, many people will be back to work after the holiday season and ready to make hiring decisions! Newcomers can take advantage of this opportunity to get 2023 off to a good start.
Want to learn more about job search strategies in 2023? Continue reading to find out!
Recommended Webinar: Job Search Strategies for Newcomers (January 18, 2023, at 1 PM EST).
1. Get Your Foot in the Door
It is common for employers to seek “Canadian experience” when making hiring decisions. Unfortunately, many newcomers will not have this on their resumes. Searching for entry-level jobs in your related field (or sometimes even unrelated) can help you get the initial Canadian experience that will make you more employable as a newcomer.
With that said, get the help that is needed to make sure your resume is prepared according to Canadian standards and continue to apply for jobs in your field. Employers in Canada often consider an applicant’s work history and may have concerns if someone has a significant gap in their resume. Therefore, as a newcomer, you should not stay unemployed for too long. It looks better to an employer if you have a survival job on your resume to avoid the gap in employment until you find something in your field or close to your field.
2. Research Labour Market Information
Understanding the hiring trends of your new home country will give you a better picture of how you can approach your job search. Labour market information is the data that provides a broad view of employment in a specific area.
Related Blog: Using Labour Market Information for Your Job Search
3. Assess Your Credentials
As a skilled newcomer, you may already possess impressive credentials from your country of origin. However, depending on your desired career, your credentials may not be recognized by Canadian employers. For example, regulated occupations in Canada include doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Research local regulatory bodies and learn how your overseas credentials can be transferred and accepted in Canada. If your profession is regulated, starting this process sooner rather than later is highly encouraged.
You can start here with World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) for credential evaluation that is non-regulated.
4. Build a Canadian Network
Connect with people who are in your desired field or career. Attend in-person or online networking events to build stronger connections in the industry. Try to find a mentor with similar experiences as a newcomer breaking into your desired career in Canada. The TRIEC Mentoring Partnership Program (a partner of Achēv) can help you find a mentor. Hearing about how someone in a similar situation got their desired job can be very inspiring and insightful. Lastly, newcomers should take advantage of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a powerful social network that allows professionals to connect.
Related Blog: Using LinkedIn for Your Job Search
5. Contact the Newcomer Experts
We know that there are many things for newcomers to consider when job searching in a new country. Fortunately, newcomers in Ontario can benefit from the free services provided by the experts at NIC Online. NIC Online provides resources that cater to newcomers who require employment and settlement assistance.
Register today by clicking here!
