Table of Contents Foreword….. (2) Getting Canadian Employers Interested in you…. (3) Where & How to find Employment in Canada….. (11) Getting a Job Offer validated by HRSDC…… (15) Completing the Labour Market Impact Assessment…. (18) Applying for Work Permit…. (20)
Foreword Having been through the whole immigration process ourselves, we understand how frustrating and bewildering it can be, and hope that we can help you navigate through the legal hurdles & pathways to Immigrate to Canada and understand a little better what steps need to be taken in order to successfully qualify and apply for your Canadian Work Permit. Within this guide, you will find 4 key sections, followed by the appropriate forms, document checklist and sample forms or document, that you will be required to complete and submit to the relevant Employers / The Labour Department / Embassy Please set aside enough time to familiarise yourself with the procedure, and all of the required steps in order to obtain a Positive LMO / Job Offer / Work Permit from CIC.
Getting Foreword Canadian Employers Interested in You
Having been through the whole immigration process ourselves, we understand how frustrating and bewildering it can be, and hope that we can help you navigate through the legal hurdles & pathways to Immigrate to Canada and understand a little better what steps need to be taken in order to successfully qualify and apply for your Canadian Work Permit. Within this guide, you will find 4 key sections, followed by the appropriate forms, document checklist and sample forms or document, that you will be required to complete and submit to the relevant Employers / The Labour Department / Embassy Please set aside enough time to familiarise yourself with the procedure, and all of the required steps in order to obtain a Positive LMO / Job Offer / Work Permit from CIC.
How to Overcome usual objections that Canadian Employer (naturally) have towards the complexities of Hiring Overseas Workers
Getting Canadian Employers Interested in You In this chapter, we’re going to show you, step-by-step how to: Get Noticed by Employers. Attract the attention of an employer by assuring them that you meet the requirements for their open position. Overcome usual objections that Canadian Employer (naturally) have towards the complexities of Hiring Overseas Workers
So, how do you really get Noticed by Canadian Employers? Can you really diversify yourself from the vast pool of other overseas Candidates applying for the same vacancy? We think that you can, but first things first: Make sure you prepare a professional Resume that will focus on your details skills, credentials, and abilities that are relevant to the next rung of your career ladder Your Resume (as we call it in North America) is the most important asset in getting the Attention of Canadian Hiring Managers A poorly constructed resume or one that doesn't place the proper focus on your abilities can very easily get you disqualified by The Canadian Hiring Managers. Make sure you build a Professional Canadian Resume + Cover Letter The CV, or the "Resume", as we call it in North America, is the “Silent Salesman” for a job applicant, giving insight into the candidate’s unique abilities. The professional resume attracts the attention of an employer by assuring them that you meet the requirements for their open position. It’s one of the most important tools in your job search. Include your name and contact information at the top middle, left or right corner on the first page
Attract the attention of a Canadian Employer & assure them that your qualifications are the best possible fit for their open position Make sure you also include your name at the top of page 2 in case they are separated Include relevant experience and volunteer experience as well Focus on your accomplishments and the results you got. Employers want to see number whenever possible The Cover Letter is your “sales pitch” where you are the ‘product” so it’s vital to have good communication skills in order to “sell’ yourself A good Cover Letter can help you land that interview Your Cover Letter needs to be addressed to a specific Person inside the company which you are applying in and have a catchy headline along with the name of the position you’re applying for List your qualifications in a presentable manner. Focus on your skills and achievements. Do not go overboard! Your Cover Letter needs to be 3-4 short sentences and needs to focus on what you can bring to the company, cover your work experience shortly, and how your experience can benefit the company where you’re applying at Don’t forget to also demonstrate your knowledge about the company and the position being offered. End the letter with a polite and subtle hint that you would very much appreciate if the employer can contact you back
On the next pages we have attached from Resume Examples & Cover Letter Examples to help you Get Started
The Anatomy of a Canadian Resume
The above Visual Guide, is provided courtesy of LookSharp.com
Sample Canadian Cover Letter
Sample Canadian Resume (1/2)
Your Name 407-111 Your Street, City, Province L8A 2B3 • 905-555-1234 • youremail@address.com
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS • • • • • • •
Over 10 years of experience in Strong background in Proven skills in Demonstrated ability to Professional communication skills include fluency in English and Recent graduate of or B.Sc. in Computer skills include: - MS Office, internet and email - ABC Specialized Software Program - More
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Electrical Engineer Company Name, City, Province or Country (if not Canada) • • • • •
Conducted research into the feasibility, design, operation and performance of electrical generation and distribution networks Designed electrical and electronic circuits, components, systems and equipment Supervised and inspected the installation, modification, testing and operation of electrical and electronic systems and equipment Developed maintenance and operating standards for electrical and electronic systems and equipment More
Computer Programmer Company Name, City, Province or Country (if not Canada) • • • • •
2005 – 2008
2001 – 2005
Created, tested, debugged, documented and implemented client-tracking software for Company Name utilizing skills in C# and VB.net Worked directly with end-users to maximize efficiencies and user-friendliness Employed strong communication skills to “Train the Trainers” Maintained existing computer programs by making minor modifications as required More
Sample Canadian Resume (2/2)
Your Name
Page 2 of 2
Customer Service Representative Company Name, City, Province or Country (if not Canada)
1998– 2001
• • • • •
Answered inquiries from customers in person and on the phone Investigated and solved any customer concerns Accurately processed financial transactions using computerized cash registers in a fast-paced environment Earned “Quality Service” award twice More
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Library Assistant Library Name, City, Province • •
2008 – Present
Utilize strong attention to detail to organize library shelves and restock returned books Assist library patrons with the online catalogue system
EDUCATION Project Management Certificate College Name, City, Province
2008
Bachelor of Computer Science 1998 University Name (equivalent to a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from an Ontario university, as determined by World Education Services in Toronto, ON) REFERENCES •
Available Upon Request
How to Overcome usual objections that Canadian Employer (naturally) have towards the complexities of Hiring Overseas Workers? Present a “Cover Letter to Hiring Manager” The cover letter should state that you understand the concerns that Canadian Hiring Managers have when reviewing resumes from applicants abroad and that you are willing to work with the Hiring Manager in order to help him/her overcome the obstacles in Hiring Overseas Workers, should the Hiring Manager agree to continue with the process You also need to state and assure them that you are confident that the qualifications that you possess are adequate to the demands of the job being offered Don’t forget to mention the fact that most nationally conducted studies have proven that foreign workers are always willing to work harder than native Canadians, not less because of their sheer determination and ambition to succeed in this new Economy and make a statement for themselves
Here’s a Sample Submission Letter to a Canadian Hiring Manager that has worked well so feel free to use it as a template in your application Date: To: Hiring Manager Subject: Employment Application I am applying for a position at your company and I am confident that my skills gained Abroad are comparable against those required by the position being offered. I’m aware of the common concerns of Canadian Employers while reviewing resumes of Overseas Skilled Workers. I would also like to prove that I am fully determined to succeed in the Canadian economy given a chance, because of my sheer determination to succeed in this economy. I am confident that I possess the necessary skill-set to answer the demands of the job being offered. By submitting an Employment Application to your company, I want to demonstrate a genuine determination to relocate to Canada permanently. If you do select me, I will strive to comply with all the requirements in order to work in Canada legally.
Kind regards, (Applicant name)
Where & how to find Employment in Canada Guide to finding Employment from outside Canada
Are there still actual Jobs for foreigners in Canada? Jobs and economic growth on the rise, faster than in the U.S. Free Public Healthcare & Life Expectancy of 81.23 years Quality Education & Higher Standard of Living Canada is among the most peaceful nations in the world Jobs and economic growth on the rise, faster than in the U.S. Finding employment in Canada is the KEY to Migration.
Where to find Employment in Canada (from outside of Canada) Maintain a Professional Profile on Social Networking Websites (such as LinkedIn etc..) Canadian Job Fairs in your Country (if there are any) Tapping inside the Hidden Job Market (this is where over 60% of employments in Canada come from) Internships at Canadian Companies2
Finding a Job in Canada by tapping into the “Hidden Job Market” Job openings that are not advertised, creating what seems like a Hidden job market. This Information about available work is circulated through manager's network of co-workers, business associates, friends and acquaintances.
You have a list of potential employers, but you don't know if they have any job openings. Visit the employers' home page to see if it has a job-posting section. If not, it's time to phone Personnel or a hiring manager. Prepare by reviewing your resume and practising what you're going to say. Write down your opening words in case you get flustered.
Here is a sample “script” for Hunting Unadvertised “Hidden” Jobs
"Hello, my name is ____________. I understand that your company does _____ and that's my area of career interest. I was wondering if you had any current job openings.”
If the contact says no, ask if they anticipate any openings in the future or if he/she knows of anyone in the same line of business who does. Make sure that you get the full name and title of the person you're speaking to. Keep your resume in front of you in case the manager asks you questions. If the manager seems interested, ask if you could meet with him/her to discuss possibilities in more detail. If the manager can't meet with you, ask if you can send in your resume. Whatever happens, thank your contact. Send a thank-you note and re-state your interest in working for his/ her organization. Keep the information on your contact and his/her organization. You never know when you might need it again.
Finding a Job in Canada by leveraging the power of Social Networking / Employment Sites Call everyone you know and tell them you're looking for work. Ask each person if he/she can recommend someone else you could talk to. Contact associations related to your occupation/industry Almost all prominent Canadian Job Search Portals (Monster, Indeed, CareerBuilder etc…) feature thousands of Job Vacancies from major Canadian Employers where you can Upload/Create your Resume & apply for a Temporary/Permanent Job in Canada.
Browsing the “Canadian Recruiters” directories of Yellow Pages Canada, Yelp & others will also present lists of some of the most reputable recruitment agencies for you to search for positions, as well as prominent companies in Canada for you to do some research on, who have their own careers section on their websites so that you may apply directly. Through doing this, you will be tapping into the hidden job market in Canada, where statistics show that up to 60% of new Canada Jobs are filled without advertising, and you should aim to spend equal amounts of time applying for jobs both through the hidden Job Market (Approaching Canadian Recruiters to find out about available Job Vacancies) as well as regular job sites (as noted above)
Finding a Job in Canada by visiting Job Fairs (if available in your Country) At these public events, organisations send representatives to talk to work searchers, providing you with a great opportunity to network with several employers at once. Check professional associations in your areas of career interest. Call the Career Centre at your local university, community college or Cégep.
Check with your Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce. Search the Internet. All of the above options available to you as a Jobseeker feature thousands upon thousands vacancies added each day, and with thousands of job vacancies available daily, there’s bound to be one for you, but how to approach them & apply?
How to Apply for a Job in Canada To apply for a job in Canada, usually you have to send a cover letter and a résumé to the employer. Depending on the job, the employer might ask you for a portfolio or sample of your work, too. Your cover letter and résumé are very important, because they create the employer's first impression of you. Everything matters, including spelling and formatting. Most résumés look similar, so the cover letter is a good opportunity for the employer to get a feel for who you are. The main purpose of your résumé and cover letter is to get you a job interview. Usually, job postings have instructions about how to apply, or include information about the different ways to apply - by email, by fax, by mail, and so on. It is a good idea to follow these instructions. Often, job postings will also have a deadline to apply. If so, you know when you need to submit your cover letter and résumé. But sometimes they do not have a deadline. This can mean different things. A job posting might say that the company is doing "ongoing recruitment," which means they are always looking for people to fill those positions. Or, they might say "immediate opening" or "ASAP" (as soon as possible), which means they might hire as soon as they find the right person. These kinds of words can help you decide when to apply. It is a good idea to have someone look over your résumé and cover letter before you apply. Many community agencies can help you with your résumé and cover letter.
The topic of “Approaching Canadian Employers” and “Getting a Job Offer Validated by HRSDC” is one of the most asked questions on Immigration Forums and one that will be thoroughly discussed in this guide, in the following chapter!
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Getting a Job Offer validated by HRSDC How to obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from your Employer, in order to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a Work Permit.
Getting a Job Offer validated by HRSDC Every year, Canadian Employers hire over 150,000 temporary workers with specific skills, including live-in caregivers When the best skilled workers are willing to relocate, employers will always benefit! Government studies have shown that foreign skilled-workers contribute more economically to employers than a local employee as they are more motivated and driven to succeed. The Employer who wishes to hire you as a temporary foreign worker must first apply to Service Canada for an authorisation called “Labour Market Impact Assessment” (LMIA) The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)’s role is to assess the impact the foreign worker would have on Canada’s labour market or, in other words, how the offer of employment would likely affect Canadian jobs. Your Potential Employer will need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment to hire you as a temporary foreign worker. You fill need to obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from your Employer, in order to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a Work Permit.
What can you do to Assist your Potential Employer in making his decision to hire / sponsor an overseas worker? You will need to confirm that the position offered is skilled and the employer has been advertised the position in Canada, prior to considering an overseas candidate. You will also need to let him know that you are strongly determined to relocate to Canada for work and that you already possess the knowledge and the documents required to successfully apply for a Work Permit, once the employer has decided to consider you for the position
Why is this important ? Common concerns of Canadian Companies while reviewing Resumes of foreign workers have been well documented in the past and you will need to communicate to the Potential Employer that you understand the Magnitude of his/her responsibility, when considering Foreign Workers. You should also point-out that as a foreign worker, you are prepared to perform all of your duties with great determination, much like a native Canadian employee, not less because of your sheer determination and ambition to succeed in this new Economy, and make a statement for yourself.
Categories of Occupations Generally Requiring LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) High-Skilled Occupations: Requests to hire skilled foreign workers (i.e., in high-skilled occupations) usually require an LMIA, but as previously noted, some categories of work do not require an LMIA. Lower-Skilled Occupations: Requests to hire foreign workers in occupations that usually require at most a high school diploma or job-specific training will likely require an LMIA. Seasonal Agricultural Workers: Requests to hire seasonal agricultural workers from any foreign country will require an LMIA Live-in Caregivers: Requests to hire live-in caregivers (i.e., under the Live-in Caregiver Program) will require an LMIA. If the Job Offer Requires a LMIA Your employer will be required to complete an Application for a Labour Market Opinion and submit it to the appropriate Service Canada Centre serving his region. Service Canada considers the following factors in an LMIA application The occupation in which the foreign worker will be employed The wages and working conditions offered to the foreign worker The employer’s advertisement and recruitment efforts to hire Canadians/permanent residents The associated labour market benefits that may occur from hiring the foreign worker (e.g., transfer of new skills/knowledge, creation/retention of jobs, etc.) Consultations with organised labour if the position the foreign worker will fill is part of a bargaining unit Determination if the entry of the foreign worker is likely to affect the settlement of an ongoing labour dispute Please note that for certain occupations the employer may also be required to submit an employment contract which will be considered as part of the LMIA assessment.
SAMPLE Having been through the whole immigration process ourselves, we understand how frustrating and bewildering it can be, and hope that we can help you navigate through the legal hurdles & pathways to Immigrate to Canada and understand a little better what steps need to be taken in order to successfully qualify and apply for your Canadian Work Permit. Within this guide, you will find 4 key sections, followed by the appropriate forms, document checklist and sample forms or document, that you will be required to complete and submit to the relevant Employers / The Labour Department / Embassy Please set aside enough time to familiarise yourself with the procedure, and all of the required steps in order to obtain a Positive LMO / Job Offer / Work Permit from CIC.
Completing the Labour Market IMPACT Assessment Form LMIA form should be completed by your employer to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
An LMIA is a document from Service Canada that “validates” a Job Offer from a Canadian Employer made to a Foreign Worker, and allows the Foreign Worker to apply for a Work Permit This LMIA form should be completed by your employer to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire temporary foreign workers under the Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training (NOC C and D).
Your Employer can download the LMIA form from here: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/foreign_workers/ index.page and all other required documents must be submitted to Service Canada.
Occupations that are exempt from LMIA (but still need to apply for Work Permit) • If you are a spouse/common-law partner of a foreign Worker, you do not need a LMIA in order to apply for a Work Permit • Employers who hire foreign workers through the International Mobility Program don’t need to apply for LMIA, However, you may need to meet other requirements. • Workers covered under international agreements • People taking part in Youth Exchange programs, Teacher Exchange Programs & Other joint programs • Workers nominated by a province or territory for permanent residence • People already working in Canada who have applied for permanent residence • Repair personnel for industrial or commercial equipment • Workers transferred within a company • Academics, researchers, guest lecturers, visiting professors and others • Co-op students & Interns • Religious workers • Workers who are essential to a television or film production • Performers or workers in a related job in dance • Francophones, if they will live and work in a Francophone community outside Quebec and have been recruited through a Francophone immigration promotional event
Applying SAMPLE for Work Permit Having been through the whole immigration process ourselves, we understand how frustrating and bewildering it can be, and hope that we can help you navigate through the legal hurdles & pathways to Immigrate to Canada and understand a little better what steps need to be taken in order to successfully qualify and apply for your Canadian Work Permit. Within this guide, you will find 4 key sections, followed by the appropriate forms, document checklist and sample forms or document, that you will be required to complete and submit to the relevant Employers / The Labour Department / Embassy Please set aside enough time to familiarise yourself with the procedure, and all of the required steps in order to obtain a Positive LMO / Job Offer / Work Permit from CIC.
Online Vs Offline (Paper) Applications: Which One Should You Choose?
If applying ONLINE, follow the steps below to make sure you have what it takes in order to properly file your ONLINE Application for Work Permit to CIC 1. Online applications (to CIC) require uploading photos of your documents 2. Online applications (to CIC) also require valid processing fee payment by credit/debit card 3. You will need to regularly check your e-mail address (and spam folders) to make sure you don’t miss any routine or important announcements from CIC regarding the status and processing of your Electronic (ONLINE) Application
Paper (offline) Application Instructions & Requirements A copy of the “Labour Market Impact Assessment” (LMIA) -formerly: LMO that your Canadian Employer Received from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. A copy of your Job Offer If no copy of Job Offer is provided, a slip containing the ID that your Canadian Employer received when they applied for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Proof of your Education (Credentials + Transcripts) Proof of valid, paid, work experience
Completing the Work Permit Application Package OFFLINE (PAPER) Download the application package (Paper applications) directly from CIC: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work.asp ONLINE: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work.asp A work permit is issued if the application is accepted. All applicants must complete and sign their own individual form, including persons traveling as a family Applicants who are under the age of 18 years must have their form signed by a parent or guardian.
Epilogue If you’re reading this, that means you’ve made it! We share your excitement and sincerely believe that Canada is the best possible place to relocate because of its excellent settlement services, the stability of the environment and openness to those wishing to become part of its landscape. Canada as a land of opportunity provides economic prosperity, easily accessible and affordable education, one of the world’s best health care system and abundance of land and fresh water. Now you and your family can share with Canadians and take part in continued creation of the world’s most admired and peaceful nation and country You can be proud to call Your home - Canada !
Yours in success!
The team at ASKMigration